Miles: 13.8; Elevation Gained: 3,000 Feet

Aaaaaand…. I’m back. Had the urge to hit the LT again – this time to do it in one chunk. In 2018 (see posts) I blew out my ankle near Brandon, Cliff got trench foot, and we had to stop in Stowe cuz we ran out of time. Returned last year and marched to the border. My partner in crime for this round is Chris Matyszewski, former co-worker and current friend. Future friend? Well that’s one thing 3 weeks in the woods can sort out pretty clearly!

I wanted to go straight up the gut this time in terms of access, so we started on the AT out of N Adams, MA instead of the side trail (Pine Cobble) Cliff and I took out of Williamstown. If you ever want to find the trail head there, look for a street sign that says “Appalachian Trail.” Duh! Double duh cuz we walked around for 5 mins looking for the trail. There is a nice rock scramble near the top of the ridge, which you walk along for just a bit to get to VT and the LT start. Hike pretty uneventful after that – hardwood forest with a few glacial erratics as window dressing.

Congdon a standard LT shelter + privy setup, and there were only a few people claiming bunks, but it was early and for sure more people would arrive, so in deference to the Ruh-oh ‘Rona, we both tented it. I just gotta figure that one good way to catch the virus would be to sleep 12 inches from a stranger exhaling at you in his/her sleep 10,000 times. Advantage ‘Rona!

In conclusion, a funny har-har, albeit at Chris M’s expense to a slight degree. He had asked me about bear bags before the hike, and I didn’t even know what he meant, as we always just used an old stuff sack to rig up the tree and never had any issues. But Chris bought an “Ursack Bear Bag,” described thus in the REI website: “The Ursack Major Bear Bag is made of bulletproof Spectra fabric designed to prevent bears from getting your food…” I though ok cool I’m happy to stick my food in it.

Punch line: In the morning, he retrieved it, and there was a nickel-sized hole in the bottom where (probably as it’s kinda their signature) a chipmunk gnawed thru the “bulletproof fabric” and got busy with some trail mix. Cue early AM belly laugh. A fellow traveler told us: “yeah, you gotta get the bag for both bears AND rodents.” WHAAAAT??? Ok, so now we’re on the lookout for a camping environment that has bears… but no rodents. Send suggestions my way, cuz that’s some kinda next-level ecosystem I want to check out.