Hanover, New Hampshire

After a relaxing and fun day on Tuesday (7-19) on Lake George, we were driven an hour back to the AT.  We began our hike at 7:50 AM.  It was a difficult day of hiking with a 2,500 foot climb over endless rocks and tree roots.  In the morning we reached a sign which indicated we were 500 miles from Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the AT!  Below the sign was trail magic – lots of ice cold drinks.  At the end of our hiking day, the AT split from the Long Trail.  We tented at Tucker-Johnson Shelter Campsite. We hiked 18.4 miles for the day.  On Wednesday (7-20) we began our hike at 6:15 AM.  We reached Gifford Woods State Park in Vermont by mid-morning.  I heard someone say “Buckeye” and I turned to see two hikers who I had talked with back in Virginia and then in Pennsylvania.  A little while later we reached Thundering Falls.  As you can see, it was beautiful!

We had a 1,200 foot climb over Quimby Mountain before lunch at the Stony Brook Shelter.  In the afternoon we crossed a road and I saw a house nearby.  I went to the house and found no one home.  I was nearly out of water so I filled my CamelBak with water out of their hose!  About 6 PM we reached Winturri Shelter and tented.  We hiked 18.9 miles for the day.  Thursday (7-21) was a 98 degree day with high humidity.  We began our hike at 6:40 AM.  The climbs for the day were moderate with 600, 700, and 1000 foot elevations. We had lunch  just off the AT at a place that sold ice cream and drinks.  We each bought a pint of vanilla ice cream and a bottle of root beer to make root beer floats.  We ate at a picnic table in the shade with a great breeze.  It was the only cool part of the day!  After lunch I called Joe Stagliano, brother of Dick Stagliano.  Dick is a friend who started teaching with me at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) in 1970.  Joe and his wife Mary picked us up at VT 14 in West Hartford, Vermont.  Before I got in their car, I rang out my towel which I used to wipe my face and created a puddle on the ground.  They drove us to their beautiful home about 20 miles south in New Hampshire on a lovely lake.  We were able to shower, do laundry and enjoy dinner with them.  We hiked 16.6 miles for the day.  After a restful night at the Stagliano’s, Mary drove us back to the AT at 6:30 AM on Friday (7-22). We reached the Connecticut River (VT/NH border) at 11am and continued our hike of 9.6 miles into Hanover, the home of Dartmouth College.  Hanover is an upscale town with nice shops.  We visited two outfitters, had lunch, went to the library, and then went to the PO to pick up our warm clothes that were sent to us for hiking in the White Mountains.  At 4pm Amy Vander Kooi, daughter of Verna Vander Kooi, (retired Tri-C faculty), picked us up at the library and drove us to the Hanover Food Co-op (a supermarket) to resupply.  Then she drove us to the Sunset Motor Inn to spend the night in an air-conditioned motel room.