Day 138 – Inn at Long Trail to Winturri Shelter

“Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above

Don’t fence me in

Let me ride through the wide open country that I love

Don’t fence me in

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze

And listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees

Send me off forever but I ask you please

Don’t fence me in” – Bing Crosby

Up at 6:45. Showered and had breakfast at the hotel. Finished some last-minute packing and played with some route planning tweaks. Might try to do some bigger miles the next two days so I can get into Norwich earlier on Saturday and minimize my time in the rain on Saturday. Cooper Cab picked me up at 8:45 and took me to the trail. We chatted for a bit about local hostels and trail pickup access. On trail at 9:15.

Clear and low 50s going up to 70 degrees.

Side note: I was talking to family back in Maryland last night and the temperature hit 99 with the heat index around 103.

Very steep 1.5 miles to start the day! 946 feet per mile grade!

Nice view of Killington ski resort and mountain from the opposite side of where I was two days ago. Taken from a power line crossing at 10:30 and 2 miles in for today.

Cool little waterfall.

Going down! Ladder attached to the rock face. Foreshadowing for next week.

The trail is very nice today, very little mud. Mostly packed dirt with a layer of old dried leaves. 

I have been seeing a lot of grouse the last 4 days or so. At least a dozen a day. Damn things make a ruckus when they fly away.

Reached Chateauguay Road at 2:00 and 9 miles in for the day. Heavily rutted dirt road, but it had seen use recently. Decent raised vehicle required. Stopped for a snack and to swap water. 

I have 5.3 miles to the shelter for tonight. Should be there by 5:30. Back on trail at 2:30.

Filled up on a liter of water at a stream at mile 9.4. No more water until camp.

Made it to The Lookout at 4:00 and 11.9 miles. It isn’t an official AT shelter, but is a privately owned cabin that is open to hikers for camping. No water or electricity or privy, but it is a nice enough cabin. My original plan was to stay here, but I’m going another 2.7 miles to a shelter. It gets me closer to Norwich so I have less hiking in the rain Saturday morning.

YouTube video from the top of Lookout

Got to Winturri Shelter at 5:30. There are 6 others here. There is a so-so bar of cell service. I set up my tent and generally got camp ready. I hung clothes to dry in a pine tree by my tent.  It was easier than setting up a clothesline!

Ate dinner at 6:45 and worked on route planning for tomorrow.

My feet hurt! Another reason to do these under 15-mile days! 

Ugh. I heard from Dana. A tree is down in the backyard and it took out part of the fence that keeps the dogs from running off. It is lovely. I have to work with Dana to get the tree removed and the fence patched until I get home. I don’t have enough cell service to call now. It is frustrating. 

In bed at 7:30. I am doing route planning and reading until 9:30. I want to be on the trail by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow. I am pushing some bigger miles to get to a road for a shuttle to a hostel around 5:00 p.m. I need to arrange the shuttle in the morning and then the hostel.

Technical Notes:

• Apple juice: 125
• Omelette: 350
• Sausage patty x2: 300
• English muffin: 250
• Coffee: 75
• Cheese crackers: 250
• Zero-sugar sausage: 120
• Oreo: 160
• Ramen: 370
• Dehydrated chicken: 170
• Oreo: 160
• Fritos: 500
• Water: 1.7
• Miles: 14.4
• Time: 8:15
• Elevation gain: 4419
• Calories consumed: 2830
• Calories burned: 6500