July 24, 2014 Tillotson Section of the LT - 118 to Hazen Notch (58)

The storms of last night help reduce the humidity and lower the temperature. This morning we are starting at Route 118 going to Route 58 at a temperature in the mid-50s. The trail is a bit wet from the heavy rain of yesterday. Once we got to the saddle on Belvedere Mtn the sun was poking through the overcast. Decided not to go up to the fire tower having been there numerous time. We arrived at Tillotson Camp at about lunch time, there was a young lady there doing the LT south bound. We eat 1/2 of our lunch and rest a period before heading out. We started meet people on this section from from the north, one group was about 6 to 8 kids with two adults, they were heading to Tillotson Camp for an overnight. Met a couple other folks that appear to be hiking the LT southern bound. When we reached the junction at Haystack Mtn we decide not to do the .2 miles since it was getting to the later part of the day. Met a couple from NJ headed up to Haystack, from the conversation we overheard it appear they weren't going to get to the top. When we were part of the way down the steep climb down into Hazen Notch we met a gentlemen heading for Tillotson Camp, he'd been out for only 45 minutes and was asking how far it was to the Camp, he still had 4.6 miles to go and it was 4:45. I bet he was going to get to the camp in the dark, not a good trail to be hiking in the dark. It stayed mostly in the mid 60s during the day.  10 miles @ 8.45 hours

July 21, 2014 Hazen Notch (58) to Vt. Route 242 of LT

Another day of a lot of driving to spot cars for this 6.8 mile section. The LT book states it is a fairly level hike from Route 58 to start with, well it isn't a level section it drops probably 400 feet before it starts the climb up to the ridge. Once we got to the ridge it was basically a up and down hike. Met a gentleman on Buchanan Mtn about a day and half from the finish. He was hoping the restaurant on top of Jay was going to be open. It was a very warm day hiking, but no rain. 6.8 miles @ 5.40 hours.

July 17 - 18, 2014, Clarendon Gorge/Little Rock Pond Section of LT(USFS 10 - Rt 140) Then next day (Rt. 140 - Rt 103)

Day 1:  Today we decided to hike north to south to get the climbing done in the cool morning air. Part way up the first climb we met numerous AT thru hikers coming from Greenwall Hub. Once we made it to the west side of White Rocks Mtn it was either fairly level or a down hill hike. Met a couple of AT thru hikers at the Homer Stone Brook bridge and talked with them for a while. Also met one of the counselors from the day before hiking this section to see if it would be a good hike for the kids. Had lunch at the northern end of Little Rock Pond. As we were hiked past the caretakers tent we met Jean Haigh, Dave Hardy  from the GMC along with several other folks having a meeting. After we talked with them we finished the last 2.2 miles to the truck. Great day. 8.5 miles in 6 hours

Day 2: Did this hike south to north. Was another great day, temperatures in the 70's. Met a few AT thru hikers at the beginning of the hike. When we rested at Airport Lookout we were joined by a group of kids from the Rutland area attending a summer program. Talking with the counselors it appear they were trying to do several sections of the LT. Cindy saw a deer as we approached the Clarendon Gorge bridge. Finished the hike and went back and picked up the car and went to the Hampton Inn for the night. 6.3 miles in 4 hours.

July 11 - 12, 2014, Griffith Lake Section of LT (Mad Tom (USFS 21) to USFS 10 (Mt. Tabor)

Another long ride to the south with both cars. After dropping the truck off at USFS 21 with got to Mad Tom 9:30 on Friday. Started the hike in at 10:00 with the first peak being Styles Peak, stopped there for a short break and talked with a south bound LT thru hiker. We then headed over to Peru Peak and had lunch. We met a couple doing their third time around for day hiking the LT. They were probably a little older than we are. From Peru Peak we headed to Griffith Lake, our stop for the evening. We arrived at 2:00, meet Julie the caretaker for the area and picked out our tent site for the evening. Spend time at the lake meeting other hikers spending the night. Great group of folks. Our neighbor at the tent site was Bill, a retired Defense Department employee. We cooked our meal and got in the tent and read for about 2 hours. Up and out of the tent site by 7:15. We hit Baker Peak first and took a rest, it had a nice view to the west. We than entered the woods for a down hill hike to the road. Met an AT thru hiker coming out of Lost Pond Shelter, trail name 5 Star. She was shooting to finish her hike by the end of August. We finished the hike at 12:30. The parking lot was very busy with several AT hikers re-supplying. We were still able to do a wash down and chnage into clothes that didn't stink. Went back to get the can and had lunch at Cilantro, a road side food stand. Great food. Then the long drive home. 12.1 miles 9 hours