Long Trail – Day 11 June 24, 2016 David Logan Shelter to Skyline Lodge I forgot to mention that yesterday and today were two important milestones for the Long Trail hiker. Firstly, just past VT Route 4/Rutland, the trail bifurcated. The AT heads northeast to Katahdin in Maine and the LT heads north to Quebec. … More Long Trail – Day 11

Long Trail – Day 10 June 23, 2016 Rutland, VT to David Logan Shelter I almost got off the trail today. When I called my wife before getting on the LT I heard her voice and my baby’s voice. I had just said goodbye to the guys and I was alone on the trail. My … More Long Trail – Day 10

Long Trail – Day 9 June 22, 2016 Rutland, VT I took what is called in the hiking lexicon as a zero day, from hiking zero miles. Originally I planned to do nothing today, so as to rest my ankles and feet. The only thing I had to do was get my resupply box from … More Long Trail – Day 9

Long Trail – Day 8 June 21, 2016 Cooper Lodge to Rutland, VT Cooper Lodge was not a nice shelter. The site was idyllic, perched high aloft Killington Mountain, the moss, ferns and firs dotted the landscape in much the same way as the mountains back home in North Carolina. Rain was in the forecast, … More Long Trail – Day 8

Long Trail – Day 7 June 20, 2016 Minerva Hinchey Shelter to Cooper Lodge Last night was horrid. I started tarping at 8:30; by 10:30 I realized that the mosquitos were not going to abate. The temperature was unbearably hot. To escape the skeeters I had to put on my head net, and fully wrap … More Long Trail – Day 7

Long Trail – Day 6 June 19, 2016 Lost Pond Shelter to Minerva Hinchey Shelter Today was tough. The heat and humidity were tremendous. I started early at 7:30 am and hiked all day with House and Gray Blaze. Gray Blaze is the most well read person I’ve met. He asked what I was reading … More Long Trail – Day 6

Long Trail – Day 5 June 18, 2016 Manchester Center to Lost Pond Shelter I got a relatively late start from the Econo Lodge and was on the trail by 8:30 am. A huge thanks to Fred from Green Mountain Hostel who picked me up on the highway to give me a ride to the … More Long Trail -Day 5

Long Trail – Day 4 June 17, 2016 Stratton Pond Shelter to Manchester Center The sun comes up in Vermont at 4:45 am. Not just a gentle sunrise, but full on shining. It’s taken some getting used to, especially when you’re sleeping outside. I got another relatively early start and left the shelter after breakfast. … More Long Trail -Day 4

Long Trail – Day 3 June 16, 2016 Goddard Shelter to Stratton Pond Shelter The first two days I had no appetite. Absolutely none. I maybe ate 1000-2000 calories. Something happened last night that kicked my hunger into gear and I became absolutely ravenous. Today I started thinking all day long about fish and chips … More Long Trail – Day 3

Long Trail – Day 2 June 15, 2016 Congdon Shelter to Goddard Shelter A previous law professor of mine said of the BAR exam that “it doesn’t measure how smart you are, it measures how bad you want to be a lawyer.” I feel that hiking or thru-hiking can be analogized similarly. It doesn’t measure … More Long Trail – Day 2