Tom (left) and I at the Pine Cobble trailhead in Williamstown, MA, ready to walk into the woods. Jakin Miller waved and said "see you in a month."
Yours Truly at the Long Trail's southern terminus, a few miles north of the Pine Cobble trailhead. 272 to go!
Tom at the southern terminus.
Hiking down the north side of Stratton.
Looking out over Manchester VT to Mt. Equinox, home of the WEQX antenna. Long live Rock and Roll.
A faithful Green Mountain Club caretaker prepares to compost the privy. Better you than me, friend.
Tom looking stoic as we hike up Bromley after a day in Manchester.
Shadows lengthen in the view of Stratton from Bromley's south-facing slopes.
Another scenic Green Mountain view.
Goofing off on top of Bromley's observation tower.
Blackberry wheat and fading light. God is good.
More mountians (we saw a lot of mountains).
Bromley summit fun with Stratton in the background.
Our humble (phone-equipped!!) abode atop Bromley Mountain. Mike is there, too. Thanks, Bromley Ski Patrol!
A little rain squall as we move north.
Woohoo! Free Candy! People are so nice...
Big Branch at Big Branch shelter on the Long Trail. Makes for a brisk morning dip.
Speaking of a brisk dip, here is Tom airborne above little rock pond.
You would have followed him, too.
View north towards Rutland.
View east from White Rocks.
Weird new-agey rock cairns atop white rocks.
Home sweet home (for a night): Minerva Hinchey Shelter.
Clarendon Gorge is good swimming (and the LT goes over a cool suspension bridge).
View over Rutland.
At the checkout in Rutland. We don't like to let our gear out of sight.
More trail magic. You hear about "the sodas in the stream" from southbounders several days before you get to it!
There is a book for you to sign there, too.
Tom atop Killington.
Can a thirsty hiker get a ride to the bar? Not much brotherly love on this damp independence day but we walked the two mile round trip to the Long Trail inn for Guiness.
Moose tracks. We saw lots of tracks and lots of crap but no moose.
That's a bigass mushroom. White paint marks the way...
Middlebury Snow bowl is pretty in summer.
Ooooh, flowers!
Cold dew gives away a spider's trap on a dreary afternoon at skyline lodge in the breadloaf wilderness.
Tom victorious atop Mt. Abraham.
Should I be holding my poles like that with storms around?
Many thanks to the Sugarbush valley ski patrol for the use of their fine warming hut, truly it was a godsend. We even got a break in the clouds. Make up some tea and look closely at the porch, I am having a cup too!
View east from the ridge.
Tom atop Mt. Ellen!
First good look at "the hump," Camel's hump, that is. Do the hump!
Long Trail north up Burnt Rock Mountain before Camel's hump. Slippery and steep, and it got worse after this...
White pain leads up bare rock as we try to get up and over Burnt Rock Mtn. between thunder showers. Wet and bad footing for quite a distance there, physically and emotionally exhausting.
After over a week, an orange sunset finally ushers in a high pressure system and an end to the rain. A very friendly caretaker gave us fresh plums and ginger tea at Montclair Glen Lodge, and also took our picture. Thank you!
Approaching the summit of Camel's Hump the Long Trail switchbacks up around a cliff.
Camel's hump is Tom's favorite. He would look happier if the mist would clear.
Steady, there!
Cresting the summit of Camel's Hump in the morning mist.
Hello from Camel's Hump, 8:30 AM.
So we are thinking of having a bronze plaque made of this picture because Tom looks like such a damn stud in it. How come I never look like that?
Fog is lifting as we make tracks down the north side of Camel's Hump towards our ride to Burlington and a needed day off. White paint leads odd places.
Requisite bucolic rural Vermont scene.
Tom balances across a stream on a downed tree.
The ascent of Mt. Mansfield's forehead as weather clears. The forehead trail is a bit dicey.
Forehead achieved!
Skinny guy shows off tiny and trail-starved biceps.
View of Mt. Mansfield's chin (VT's highest point) from the forehead.
Tom surveys the countryside.
View west from Mansfield showing Lake Champlain. Champ is out there...
Through a keyhole in the rock.
Green Mountain splendor.
Standing on top of Vermont!
Sitting on top of Vermont...
Hiking off the top of Vermont.
Taft Lodge, five-star accommodations coming down off of Mansfield. Can't beat it!
Looking at Smuggler's Notch from the Long Trail from a skiing cut on Spruce peak.
The notch from Madonna Peak with Mansfield behind.
Sunset adds color to Madonna peak, our view as we fell asleep at Whiteface shelter.
View south from Whiteface Mtn. including madonna and Spruce Peaks, Smuggler's Notch, and Mt. Mansfield. Camel's hump seen in the distance, right-ish.
Keep smiling, maybe the rain will stop.
The blue monster. Don't laugh, it's practical.
Lucky us, we skipped lunch and get double dinner. Mmmm, dinner...
Corliss Camp -- can you find Me?
There are many more unposted pictures of us standing by sings in the woods. You gotta take pictures of something, right?
Trail rule: don't take yourself too seriously.
Looking forward, then.
Friendly people took our picture standing on top of Jay. Great viewing Day! And in the lodge, we phoned down to the base and ordered pizza and root beer up the gondola (they wouldn't send us Heiniken). We found a VCR and watched some old-school StarWars.
Demonstrating alpine ski technique for Mr. Jones.
Blue flower.
Tom at the last peak before Canada. Great viewing from this point and out-of control bittersweet emotion.
The socks my grandmother knit me made it all the way to Canada. Grandmas rule.
At the border.
Faithful friend at journey's end.
