Miles: 16.7; Elevation gained: 3,400; Mile reached: 147.4

Gorgeous day, if still a bit cold for late September. It’s been below freezing at night, and have to say that any colder than this would severely test my 3 season tent and sleeping bag. Nothing like fingers going numb during camp break down in the morning to make you want to not only get on the trail but actually climb to break a sweat.

So it was a GOOD thing that we had about 600 feet up Worth Mountain, which, although had no view, brings its own character in gnarled beech and butternut trees in fern beds. In any case, there were great views when we descended to the top of the chair of Middlebury Snow Bowl. As you can see in pics, autumn is starting to show up, but hasn’t erupted in that VT explosion of color quite yet.

Crossing the road at Middlebury Gap had us entering the Breadloaf Wilderness, an infamous stretch in the Osborne family as Cliff and I had to cross dozens of blown down trees that the poor GMC folks could not keep up with (made all the more tricky by the fact that in these designated wilderness areas, power tools are not allowed, so they are clearing trees off the trail with axes and crosscut saws!). Now, 2 years later, there a few left on the trail, but it still looks like a war zone.

We attempted water at Skyline Lodge (at Skylight Pond), but it’s an active beaver wetland with lily pads and whatnot that we didn’t want to subject our filters too. To the rescue a trio of generous ladies out on a day hike, who gave us water, chocolate, and encouragement – thank you!!

Up and over Breadloaf Mtn to Emily Proctor, there is a very odd u turn that almost everyone misses, instead continuing on a spur that takes you to the summit because, well, I don’t know as it dead ends in woods with no view despite sporting a 3,800 foot peak.

We descended into Cooley Glen at dusk. Nearly 17 miles and over 3,000 ft climbing is a bit much. Slept well!

by j