Long Trail Thru-hike in July

“had been planning to do the whites in july, but now im planning on doing the greens instead

some discussion here:

http://www.thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/25884,6.php”

“"At one point, this was going to be the AT through NH, now it is going to be a thru of the LT. 5 legs of 5 days each, with a re-supply after each leg. Typical mileage will be 10-12 miles per day, but could be more or less."

I'm assuming resupply time is part of the 5 day leg?”

“yes. i can give you more details later if you want”

“Any details that will get me thinking about the trail are welcome. I won't be making any firm decisions for a while.

If I can get enough time, I might try to go Canada to Canada - start Southbound with you, turn left at Maine junction and then a slight left (North) at the Presidential Ridge.”

“the tentative resupply plan:

beginning of day 6 at johnson
end of day 10 at waitsfield
beginning of day 16 at rutland
beginning of day 21 at manchester center”

“Makes sense to me. Overall, I think your last two legs will be much easier than your first two even with the extra time you allow into Johnson. There are some really easy stretches between Waitsfield and Rutland (especially the last 20 miles of so)though the first day will be tough.

Johnson: This would definitely be my plan (unless a friend offered to help with a ride elsewhere). There aren't many options before Johnson on the LT - (at Jay, the tram operator will give backpackers a free ride down to refreshment stands and back - but I don't think there are real resupply options there). The only real resupply option north of Johnson is Montgomery Center and I hear that's a hard hitch. Johnson isn't that easy a hitch either - most people get rides but one person (who didn't look "scary") told me he walked all the way in while trying to hitch. Worst case it isn't an extreme walk.

Waitsfield:

I haven't stopped at Waitsfield - but it makes great sense to me to stop there.

If a PO stop will work for you, the Jonesville Post office (which had a hiker box when I was through there) is right on the trail and before Bristol. I'm sure you have some opinions on POs for resupply. There is also a vintage Harley repair store across the street with vending machines (someone said they might take them down - but on a hot day, it is great to be able to pick up a cold soda there). There is a guy trying to open up a hiker friendly store in Jonesvile - there is a thread on this at the LT forum oh White Blaze.

From the same point as Waitsfield, I really like Bristol but it is a harder hitch that Waitsfield.

I assume you like Rutland. I do. But when backpacking, I've just had mail drops, a meal, and a beer, at the LT Inn.”

“. I'm sure you have some opinions on POs for resupply

i think it is a waste of money to send food for a super-long hike like the AT, unless it is something that you have to have that you cant get along the trail. for a shorter hike like the LT, not as big an issue. the other issue is, post offices are only open 5 or 5 1/2 days a week, less on holidays.”

“i might do a mail drop at the inn, so i can spend more time relaxing there instead of messing about going into town”

“There's a restaurant/bar that is on Route 15 outside of Johnson. When I did the northern LT in 2007, the owner was very hiker friendly and lets thru hikers camp behind the bar. He was also in the proses of building a shower house for thru hikers.”

“i would be amenable to such amenities”

“The place Zac refers to is the Long Trail Tavern. They used to be pretty much on the LT until it was re-routed with a new bridge across the river.
last edited: 1/18/10 6:08:32 PM”

“given the dates I see, it looks like you'll have to average 12 miles/day including on resupply days - unless the 4th and 28th are both full trail days. Thats a reasonable pace I think.

Who else remains interested from the maybes or folks who didn't respond?”

“theyre all full trail days, altho i might take a zero at some point”

“Weird, it wouldn't take my edit. I'm still not sure what I'm doing. I'm teaching a course the first summer session which ends July 1 - not sure how long it will take to get grades in. If I left later, I could always hope to catch you.

Still also thinking about longer days in July vs. wetter days for July the past few years. But hey, its always good to find a way to get my head out on the trail. And, I can't see having you come out to my corner of the country without my making a real effort to walk a ways with you.”

“Crash, you may have posted this before, but which direction will you be hiking?”

“Straight up!”

“But what about the straight down parts?”

“Oh yeah............and straight down, too.

Its kind of like a 60-cycle wave, but the humps are not that fast.”

“Zac: SOBO was the plan last I saw.”

“but which direction will you be hiking?

SOBO”

“I'd like to hike some of the southern section. I haven't hiked any of the trail south of Brandon Gap.”

“I'm thinking more and more that I would like to join you you for a stretch, but that I would do my major hike in August. It's looking more doable in terms of scheduling for me, and the trail is likely to be better (drier) with fewer bugs.”

“The only time that trail is "dry" is in winter.”

“This is true, but it does tend to be significantly drier (or less wet, if you prefer) in August in my experience (and in September from what I hear). Last night I was talking to a friend I met on the LT who has done it 10 times and he said that was his experience, too.”

“Sorry zac - that sounded kinda snotty or something. The conversation last night about summer plans kind of sealed it for me - that since it was looking harder and harder to get out for a few weeks in July, I might as well embrace the fact that the trail is wetter in July (and harder on my skin).

Zac - if schedules work out, we could spot cars for joining Crash's hike for part of his trip.”

“This still on? I'm still thinking I could offer you a lift for resupply and hike with you a few days if you'd like.”

“Let me repeat the question (actually, let me just refer to the question - see prior post).”

“sorry. was going to respond to this, then got sidetracked.



ummmmmmmmmmm. my status is maybe”

“No needs to apologize, I coulda emailed you instead of posting, if I urgently needed a reply.

If I can, I'll still try to hike a bit with you and help with resupply if you end up doing it - but I won't put anything in my calendar for now.”