We had some promising weather and a wonderful start to an Indian Summer. At the same time we were looking at about seven weeks to finish the trail or fourteen to finish a through hike (including redoing parts we had done but a month or two too early to count).
We had some wonderful days and then a cold front broke the weather pattern.
For reference, the trail north/east of us:
We’ve cleared from the clouds, revealing the winter wonderland that’s currently Mount Washington! 100+ mph winds over the past 2 days has led to rime ice feathers up to 3 feet in places, with 4.3″ of new snow since Thursday.
So. Looking at three inches of rain followed by a week of snow and high winds to finish up Vermont. Maybe getting done in time to have Thanksgiving with Rachel, maybe being a week late.
Everything started to close as well.
If we weren’t going to hike through Christmas to get a through hike, Win suggested we finish our 180 miles in Virginia this April (which is a wonderful time to hike Virginia) and return to Vermont in September when the mosquitoes and black flies are gone.
I was 120% behind that idea.
Which puts us back in Dallas. I’ve some writing projects and Win has the busy season at work.
We had some promising weather and a wonderful start to an Indian Summer. At the same time we were looking at about seven weeks to finish the trail or fourteen to finish a through hike (including redoing parts we had done but a month or two too early to count).
We had some wonderful days and then a cold front broke the weather pattern.
For reference, the trail north/east of us:
With 100 mph wind
So. Looking at three inches of rain followed by a week of snow and high winds to finish up Vermont. Maybe getting done in time to have Thanksgiving with Rachel, maybe being a week late.
Everything started to close as well.
If we weren’t going to hike through Christmas to get a through hike, Win suggested we finish our 180 miles in Virginia this April (which is a wonderful time to hike Virginia) and return to Vermont in September when the mosquitoes and black flies are gone.
I was 120% behind that idea.
Which puts us back in Dallas. I’ve some writing projects and Win has the busy season at work.
Here are links to the last updates.
New Hampshire color changes were great
Dallas
We busted our tails to get off of the trail and into town due to the weather forecast. 17 miles yesterday and another 17 miles today. That’s a lot for this old body.
Flooding and wind advisories were posted for tonight and tomorrow. And, because that isn’t enough fun, snow will start mixing in with the rain tomorrow. Lots of forecasts of nighttime temperatures falling into the mid 20’s.
Winter is coming.
Due to this weather event and the extended forecast, we are trying to decide whether to keep hiking or go home for the season.
Flipping coins ..
Weather forecastBog bridgeSolid dayMiles of bog bridgeShelter view
October 15
Nightfall. 16.9 trail miles, 18.4 by GPS, 408 floors climbed (and down as much as up). Good day. Good fire. Tomorrow looks to be even better.
Vermont has more climbing in a day than New Hampshire or Maine (for the most part) but the leaves hide a lot of rocks.
The trail meanders either East-West or North-South. We turned the corner and are headed South.
We are about 70.9 trail miles from Massachusetts which we are told is the promised land of level trails and rock free walking.
Fire LeavesTarp over shelter entranceClosing on Dartmouth Big Branch Shelter
October 14 Gondola to Clarendon Shelter. Beautiful day for hiking.
ColorFrom the topMore from the topGondola topLeaves and colorThe shelterClarendon Shelter
October 13
Turning the corner in Vermont. (The trail goes East-West and then turns a corner and goes North-South).
October 9 Lyme to Velvet Rocks Shelter (just outside of Hanover/Dartmouth). Beautiful day. Only lost for five minutes (Trail turned but kind of wonky).
We left the fire warden’s cabin/smarts mountain shelter and hiked into Lyme. Hitched a ride into town well ahead of when we could have gotten the shuttle from a very nice retired couple.
Hiking in the mistMore mistHappy on trail with mistRowan berries
Yesterday we hiked from Hexicube Shelter to Smarts Mountain. We stopped before the rain and waited out two inches of rainfall.
Hexcuba to Smarts Mountain. Short day but we checked into the shelter before the rainstorm hit. Tomorrow morning it should be clear again and we will be headed into Lyme. Otherwise we would have hiked as two inches of rain fell on us.
Smart Mountain
Cell service bounces. I’ve yet to succeed in getting a call out. Verizon bounces between nothing and three bars displayed as I sit in the same place.
Usually cell service will get better after dark.
Trail
But it got up to 60 degrees—a huge improvement from below freezing late yesterday. Just resting and drying out now. No more pictures because the rain and fog block everything.
Fitbit
Beautiful shelter. With a working door and windows even.
Hiking
Before that we finished the White Mountains and did Moosilauke and stayed at Hikers Welcome.
Hikers Welcome
We got lucky as the hostel was going to close but stayed open for some motorcycles.
Hexacuba Shelter
Moosilauke is the last of the Whites and has a fearsome reputation. However, it has stairs and iron and handrails and an alternative route to the top the locals use. Almost twenty of them at the summit.
FrostForest frostSignSnow and frost Shelter
And the last AMC shelter.
Leaves
At a shelter for the night. Freeze possible, but only 7.5 miles to the Notch. Tarp across the front keeping the wind out.
Frozen water
Beautiful fall colors. Weather warms up in two days.
Trail in fall
😄😄
Yes. I’ve been a while between updates.
But now I’m current to today in Lyme, New Hampshire where the weather is now beautiful.
We left the fire warden’s cabin/smarts mountain shelter and hiked into Lyme. Hitched a ride into town from a very nice retired couple.
Fall was settling inChanging rain gearRowan woodSo much mist
Yesterday we hiked from Hexicube Shelter to Smarts Mountain. We stopped before the rain and waited out two inches of rainfall.
Hexcuba to Smarts Mountain. Short day but we checked into the shelter before the rainstorm hit. Tomorrow morning it should be clear again and we will be headed into Lyme. Otherwise we would have hiked as two inches of rain fell on us.
Cell service bounces. I’ve yet to succeed in getting a call out. Verizon bounces between nothing and three bars displayed as I sit in the same place.
Usually cell service will get better after dark.
But it got up to 60 degrees—a huge improvement from below freezing late yesterday. Just resting and drying out now. No more pictures because the rain and fog block everything.
Smarts MountainLeaves falling
Beautiful shelter. With a working door and windows even.
Before that we finished the White Mountains and did Moosilauke and stayed at Hikers Welcome.
Moosilauke is the last of the Whites and has a fearsome reputation. However, it has stairs and iron and handrails and an alternative route to the top the locals use. Almost twenty of them at the summit.
Warmer weather supposed to arrive in half an hour.
Not much in the way of views today, too much mist, rain and wind.
A lot of gentle climbing today (480 floors worth) and about 15 trail miles. (That does not count walking from the hostel to the trail, trail to the shelter, getting water and other walking around).
A good day adjusting to being out of the Whites.
Hostel. Luckily still openHecacube Shelter4,800 vertical upThe view from above
Oct 5.
Did our last summit in the White Mountains today — Moosilauke. DONE.
We waited out bad weather yesterday. Today was still plenty cold and I’m thrilled to not have hiked in the sleet and snow yesterday.
