A Journey on the Long Trail

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A Journey on The Long Trail Journal by Brian Culmo Hiked with Matt Angelo May 30th 2012 – June 14th 2012

Introduction My Long Trail Experience—The condensed version Written the day after completion of the trail, Friday, June 15th 2012

At the Canadian border, line post t#192.

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A Journey on The Long Trail

Day 1 Wednesday May 30th Pine Cobble trailhead – Melville Nauhiem Shelter 19 miles 6WDUWHG RII ODWHU WKDQ H[SHFWHG DURXQG 0DGH LW WR 97 ZLWKRXW DQ\ LVVXH 7U\LQJ WR UHJDLQ P\ WUDLO OHJV :DVQ¡W KXQJU\ IRU OXQFK XQWLO ZH VWRSSHG DW &RQJGRQ VKHOWHU DW OLNH 7KHQ LW VWDUWHG WR UDLQ EXW , DOVR IHOW EHWWHU MXVW JHWWLQJ EDFN WR WKH JURRYH RI WKLQJV /DVW PLOH NLFN XS WR 0HOYLOOH VXFNHG EXW ZH FRQTXHUHG LW JHWWLQJ WR FDPS DURXQG 3DVWD EDVLO VDXVDJH DQG FKHHVH IRU GLQQHU ZDV GHOLFLRXV VXUSULVLQJO\ Day 2 Thursday May 31st Melville Nauhiem Shelter – Story Spring Shelter 17.4 miles Started off sore (feet and throat), then felt better after *RGGDUG DQG WKH DZHVRPH Ă€UH WRZHU )HOW EHWWHU WR JHW IRRG ZDWHU 7KHQ QH[W PLOHV Ă HZ E\ WKDQNV WR D JRRG H[SODQDWLRQ WR 0DWW DERXW SKRWRVKRS DQG EULGJH DV ZHOO DV %/' SODQQLQJ 7KHQ ODVW PLOHV ZDV EDFN WR IHHOLQJ OLNH FUDS &DPH WR FDPS DURXQG VHHPHG QHYHU WR DUULYH 3UHWW\ ]RQNHG RXW WRZDUGV WKH HQG +DG EODFN EHDQV DQG ULFH IRU GLQQHU WKHQ FXW P\ Ă€QJHU ZLWK PDWWV NQLIH +DG WR GR VRPH HPHUJHQF\ Ă€UVW DLG /RWV RI EORRG EXW Ă€QJHU LV QRZ LQWDFW DQG ZUDSSHG 0DG WLUHG VR JR-­ LQJ WR EHG HDUO\ LQ SUHS IRU D ORQJ WRPRUURZ /HW¡V DOO KRSH WKLV WKURDW KROG XS DQG GRHVQ¡W JHW ZRUVH 1

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 3 Friday June 1st Story Spring Shelter – Bromley Shelter 23 miles /21* GD\ KRXUV RI KLNLQJ DQG PLOHV ODWHU , PDGH LW )LUVW KDOI IHOW JRRG WKHQ LW QHYHU VHHPHG WR HQG *RRG YLHZV DW 6WUDWWRQ ÀUH WRZHU DQG SURVSHFW URFN 6RPH SDUWV IHOW EHWWHU WKDQ RWKHUV« DOZD\V IHOW EHWWHU ZKHQ PH DQG 0DWW WDONHG KHOSHG GLVWUDFW XV IURP KLNLQJ 7R-­ GD\·V WRSLFV LQFOXGHG GRUP VKHQDQLJDQV ZHHG DQG VNL-­ LQJ ZLWK WKH IDPLO\ 1RZ VWDUWV WKH SKDVH ZKHUH , DP SHUSHWXDOO\ KXQJU\ DQG QHYHU VDWLVÀHG DOWKRXJK WR-­ QLJKW·V WRUWHOOLQL WDVWHG UHDOO\ JRRG ([FLWHG WR JHW RYHU .LOOLQJWRQ DQG WR D QHZ OHJ RI WKH MRXUQH\ ZKHUH PLOH-­ DJH EHFRPHV PRUH EHDUDEOH QRW VXUH KRZ PDQ\ PRUH PLOH DP SP GD\V , FDQ WDNH

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A Journey on The Long Trail Day 4 Saturday June 2nd Bromley Shelter-­Greenwall Shelter 22.6 miles 5$,1 :H ÀQDOO\ PDGH LW 6HHPHG OLNH D ORW RI KLNLQJ EXW YHU\ VDWLVI\LQJ WR UROO LQWR WKH FDPS DV ZH SODQQHG LW (DUO\ KHDY\ UDLQ ZLQG DQG FROG PDGH WKH ÀUVW PLOHV WR 3HUX 3HDN 6KHOWHU PLVHUDEOH 2QFH WKHUH ZH VDW DQG VKLYHUHG XQFRQWUROODEO\ DQG DWH IRRG WHD DQG ZDWHU :H ZHUH SUHWW\ EURNHQ E\ WKDW SRLQW IHHOLQJ OLNH WKHUH ZDV QR ZD\ ZH ZRXOG PDNH WKH PLOH SODQQHG MRXUQH\ DOO WKH ZD\ WR *UHHQZDOO 6KHOWHU :H VWDUWHG WDONLQJ RI IDOOEDFN SODQV %HLQJ DW 3HUX SHDN VKHOWHU DW OLNH ZDV GHÀQLWHO\ D ORZ SRLQW RI WKH GD\ DQG SUREDEO\ WKH WULS VR IDU /XFNLO\ RQFH ZH VWDUWHG KLNLQJ DJDLQ WKLQJV WXUQHG XS ZH VWDUWHG IHHOLQJ EHWWHU KLNLQJ IDVWHU DQG WKH ZHDWKHU VWDUWHG JHWWLQJ EHWWHU :H PDGH JRRG WLPH IRU WKH QH[W KRXUV DOO WKH ZD\ WR /LWWOH 5RFN 3RQG 6KHO-­ WHU ZKLFK ZDV RQ DQ DZHVRPH ODNH WRWDOO\ FKLOO VSRW )HOW WRXJK WR OHDYH WKHUH DQG SXVK WR RXU SODQQHG VKHO-­ WHU RI *UHHQZDOO 2QFH ZH PDGH LW WR FDPS WKH VWUXJJOH ZDV DOO ZRUWK LW DV ZH PDQDJHG WR VWD\ RQ RXU SODQ :H GLGQ·W JHW WR FDPS XQWLO FRQFOXGLQJ \HW DQRWKHU KRXU KLNLQJ GD\ 7KH VKHOWHU LV QRZ PDG FUDPSHG ZLWK ZHLUG SHRSOH ZKR KDYH EHHQ DVOHHS VLQFH ZH JRW KHUH DQG %UHDG %XWWHU DQG %ROGHU ZKR ZH KDYH VSHQW HYHU\ QLJKW ZLWK WKXV IDU :DV SXPSHG WR KDYH WKH EHHI\ QRR-­ GOH ERZO DQG EDNHG EHDQV ZKLFK ZH IRXQG DW %URPOH\ IRU GLQQHU DQG H[FLWHG WR JHW SDVW .LOOLQJWRQ WRPRUURZ

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Day 5 Sunday June 3rd Greenwall shelter – Cooper Lodge 18.9 miles 12 hrs 7KH GD\ VWDUWHG RII QLFH ZLWK JRRG ZHDWKHU DQG JRRG PRUDOH 7KH ORQJ PLOHDJH LV VWDUWLQJ WR JHW HDVLHU WR KDQ-­ GOH \HW WHGLRXV GD\ DIWHU GD\ 7KLV ZDV WKH WKLUG VWUDLJKW KU GD\ ZH GLG 7KLQJV WKHQ VWDUWHG WDNLQJ ORQJHU WKDQ H[SHFWHG LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQ :H ZHQW WKURXJK WKH FORVHG VHFWLRQ RI WUDLO EHWZHHQ WKH FROG ULYHU URDGV LW ZDV SRV-­ VLEOH EXW LQWHUHVWLQJ DQG GLIÀFXOW WR ÀQG WKH WUDLO FURVV-­ LQJV DW VRPH SRLQWV *ODG ZH ZHQW WKDW ZD\ WKRXJK %H-­ IRUH JHWWLQJ WR *RYHUQRU &OHPHQW VKHOWHU PH DQG 0DWW JRW SUHWW\ ]RQNHG RXW EHFDXVH ZH GLGQ·W HDW PXFK SULRU LQ DQ HIIRUW WR VDYH IRRG IRU WKH HQG DQG RXU ÀQDO SXVK XS WR .LOOLQJWRQ 3HDN ,W VXFNHG LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQ EXW SDLG RII JRLQJ XS .LOOLQJWRQ DV ZH VWDUWHG WR IHHO EHWWHU 7KHQ LW VWDUWHG WR UDLQ ZKLFK PDGH WKH ODVW KRXU SUHWW\ PLVHUDEOH /XFNLO\ WKH VKHOWHU FDPH XS RQ XV E\ VXUSULVH HDUOLHU WKDQ H[SHFWHG 6R WKDW ZDV QLFH 1RZ ZH DUH RXW RI IRRG DQG UHVWRFNLQJ WRPRUURZ 1RW ORRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR KHDY\ SDFNV DJDLQ EXW R· ZHOO )HHOV JRRG WR JHW WKLV GD\ RYHU ZLWK DQG FRQÀGHQW DERXW WKH QH[W VHFWLRQ RI RXU WULS )HHOV OLNH RXU ÀUVW PDMRU VHFWLRQ LV FRPSOHWH 'RQH ZLWK PLOHV

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 6 Monday June 4th Cooper Lodge – David Logan Shelter 19 miles 11 hours 6WDUWHG RII LQ WKH UDLQ XS RQ .LOOLQJWRQ , ZDV IUHH]LQJ ODVW QLJKW DQG WKLV PRUQLQJ EXW PDGH JRRG WLPH FRPLQJ GRZQ 0HW 7RP 6KDQDKDQ·V ZLIH DW WKH SDUNLQJ ORW DW 5RXWH VKH KDG RXU IRRG GURS DQG VXEZD\ VDQGZLFK-­ HV IRU XV DSSDUHQWO\ P\ PRP FDOOHG ODVW QLJKW UHTXHVW-­ LQJ VKH EULQJ XV WKH VDQGZLFKHV 7KH IRRW ORQJV ZHUH D JUHDW VXUSULVH )HOW JRRG WR KDYH D IXOO PHDO DQG QRW EH KXQJU\ IRU RQFH LQ GD\V 0DGH RN WLPH IROORZLQJ 5RXWH WKHQ , VWDUWHG JHWWLQJ ZHLUG KHDUWEXUQ FKHVW SDLQV SUREDEO\ VXEZD\ UHODWHG 3DFNV JRW D ELW KHDYL-­ HU EXW EHDUDEOH NQRZLQJ ZH KDYH PRUH IRRG HQRXJK WR JHW XV SDVW &DPHOV +XPS 7KH UDLQ GUDJJHG RQ DQG VR GLG ZH 7KH VWUHWFK DIWHU 5ROVWRQ·V 5HVW ZDV H[WUHPHO\ WHGLRXV :H WKRXJKW ZH DUULYHG DQG SDVVHG WKH VR FDOOHG WHOHSKRQH JDS DQG ZHUH DQWLFLSDWLQJ WKH VKHOWHU DW DQ\ PRPHQW RQO\ WR ÀQG D VLJQ QRW IRU WKH VKHOWHU EXW IRU WKH P\VWHULRXV WHOHSKRQH JDS 6R ZH EDVLFDOO\ KLNHG PLOHV OHVV WKDQ ZH WKRXJKW ZH GLG DW WKDW SRLQW DQG DGGHG DQ H[WUD KRXU RI KLNLQJ WR RXU H[SHFWHG DUULYDO ,W ZDV QLFH WR JHW LQWR FDPS DW WRQLJKW JDYH XV PRUH WLPH WR FRRN DQG VHWWOH LQ EHIRUH EHG 7KH H[WUD KRXU PDNHV D GLIIHUHQFH :H DUH QRZ DORQH DW WKH VKHOWHU DQG RQO\ VDZ %XWWHU WKLV PRUQLQJ +H >%XWWHU@ DQG WKH RWKHU $7HUV ZH VDZ PDGH WKHLU ZD\ (DVW WRGD\ DQG ZH SDVVHG PDQ\ RI WKH RWKHU /7HUV ZH·YH VHHQ VR ZH PLJKW EH E\ RXUVHOYHV IRU D ZKLOH ZKLFK LV H[FLWLQJ DQG VDG DW WKH VDPH WLPH

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 7 Tuesday June 5th David Logan Shelter – Skyline Lodge 22 miles 12 hrs 8am-­8pm :KDW D GD\ ,W VHHPHG WR EH WKH GD\ RI SDLQ IRU PH 0\ IHHW DQNOH DQNOH VKLQ FRPER RI SDLQ JRW WR D QHZ KLJK ,W ZDV SUHWW\ DZIXO JRLQJ GRZQ KLOOV P\ IHHW KXUW RQ LPSDFW DQG SDLQ VKRW XS WKURXJK P\ OHIW DQNOH DQG ERWK VKLQV DOPRVW HYHU\ VWHS /XFNLO\ WKH ZHDWKHU ZDV EHWWHU WRGD\ RQO\ ZLWK VFDWWHUHG VKRZHUV :H KDG D UHDOO\ ORQJ GD\ KLNLQJ ZLWK WRQV RI PLOHV :H DFWXDOO\ ZHQW PLOHV IXUWKHU WKDQ SODQQHG VR ZH KDYH PRUH WLPH WR VWRS DW 0DWW·V WRPRUURZ DIWHUQRRQ /RRNLQJ IRUZDUG WR GHFUHDV-­ LQJ PLOHDJH IURP UDQJH WR DURXQG D GD\ 2QO\ GR-­ LQJ WRPRUURZ DQG P\ ERG\ FRXOGQ·W EH PRUH VWRNHG Day 8 Wednesday June 6th Boyce Shelter – Battell Shelter 17 miles 13hrs 'D\ VWDUWHG RII SUHWW\ JRRG VLWWLQJ RQ WKH SRUFK RI VN\-­ OLQH ZDV TXLWH QLFH LQ WKH VXQ 2QH RI P\ IDYRULWH VKHOWHUV RQ WKH WUDLO 'D\ TXLFNO\ WXUQHG SUHWW\ PLVHUDEOH ZKHQ LW VWDUWHG UDLQLQJ KDLOLQJ RQ RXU ZD\ WR &RROH\ *OHQ 0R-­ UDOH ZDV YHU\ ORZ ZKHQ LW KDLOHG IRU RYHU DQ KRXU DQG P\ IHHW KXUW UHJDUGOHVV RI WKH SURPLVH RI D VKRUW GD\ DQG D UHVW DW 0DWW·V KRXVH 7KLQJV JRW EHWWHU IURP WKHUH DQG WKH SURPLVH RI VQDFNV DQG GU\ FORWKHV KHOSHG SXVK

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View from the porch of Skyline Lodge overlooking Skyline Pond

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 9 Thursday June 7th Battell Shelter – Cowles Cove Shelter 15.3 miles 7RGD\ IHOW UHDO JRRG :H WRRN RXU WLPH RQ WKH 0RQURH 6N\OLQH HQMR\LQJ WKH WHUUDLQ DQG WKH YLHZV )HHW IHOW EHW-­ WHU HVSHFLDOO\ LQ WKH PRUQLQJ 7RRN DGYLO LQ WKH PRUQ-­ LQJ ZKLFK KHOSHG GLPLQLVK WKH SDLQ )HOW JUHDW WR HDW D ORW PRUH IRRG WRGD\ EHFDXVH ZH VWRSSHG DW 0DWW·V KRXVH \HVWHUGD\ DQG QRZ ZH KDYH VXUSOXV RI IRRG :H DUH JHW-­ WLQJ D IRRG GURS DQG JRLQJ WR WKH JURFHU\ VWRUH WRPRU-­ URZ 7KH 0RQURH 6N\OLQH ZDV SUHWW\ WHFKQLFDO ZLWK ORWV RI URFNV DQG VSRWV \RX KDG WR SLFN \RXU ZD\ WKURXJK :H KDG VRPH JRRG EUHDNV WR UHVW DQG HDW D ELW RI IRRG 7KH ZHDWKHU ZDV WKH EHVW ZH·YH KDG ZLWK QR UDLQ IHOW JRRG WR NHHS DOO P\ VWXII GU\ DOO GD\ , IHOW , ZDV ÀQDOO\ DEOH WR HQMR\ WKH WUDLO IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ D ZKLOH PLOHV ZDV D SOHDVDQW EUHDN $QG ZH KLNHG OHVV WKDQ PLOHV DQG KRXUV IRU WKH ÀUVW WLPH LQ OLNH GD\V 7RPRUURZV JRLQJ WR EH D ELJ GD\ GRLQJ &DPHOV +XPS ZLWK IRUHFDVW-­ HG WKXQGHUVWRUPV KDLO RQ DQ H[SRVHG SHDN 3XPSHG WR JHW WR EHG HDUO\ Day 10 Friday June 8th Cowles Cove Shelter – Duck Brook Shelter 18.1 miles &5$=< GD\ 6WDUWHG RII VXSHU HDUO\ ZRNH XS DW DP DQG ZDV RQ WKH WUDLO E\ EHFDXVH ZH KDG KHDUG D IRUH-­ FDVW ZLWK WKXQGHUVWRUPV UROOLQJ WKURXJK &DPHOV +XPS

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Atop Lincoln Mountain early in the morning

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A Journey on The Long Trail Day 12 Sunday June 10th Taylor Lodge – Sterling Pond Shelter 12.3 miles 6:50-­4:40 6R 0DWW PDGH D VSRRQ RXW RI D VWLFN WRGD\ +H ORVW KLV WLWDQLXP VSRRQ VR ZDV IRUFHG WR FDUYH D QHZ RQH RXW RI D VWLFN 2WKHUZLVH WRGD\ ZDV DPD]LQJ DQG LW IHOW JUHDW WR KLNH RQ URFNV DERYH WKH WUHH OLQH DQG RXW RI WKH ZRRGV /RWV RI SHRSOH RQ WKH VXPPLW RXW GD\ KLNLQJ RQ WKLV EHDXWLIXO GD\ 5DQ LQWR D JURXSV ZKLFK ZDV JHQHURXV HQRXJK WR JLYH XV D EDJ RI FKRFRODWH FRYHUHG SUHW]HOV ZKLFK ZHUH GHOLFLRXV IRU DQ DIWHU GLQQHU WUHDW %LJ PLOH-­ VWRQH JHWWLQJ RYHU 0DQVÀHOG SOXV ZH FRXOG VHH -D\ 3HDN IURP WKH WRS ZKLFK LV WKH HQG RI RXU MRXUQH\ 7RGD\ LW ÀQDOO\ VHW LQ WKDW WKH HQG RI RXU MRXUQH\ LV UHDOO\ FORVH GD\V PDLQO\ EHFDXVH ZH NHSW H[SODLQLQJ RXU WULS WR SDVVLQJ KLNHUV :H NHSW VD\LQJ ´:H·UH RQ GD\ WR JRµ DQG DIWHU WRQV RI WLPHV VD\LQJ LW LW UHDOO\ GRHV VLQN LQ LQ-­ WHUQDOO\ 7KLV KLNH LV QRZ RQ WKH ÀQDO VHFWLRQ )HHOV JRRG WR HDW D ORW RI IRRG DQG WR WKLQN DKHDG DERXW IRRG UDWLRQV 7KH SDFN FRQWLQXHV WR JHW OLJKWHU E\ WKH GD\ DQG LV QRZ DW D QRUPDO PDQDJHDEOH ZHLJKW DQG ZLOO RQO\ FRQWLQXH WR JHW OLJKWHU 7KH KLNH XS WR VWHUOLQJ SRQG VXFNHG LQ WKH DIWHUQRRQ ,W ZDV VWHHS KRW DQG QHYHU HQGLQJ EXW LW IHOW JRRG WR JHW WR FDPS HDUO\ DQG JR GRZQ WR WKH SRQG DQG VRDN RXW WKH IHHW +DYHQ·W GRQH WKDW \HW DQG LW IHOW DPD]-­ LQJ EHWWLQJ WRPRUURZ WKH IHHW ZLOO IHHO JUHDW EHFDXVH RI LW )HHW RYHUDOO IHOW EHWWHU WRGD\ %OLVWHUV DUH QRW JHWWLQJ DQ\ ZRUVH SRLVRQ LY\ VHHPV WR EH GLVVLSDWLQJ DQG SUXQ-­ LQJ ZDVQ·W EDG DW DOO WRGD\ $QNOHV DQG VKLQV GLGQ·W KXUW

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Matt after a dip in the Lamoille River

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 13 Monday June 11th Sterling Pond Shelter – Roundtop Shelter 14.3 miles 7RGD\ ZDV D WUDQVLWLRQ GD\ ZH WUDQVLWLRQHG IURP IDPLO-­ LDU KLNHV WR WKH XQNQRZQ QRUWK (YHU\WKLQJ VHHPHG WR FKDQJH WRGD\ LQ WKH W\SH RI WHUUDLQ FRYHUHG ZH KLNHG RQ KLJK DOSLQH VWHHS WHUUDLQ URFN\ FUDJJ\ WHUUDLQ ÁDW HDV\ WHUUDLQ JUDYHO UDLO WUDLOV JUDVV\ ÀHOGV DQG ZH FURVVHG D PDMRU ULYHU , IHHO ZH ÀQDOO\ WUDQVLWLRQHG LQWR WKH ÀQDO OHJ RI RXU KLNH WRGD\ , WUXO\ OLNH , DP LQ WKH 1RUWK QRZ :LWK RQO\ GD\V OHIW WKH HQG LV VWDUWLQJ WR FRPH WR VLJKW OLWHUDOO\ DQG PHQWDOO\ (DFK GD\ , DP JHWWLQJ EHWWHU DW KLNLQJ TXLHWO\ DQG QRW WDONLQJ ZLWK 0DWW DQG QRW JRLQJ FUD]\ RU JHWWLQJ VXSHU GHSUHVVHG , DP IHHOLQJ PRUH SRV-­ LWLYH QRZ WKH HQG LV QHDU 0\ ERG\ VHHPV WR KLW D JURRYH 0\ IHHW KDYHQ·W ZRUVHQHG LQ D IHZ GD\V QRZ DQG WKH DQNOH VKLQ VLWXDWLRQ LV EHFRPLQJ EHDUDEOH HYHQ RQ WHFK-­ QLFDO GHVFHQWV 0DWW·V NQHH IHOW EHWWHU RQ WKH ORQJ GHVFHQW GRZQ IURP ZKLWHIDFH WRGD\ VR WKDW ZDV D JRRG VLJQ ,·P IHHOLQJ OLNH , FDQ WDNH RQ WKHVH ODVW IHZ GD\V DJJUHVVLYHO\ ZKLOH HDWLQJ D WRQ RI IRRG DQG VXUYLYH DOO WKH ZD\ WR WKH end. Day 14 Tuesday June 12th Roundtop Shelter – Spruce Ledge Shelter 14.7 miles ¶7RGD\ ZDV *5555 ($7 µ LQ P\ EHVW WRQ\ WKH 7LJHU LP-­ SHUVRQDWLRQ (YHU\WKLQJ IHOO LQ OLQH IRU D JUHDW GD\ :H JRW RXW HDUO\ DW DURXQG DQG WKH WHUUDLQ ZDV VXSHU

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Brian at the top of Jay Peak, with Canada in the background only a few miles away

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Day 15 Wednesday June 13th Spruce Ledge Shelter – Hazens Notch Camp 14.5 miles 7RGD\ ZDV ZRUVH WKDQ H[SHFWHG EXW EHWWHU WKDQ LW FRXOG KDYH EHHQ /DVW QLJKW WKH UDLQ VXVWDLQHG DQG LW ZDV VWLOO UDLQLQJ LQ WKH PRUQLQJ ZKHQ ZH OHIW DURXQG ,W UDLQHG IRU WKH ÀUVW KRXU RU VR GRZQ WR WKH URDG WKHQ LW ORRNHG OLNH LW ZDV JRLQJ WR FOHDU )URP WKHUH ZH KHDGHG XS WKH PLOHV WR 0W %HOYLGHUH ZKHUH ZH SURFHHGHG WR KLNH LQWR WKH FORXG DW KLJKHU HOHYDWLRQ ZKHUH ZH VWD\HG PRVW RI WKH GD\ :KDW VHHPHG OLNH FOHDULQJ ZHDWKHU ZDV DFWXDOO\ SHUSHWXDO IRJ DQG ZLQG OXFNLO\ PLQLPDO DFWXDO UDLQ ,W ZDV VWLOO ZHW WKRXJK 0\ IHHW ZHUH FRPSOHWHO\ VXEPHUJHG LQ ZDWHU RQ PXOWLSOH RFFDVLRQV ZKLFK LV LQ-­

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Matt showing off his trail made spoon on the last night at Hazen’s Notch Camp

A Journey on The Long Trail Day 16 Thursday June 14th Hazens Notch Camp – Journey’s end trailhead 18.7 miles 7KH SHQXOWLPDWH GD\ )HOW VXSHU PRWLYDWHG LQ WKH PRUQ-­ LQJ DQG OHIW FDPS DW RXU HDUOLHVW VWDUW RI WKH WULS 5XVKHG WR -D\ SDVV LQ WKH PRUQLQJ EHIRUH VHFRQG EUHDN-­ IDVW ZKLFK KDV EHFRPH D JUHDW WUDGLWLRQ RI KDYLQJ D ERZO RI FHUHDO DQG GULHG IUXLW DPRQJ RWKHU VQDFNV XVX-­ DOO\ PLOHV LQWR RXU GD\ )URP WKHUH ZH SXVKHG RQ WR WKH WRS RI -D\ 3HDN DZHVRPH FOLPE ZLWK JUHDW YLHZV DQG H[SRVHG URFNV DW WKH VXPPLW ZKLFK PDGH WKLQJV LQWHU-­ HVWLQJ ,W ZDV D EHDXWLIXO PRUQLQJ DQG , ZDV TXLWH KDSS\ VLWWLQJ RQ WKH WRS VQDFNLQJ HVSHFLDOO\ FRQVLGHULQJ LW ZDV WKH ODVW GD\ %XW ZH VWLOO KDG D ORQJ ZD\ WR JR 0\ SKRQH EDWWHU\ GLHG WKH \HVWHUGD\ EXW OXFNLO\ , ZDV DEOH WR ERUURZ D FRQVWUXFWLRQ ZRUNHUV SKRQH WR FDOO 6WHYH 0HUULOO WR FRQÀUP D ULGH WR %XUOLQJWRQ +H GLGQ·W DQVZHU EXW DW OHDVW , OHIW D PHVVDJH )URP WKHUH ZH KDP-­ PHUHG RQ WR VKRRWLQJ VWDU ZKHUH , ZDV KDSS\ WR XQORDG RQ PRUH IRRG %\ WKH WLPH ZH JRW WR WKH URDG PLOHV IURP WKH WHUPLQXV ZH DWH PRVW QHDUO\ DOO WKH IRRG ZH KDG VDYLQJ VRPH LQ FHOHEUDWLRQ IRU WKH ERUGHU :H DEVR-­ OXWHO\ ÁHZ WKH ODVW PLOHV LQ H[FLWHG DQWLFLSDWLRQ :H DUULYHG DW WKH ERUGHU DW DERXW ,W ZDV DQ DFFRPSOLVK-­ PHQW WKDW GLGQ·W VHW LQ DW ÀUVW DQG LV MXVW VWDUWLQJ WR FRPH WR OLJKW $OO RXU VWUXJJOHV EDG WLPHV JRRG WLPHV KDUG WLPHV DQG KLJKOLJKWV FXOPLQDWHG LQ FRPSOHWLQJ WKH WUDLO )HOW JUHDW WR EH GRQH DQG ÀQLVKHG ZLWK VXFK D PDMRU DF-­ FRPSOLVKPHQW 7KH /7 ZLOO JR GRZQ DV HDVLO\ WKH KDUG-­ HVW WKLQJ , KDYH HYHU GRQH EDVHG RQ PHQWDO SK\VLFDO DQG

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