And Then There Were 500 Miles Left

CT closing thoughts

I am not sure if it was the super humid weather or the fact that I had to spend two days in the hospital but Connecticut did not make my short list of favorite states Ive had the pleasure of hiking through on the AT. I’m sure the weather and unexpected hospital may have been a test but on the bright side it made me slow down a little which has helped me relish the experience a little more as the miles go down further and further.

Massachusetts

I am not certain if it was the fact that I escaped CT alive or that Massachusetts was actually a nice state on the AT but I enjoyed my time there. Some of the views right after you cross the border were great since I hit them on a clear day.

Also no AT walk through Mass would be complete without a trip to Upper Goose Pond Cabin. While I choose to sleep outside in my hammock in the tenting area instead of the bunk room the whole experience at the cabin was top notch. I hiked a short 14 miles to get there and then hung out with NOBOs and SOBOs a like down by the dock and enjoyed superb weather during my visit to the cabin. For all you ATers reading this not visiting this shelter would be doing your thru hike a severe injustice in my opinion. Also, who doesn’t like pancakes? No one

The last main feature I got to make my way past in Massachusetts was the memorial on top of Mount Greylock. In true AT fashion it was so fogy I couldn’t see it until I was about 50′ away and even had a hard time finding the AT around it.

Into Vermont

As seems to be tradition I crossed into Vermont in the rain. It’s weird how as my hike has progressed I care less about rain and find myself walking through it much more often. My first day in Vermont I stopped at the border sign in the cool rain and ate a snack before I took a picture. Since the only insulation layer I had was my rain jacket and I didn’t have a tyvek fort to keep dry under I moved on to warm up.

The first climb in Vermont is to a lookout tower on Glastenbury Mountain. I got lucky and when I went to the top of the tower the view was awesome.

I walked on to the next view in Vermont on top of Stratton mountain. As the AT had it planned I was set to get little view here.

But there were ample views at Stratton Pond.

As I push further in further into Veemont I saw the 500 miles to Big K sign and also walked by the Maine junction so I won’t be seeing anymore Long Trailers. Currently camped out at a room at the Inn at the Long trail waiting for some new shoes before getting back on the road to Maine.