August 4: We woke up and went down to the free hotel breakfast and ate heartily, probably the equivalent of 2 1/2 normal hotel patrons. Then it was time to hit the trail again. Dad was going to drop us off at the trail and then shuttle our stuff off to the Mountain Meadows Lodge, which was right on his way home. Meaning another slackpack - 21 miles today. We got hiking at 7:30. It started through a meadow of very tall, very wet grass. Which meant our boots were pretty much soaked by 7:35. We exited the meadon and entered the forest where we began a gradual climb. We stopped at the shelter for food at the top of the climb, and ran into the Long Trail Boys; the ones without a map. They asked us some questions about milage and about the whereabouts of the Inn at Longtrail, which was about 3 miles before our final destination of the day.
A gradual descent followed by another climb_ this one pretty big. Two Thousand feet to Shrewsbury Peak, where we once again stopped for food at a shelter. The rest of the day was a gradual downward trend, but true to the nature of the trail, down means up and down, up and down. Overall, though, nice terrain. Have I mentioned how much I love Vermont? So much easier on the feet with all those pine needles and no rocks. I don't even mind the mud!
As the trail continued on the downward trend, we picked up the speed and were practically running at times! The trail entered a state park where it got so super well maintained it was crazy. It went from walking over roots to walking on a raked gravel path! So nice and easy. Made for a nice last few miles.
We arrived at the Lodge at just before 6, just in time for the "hiker feed dinner". Nice! It seems there was a wedding at the lodge the day before and now we were feastin on the leftovers from the wedding. Rice pilaf, salmon, chicken, green beans with slivered almonds. What a nice surprise!
Also a nice surprise- we ran into Ponybear and Indy at the Lodge, as well as Honeybun and Stink Bug. We hadn't seen Honeybun and Stink Bug since Virginia. So, good food, good companionship, good reunion.
After dinner, I showered and wandered around the grounds, looking at the animals and scenery while Subaru joined in a volleyball game in the backyard. Excellent day!
A gradual descent followed by another climb_ this one pretty big. Two Thousand feet to Shrewsbury Peak, where we once again stopped for food at a shelter. The rest of the day was a gradual downward trend, but true to the nature of the trail, down means up and down, up and down. Overall, though, nice terrain. Have I mentioned how much I love Vermont? So much easier on the feet with all those pine needles and no rocks. I don't even mind the mud!
As the trail continued on the downward trend, we picked up the speed and were practically running at times! The trail entered a state park where it got so super well maintained it was crazy. It went from walking over roots to walking on a raked gravel path! So nice and easy. Made for a nice last few miles.
We arrived at the Lodge at just before 6, just in time for the "hiker feed dinner". Nice! It seems there was a wedding at the lodge the day before and now we were feastin on the leftovers from the wedding. Rice pilaf, salmon, chicken, green beans with slivered almonds. What a nice surprise!
Also a nice surprise- we ran into Ponybear and Indy at the Lodge, as well as Honeybun and Stink Bug. We hadn't seen Honeybun and Stink Bug since Virginia. So, good food, good companionship, good reunion.
After dinner, I showered and wandered around the grounds, looking at the animals and scenery while Subaru joined in a volleyball game in the backyard. Excellent day!
Impromptu bridge where the real bridge had washed out.
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