Rutland, VT to Hanover, NH - Mile 1,740

We are seeing lots of people on the trail now - sobos (south bounders), nobos (north bounders),and people hiking the Long Trail, which runs with the AT for 105 miles. We still have 500 miles of trail left to go.

Mom met us in Rutland, VT and took us to the lake on July 24th. We swam, had a great dinner, and were able to see Kyle and Lani as well as the rest of the Hunts and Nana. Then we got to slackpack over Killington, which is always good.

We reached Hanover, NH, on July 28th - our 13th state. This is a college town (Dartmouth), but also hiker friendly - we get a free slice of pizza, and ice cream, if we can find it.

 The Green Mountain Hostel in Manchester, VT. This was a great place that gave each thru-hiker a pint of Ben&Jerry's ice cream!

The AT crosses a ski trail on Bromley Mt



 Portrait and Balance on the fire tower on Bromley. We hadn't seen Portrait since Georgia. His beard has grown considerably since then.

 The ski lift on Bromley Mt

An overview of the airport in Rutland, VT

 An excellent dinner at Lake George

The whole Hunt clan (almost), Mom and Nana

Early morning at the Lake, then we go back to the trail.

 Waiting for a train to pass on rte 103. Note - no backpacks - we are slacking today!

The Cooper Lodge shelter on Killington. No views - it was rainy and cloudy, but we prefer that for climbing to the hot days we'd been having.

 Getting back on trail with our backpacks on rte 4, VT

 Gifford Woods State Park

Kent Pond, Gifford Woods SP

 After an afternoon of rain, the sky clears and we see a rainbow from the Lookout

 Sunset from the tower at the Lookout. We seldom get to see sunsets on the trail; we're usually deep in the woods and are in our tent by sunset.

Mountain range to the West - the Adirondacks

 The cabin at the Lookout. The porch floorboards were falling in and it leaked, but it was a great place to spend the night. We set up our tent inside the cabin.

Sunrise from the Cabin tower at the Lookout - not as impressive as sunset, but with cool valley fog.

 This bakery was .2 miles off the trail - anything that close, we stop at! They had fantastic pies.

"When in doubt, the AT always goes up." This is true!

 Goldenrods in bloom

Trail Magic! On the way into Hanover, somone left watermelon for hikers.

 The border of Vermont and New Hampshire, across the Connecticut River

 The Connecticut River

Drying our tent tarp on the common in front of Dartmouth College. Hey, we're hikers!

Mt Greylock, MA to Manchester,Vt - mile 1,640

We were excited to hike Mt Greylock, which at about 3,500 ft was our highest mountain in a while. Views were hazy, but since we'd had rain the day before we were happy with the weather. Mom came out and met us in Dalton. MA, so that once again we were able to slackpack for 9 miles - always nice.
The next day, we crossed over into Vermont, our 12th state. Vermont should be called 'the deefly' state. At least 2 buzz around our heads constantly while we hike. Deet does not work on them. They can drive you crazy if you let them!
We are also back to hiking a 3,000 foot mountain every day. We climb all the ski peaks in VT - Stratton, Bromley, Pico, Killington.

 The war monument on top of Mt Greylock, MA

 Overlooking Chesire, Ma - from Mt Greylock

 The AT down from Mt Greylock

Campsite past Williamstown - our first tent platform



The border sign marking the state of Vermont, also the start of the Long Trail, which runs 270 miles to Canada. The AT and the Long trail intersect for 105 miles.

 Beaver lodge

 Fire tower on the top of Stratton (Y-Knot is on the top floor, waving his shirt)

Looking over at Mt Snow ski resort, from Stratton

 Swimming in Stratton Pond

Prospect Rock, overlooking Manchester, VT

Back in Mass - Miles 1,498 to 1,588

We crossed the border into MA on July 14th. We were very excited to be back in Mass. We immediately hit 3 mountains in western MA, which all had nice views. The weather got cooler and less humid, which helped improve hiking conditions a lot. We crossed the Mass turnpike on July 17th, which was exciting because of the number of times we drove under the trail overpass on the highway, and thought about the day we would cross over it on the AT. That day finally came!

 View from Lions Head - still in CT

 Highest point in CT

Lions head viewpoint

 Crossing from CT to MA

View from Mt Racer, MA

Mt Everett, western Mass

 Swampy, buggy section of trail in Mass

Stopping to swim in Benedict Pond in Beartown State Forest, near Great Barrington, MA

 Upper Goose Pond

 We spent an afternoon at Upper Goose Pond, swimming and paddling the canoe. The AMC has a cabin here where thru-hikers can stay for free.

The AMC cabin at Upper Goose Pond. We got a pancake breakfast in the morning. Downside: people snoring in the bunkroom kept us up all night.

 The AT crosses over the Mass turnpike

We are excited to be on the trail, rather than driving by underneath it.

Y-Knot and Moses at the 'cookie lady's' house. She gives cookies and drinks to thru-hikers. We also picked blueberries here.

Clintonia (Yellow corn lily or 'Blue bead')

Kent, Connecticut - Mile 1,458

There are only 50 miles of the AT in Connecticut, but it took us almost 3 days to get through it. The terrain was more difficult, with steep ascents and descents. The guidebook said to break out the bug spray in CT, and they were right. Mosquitoes and deerflies swarmed us. I hate using anything with deet, especially since we can't wash it off at night, but I don't like mosquito bites either. We use it only when the bugs are really bad, which is only in wetter areas. At night, we hide in our tent.
The highlight of CT was meeting trail angel Mark, who took us and another thru-hiker back to his house to shower and do laundry. We also had a great dinner of vegetarian black bean soup. We are always amazed at the kindness of total strangers to thru-hikers, and we appreciate it!

 The border sign for CT, our 10th state

 Trail angel Mark invites 3 hikers to his house

 Stopping at a cafe in Kent, CT (Doc, Y-Knot, Moses, and Mark)

 Break spot along the Housatonic River. Our trail followed the river for 5 flat, easy miles.

Resting on a hot day of climbing

 Thru-hikers Doc, Moses and Y-Knot

Waterfall along a branch of the Housatonic River

NY to CT - Mile 1,450

We left family behind at Bear Mtn bridge and were back on our own on the trail. We hit a day of heavy rain after leaving Cornwall. NY started to get hilly; we are out of the flat states and back in the mountains.
We entered our 10th state of Connecticut on July 11th.

 Pavilion at Graymoor spiritual center, NY. This friary lets hikers stay at their pavilion and use the restrooms.

 Trail crew feeds hikers at RPH shelter. Good food, good people!

 AT overview past RPH shelter

 Boardwalk in NY

The train stop for hikers heading to New York City

Worst campsite ever. We stayed at the end of the garden center lot, with a highway on one side and the train tracks on the other. It was a bad night's sleep.