Day 129 – Williamstown, MA to Congdon Shelter

“We got “Whiskey River” on a jukebox

A honky-tonk sawdust dance floor

A neon, five o’clock, broke clock

And plenty damn many when you want one more

Of this broke heart fool on an old bar stool

Drinkin’ beer almost as cold as you

Cold as you” – Luke Combs

Up at 7:30. Drizzle and chilly. Shuttled to trail at 8:30 by motel owner and on trail at 8:45. 14 miles to go today and weather is supposed to get better around 11:00 a.m.

Partly sunny, low 50s going to up to mid 50s. Scattered showers.

AT 10:00 I had a nasty rock scramble up into the clouds. Slippery rocks. Not fun.

11:10 crossed into Vermont. Vermont being Vermud, that was as close as I could get to the sign without being ankle-deep in mud. I’m balancing on a half-submerged log.

This is what the trail was like all afternoon in Vermud. 

Stopped at Seth Warner Shelter at 2:30 and 9.3 miles in for a snack. Slow going this afternoon due to all the mud. Got 4.8 miles to my destination for the night. Should be there about 5:30. Met another Long Trail NOBO at the shelter. That makes two for today who are both headed to the same shelter as me for the night. Back on trail at 2:50.

The temps coupled with the wind and wet make for a very chilly afternoon. Low tonight is 45 with more rain. I feel like I’m back in the Smoky Mountains. Glad I got some of my cold weather gear back last week. Need to get the rest back soon. And it’s only August 20!

Got to Congdon Shelter at 5:15. Made really good time. There are 5 other people and a dog here tonight. Three are AT NOBO and two are hiking The Long Trail. 

Ate dinner by 6:30, made my bear hang,  and put on all my layers of clothes. It’s damp and going down to low 40s. I need to get the rest of my cold weather gear ASAP, including my 20-degree quilt. I’ll be climbing into bed by 8:00 just for warmth.

Technical Notes:

• Everything bagel 280
• Apple juice 120
• Coffee 20
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Fig bar 200
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Zero-sugar sausage 120
• Skittles 250
• Cookies 200
• Ramen 740
• Dehydrated chicken 170
• Cookies 400
• Water .5
• Miles 14
• Time 8:30
• Elevation gain 3677
• Calories consumed 3000
• Calories burned 6000