May 29, 2014 - Jay Peak Section - Rt. 242 - Rt. 105

Beautiful day for a hike. Completed the hike in 8 hours 31 minutes. Trail was in OK shape to the top of Jay Peak and down to where the trail reenters the woods. From the point where it enters the woods on the north side of Jay Peak to Vermont Route 115 there must have been 3 dozen blow-downs. There was also a huge amount of trash for the first couple of hundred yards from skiers this past ski season. This sections is a very difficult hike. At the last shelter, Shooting Star there was no signage telling hikers mileage to the next shelter or road crossing, it was also difficult to pick-up the LT from the shelter. This is not a section I would chose to hike again and already hiked to the top of Jay at least twice and also over to Big Jay for the 100 Highest Peak badge. We didn't meet another hiker on the trip.

Jay Summit

Cindy with Destination behind - 7+ miles away

Ira with starting point behind him 1.7 miles ago

Man-made snow still lives.

OMG - another mountain to go?  Actually there were 2 more!

Shooting Star Shelder

Hiking Log

May 5, 2014

Okay, so we aren't spring chickens anymore!  We spent a fairly active winter snowshoeing around the Hunger Mountain area every day we could (it is glorious being retired - now you can imagine our age!), but it's not the same activity as hiking.

Our first 2014 Long Trail (called the LT) hike was from the County Road in Stamford, VT to the Massachusetts border and back.  This section is 3.1 miles one way and is an easy section on the LT.  We have done it before and recalled it fairly well, however, finding where the trail entered from the road was the hardest part.  But, alas, we found it.

It took us about 3+ hours from home before we entered the LT heading south - long ride.  This section consists of rolling up and over small mountains along the 3.1 mile stretch.  The Trout Lily's, Anemones and Trillium were blooming which was lovely.  As the day progressed the temperatures reached 75 degrees, which is hot for our northern blood.  And, the sun was lovely, but routinely when hiking the LT, you are in a woodland canopy protecting you from too much sun.  On this day, because of no leaves being out yet, we were in full sun all day and it did sap me.  After experiencing cool temps for many months, a quick 75 degree day did cause my energy level to diminish.  But, we made it.

Great to be out our first day on the LT.  3.1 LT miles accomplished, but hiked a total of 6.2 miles for the day. 1% of the LT completed, 99% left.
-Cindy

Almost 7 hours of driving for 4 hours of hiking. Weather started out mild but turned very hot (75 degrees) with a blazing sun. Met two AT hikers that have been on the trail since the first week of February. Saw one very fresh moose track with lots of deer sign. The Trout Lilies were out on most of the trail. Using the GPS to measure our pace, it turns out our hiking pace was about 2.3 miles per hour and total time on the trail was 1.6 miles per hour, not bad for the first LT outing.
- Ira

Along the way, we met a couple of Appalachian Trail hikers (ATers) who were heading north and they had been on the trail since February.  Here is a journal entry by "Hudson" (trail name) at the Mass. border.  These two guys were averaging 20+ miles per day.  To be young again. 

 Here is the lovely sign at the Mass. boundary that hikers see as they head north on the LT.

Yup, that's us as proven by our selfy.