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. 
