A tale of two weather systems

It’s been a week since I last posted even though lots has happened — including me reaching New Hampshire!

In my last post, I talked about the importance of connecting with hiker friends. Well, that quickly went away (for now) because the next day, I headed the wrong way on the Long Trail, despite lots of signage, and immediately got behind. And then Bilbo decided to leave trail because of ongoing feet issues.

Being on your own does leave you open for meeting new folks, including a really great couple named Short Shanks and Cooky who hike the trail a couple weeks every year. We stayed at the shelter together at the top of a looong hill.

The next day, the heat wave really hit. I was feeling so tired that even the flat parts felt hard. At the spur of moment I decided to take a “zero” (no hiking). Serendipitously there was a hostel called Wise Pines that could pick me up at the trailhead in seven miles — perfect. (And I saw a bear while walking there!)

Wise Pines was opened by a former thru hiker. It sits on 40 beautiful acres near Woodstock, Vt. I was able to cook and eat good food, take a yoga stretch class, and eat ice cream and watch television in bed. This all happened in an air-conditioned bunkhouse while the outside temperature neared 100. I could not have planned it better. I’ve since heard that a few hikers had to be rescued from heat exhaustion, so I am very happy with my choice.

The next couple days on the trail went well and twice I got to the shelters just minutes before thunderstorms. I used to be wary of staying in shelters but they are the best option when it’s raining. I love my tent but putting it up and down in the rain, and carrying it while wet, is not good.

One night, my shelter mate was Leo, a support dog who’s traveling with Michael, a YouTuber called “I suck a hiking.” Let’s just say Leo’s wet fur wasn’t that pleasant. There were 4 other people in the shelter, and every single one of them said they didn’t snore. I think every single one of them did, myself included.

When I neared the New Hampshire border, I got kidnapped by my friends, Smalls and Service, to go to a goodbye brunch for Bilbo in Hanover, N.H. I was very quick to jump in their car! The trail
Goes right through the town and Dartmouth campus. I decided to leave from there and not backtrack. So I made it to New Hampshire a day earlier than anticipated, and I truly enjoyed it.

The past couple days in N.H. have been rain, rain, and more rain. Today I got off trail again to avoid the potential hail and tornadoes and am currently
snuggled in a hostel bunk. I much prefer the rain over the hot temperatures , but it’s impossible to get anything dry after a few days of it. I have done a good job of keeping my camp clothes and sleeping bag dry but everything else got soaked. The weather is supposed to be somewhat better over the next couple days.

I did have a major disappointment this week: June 21, Solstice, was National Hike Naked Day. I did not see a single nekkid hiker 😕 I guess I am traveling with the wrong crowd!

(I also just realized I didn’t take a lot of photos this past week — I think I was either too hot, or too wet from the rain, or maybe just tired!) Czytaj więcej