Prospect Road Community Centre Christmas Pancake Breakfast
Well The Long trail is behind us now , at least for the time being. I do hope to complete it this year 2020 but life has a funny way of changing plans. I will post some of our travels and interests as we go along in life.
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Prospect Road Community Centre Christmas Tree Lighting, Santa Claus has an additional message for everyone.
Please view the next video about the Prospect Road Community Centre Christmas Tree lighting and the Santa Claus Visit.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Prospect Road Community Centre Tree Lighting
Please see the below video with regard to the Prospect Road Community Centre Christmas Tree Lighting
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Gear I will always Hike with.
Gear I will always Hike with.
I have already mentioned the Sprok, this will be coming with on the other hike excursions, I will be doing more freezer bag cooking and the Spork works well using these.
I will not be going anywhere with my hiking poles, before using these I was a hiking pole snob and thought they were a waste. After Hiking I realize how much these helped, for balance, for stabilization , going up , going down , used for the tent poles. They are multi-use tool that should be taken on all hikes both short and long.
My Pillow, A good nights sleep will make you have a better day of hiking, for me the catalyst for a good day of hiking was a good nights rest, I was able to do this with the use of the pillow. This made a tremendous difference in how I slept. if you read the earlier posts you would know what type of pillow I used and was happy with. That being said during a walk around our local sporting goods store I noticed a larger sea to summit pillow that I would like to try. I would say it would be about double the size and was rectangle in shape. Not sure how it would work out or if I would be willing to spend anymore money on equipment that I already have.
A buff, My wife had an Actual BUFF while I had the knock off from COSTCO, we did use these every day, to keep the sun off, to keep the sweat off our face, keep the webs off our heads, flies off our heads as well and slept with them on if it was cold outside, Multi use and small. Was the actual BUFF really better? Hmmm not sure about that but what I do know is that I got three at COSTCO for the cost of a BUFF.
Dirty Girl Gators, These were another Item I wasn't 100% sold on until I used them. Around home we do hike on an old rail bed. These gators kept the small stones and dirt from entering our hiking boots , this is something you don't appreciate until it happens. On the trail they did the same thing as well as keep your laces clean when hiking through mud. A very nice product.
One more unsung hero that I used and is not mentioned to much is rope. I had a rope for a bear bag , This was used as a clothes line,bear bag rope, a tarp support as well as for other odd items along the trail, ( tent, a shoe lace etc.) I am sure it would come in handy for many items as you travel along.
These were the things that came to mind, Of course we will still need a sleep system but am thinking on trying a hammock, time will tell. As far as a stove I will continue to use my Jetboil but am happy with a cheaper model stove we purchased from Wal-Mart as well. I do have a couple of sleeping bags but would be interested in trying a Quilt.
Good Luck out there.
The Blackstone Traveler
I have already mentioned the Sprok, this will be coming with on the other hike excursions, I will be doing more freezer bag cooking and the Spork works well using these.
I will not be going anywhere with my hiking poles, before using these I was a hiking pole snob and thought they were a waste. After Hiking I realize how much these helped, for balance, for stabilization , going up , going down , used for the tent poles. They are multi-use tool that should be taken on all hikes both short and long.
My Pillow, A good nights sleep will make you have a better day of hiking, for me the catalyst for a good day of hiking was a good nights rest, I was able to do this with the use of the pillow. This made a tremendous difference in how I slept. if you read the earlier posts you would know what type of pillow I used and was happy with. That being said during a walk around our local sporting goods store I noticed a larger sea to summit pillow that I would like to try. I would say it would be about double the size and was rectangle in shape. Not sure how it would work out or if I would be willing to spend anymore money on equipment that I already have.
A buff, My wife had an Actual BUFF while I had the knock off from COSTCO, we did use these every day, to keep the sun off, to keep the sweat off our face, keep the webs off our heads, flies off our heads as well and slept with them on if it was cold outside, Multi use and small. Was the actual BUFF really better? Hmmm not sure about that but what I do know is that I got three at COSTCO for the cost of a BUFF.
Dirty Girl Gators, These were another Item I wasn't 100% sold on until I used them. Around home we do hike on an old rail bed. These gators kept the small stones and dirt from entering our hiking boots , this is something you don't appreciate until it happens. On the trail they did the same thing as well as keep your laces clean when hiking through mud. A very nice product.
One more unsung hero that I used and is not mentioned to much is rope. I had a rope for a bear bag , This was used as a clothes line,bear bag rope, a tarp support as well as for other odd items along the trail, ( tent, a shoe lace etc.) I am sure it would come in handy for many items as you travel along.
These were the things that came to mind, Of course we will still need a sleep system but am thinking on trying a hammock, time will tell. As far as a stove I will continue to use my Jetboil but am happy with a cheaper model stove we purchased from Wal-Mart as well. I do have a couple of sleeping bags but would be interested in trying a Quilt.
Good Luck out there.
The Blackstone Traveler
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Gear Review - JetBoil Stove
When embarking on the hike of the long trail we had to decide on a stove that we would carry along the way. I knew for sure I didn't want to eat cold meals , there is just something about a hot meal that makes everything alright. although there are people out there that don't want to carry the extra weight associated with a stove and fuel. I am not that person. We ultimately decided on a JETBOIL stove, I suppose for a few reasons. it boasted that it could boil 2 cups of water in two minutes, which is close to accurate. this meant less fuel being used so a fuel canister would last longer and less money spent on purchasing the fuel. It also came as a complete kit, Stove,Pot,fuel support ,cover and a bowl and packed quite nicely. I never did use the bowl as we had bowls and cups with us , but it was there just in case. The stove had an igniter so there was no need for a lighter, I did carry one anyway. It was easy to put together and just as easy to break down after the meal. It wasn't cheap by any means just over $100 Canadian but I have seen them for less on Amazon. the Jetboil being a complete unit meant that you couldn't use a different pot. I did try this on the trail and found that this didn't work at all. That was the only drawback. It worked well all throughout the hike. One problem we had was to find fuel in some of the towns but bought some extra when we found it.
Since the Hike we have tried a few different stoves and they were quite a bit cheaper, I would use the Jetboil stove again as I own it but to do it again I would just buy a cheaper stove with a small pot set. We did buy a PEAK stove from Wal-Mart for $14 dollars and a Stanley Pot with two cups that cost about $15 dollars this worked great.
Since the Hike we have tried a few different stoves and they were quite a bit cheaper, I would use the Jetboil stove again as I own it but to do it again I would just buy a cheaper stove with a small pot set. We did buy a PEAK stove from Wal-Mart for $14 dollars and a Stanley Pot with two cups that cost about $15 dollars this worked great.
Friday, October 12, 2018
Gear Review - Saywer mini water filter
Just the same as you we looked at a lot of water filters, From YouTube to looking at our local MEC. Ultimately we decided on the Sawyer Mini which we purchased from Amazon. This was purchased here because at the time we couldn't find them at any of our local stores. But as fate would have it a couple of months later the water filters became a stock item, go figure. The benefit form using Amazon for us Canadians is it slightly cheaper and we didn't have to pay tax. this was a win-win.
The Sawyer mini is one of the smallest on the market which translates into light weight. Although I think the lightest option would be to treat your water with chemical tablets which we did see along the trail.
The Sawyer mini simply attached to the top of a standard water bottle, Once you filled the water battle you simply squeezed the water into another empty water battle to get a filtered water product. I say a water bottle to attache the filter to but you could use the collapsable bag that was supplied with it. To be honest this was not very good and we simply left this behind as it didn't function very well. The water bottles worked much better. It did take a small bit of time to filter water for us, there was three of us together on the trail and basically just used one filter. The product also came with a straw and a hand pump that was to be used for the filter back flush process. The straw could be used for double duty, with the pump to back flush and with the filter to get a drink. We had no issues with this along the way but did see some folks that had theirs broken, I suspect due to dropping it. overall the product worked well and I will continue to use it.
Its funny what you learn along the trail. The first main one with regard to the water was to hydrate while at a water source, I know this sounds simple but when we first started hiking this wasn't a thought. We would fill up our bottles and hike for an hour then stop for a drink. We would consume much of our water at this point and need to get more, we were always looking for the next water source. It became laughable when we said Why Didn't We Drink at the Stream. LOL. After that we fully hydrated at water sources while filling our water bottles. The next Lesson that we learned and this was from another Hiker was to leave the Sawyer Water filter on the water bottle, I had always taken it off and placed in the backpack. This caused two issues, One I had to look for the filter every time and Two Which bottle was the unfiltered water. By leaving the Filter on the bottle both issues were resolved.
The Blackstone Traverler
The Sawyer mini is one of the smallest on the market which translates into light weight. Although I think the lightest option would be to treat your water with chemical tablets which we did see along the trail.
The Sawyer mini simply attached to the top of a standard water bottle, Once you filled the water battle you simply squeezed the water into another empty water battle to get a filtered water product. I say a water bottle to attache the filter to but you could use the collapsable bag that was supplied with it. To be honest this was not very good and we simply left this behind as it didn't function very well. The water bottles worked much better. It did take a small bit of time to filter water for us, there was three of us together on the trail and basically just used one filter. The product also came with a straw and a hand pump that was to be used for the filter back flush process. The straw could be used for double duty, with the pump to back flush and with the filter to get a drink. We had no issues with this along the way but did see some folks that had theirs broken, I suspect due to dropping it. overall the product worked well and I will continue to use it.
Its funny what you learn along the trail. The first main one with regard to the water was to hydrate while at a water source, I know this sounds simple but when we first started hiking this wasn't a thought. We would fill up our bottles and hike for an hour then stop for a drink. We would consume much of our water at this point and need to get more, we were always looking for the next water source. It became laughable when we said Why Didn't We Drink at the Stream. LOL. After that we fully hydrated at water sources while filling our water bottles. The next Lesson that we learned and this was from another Hiker was to leave the Sawyer Water filter on the water bottle, I had always taken it off and placed in the backpack. This caused two issues, One I had to look for the filter every time and Two Which bottle was the unfiltered water. By leaving the Filter on the bottle both issues were resolved.
The Blackstone Traverler
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Gear Review- Spork or not to Spork
I guess things are getting boring in my life when I excited to start writing about a Spork, looking back over the gear I purchased I suppose I may have spent to much money on some items, The Sea to Summit Spork might have been one of those things...That's not entirely true or fair, Let me explain. First the good, the Long Spork worked great for inside my Jetboil stove and with the dehydrated meals in bags or in zip-lock bags. It was good to have the long handle for this , I am sure the short handle would have been a mess digging around inside of bags and the stove pot. Most folks on the trail that are cooking are using the long Spork and for the reasons listed above. The spork also worked extremely well with the trail ramen noodles that are in every store along the way. The Sea to Summit Spork comes complete with a small carabiner , These were broken within the first couple of days, they didn't hold up at all. I also had the fork/knife/spoon set which the carabiner broke on soon after using. for the amount of wear and tear on the Spork I could have just go with a cheaper brand name spork to save a couple of dollars. These do exist but at a cheaper cost BUT are usually 3 to 4 times heavier. So I guess that will ultimately drive your decision, as always with thru hiking or just out for a couple of weeks "the weight vs the cost". With the exception of carabiner the sprok held up great and will be around for many more hike expeditions. It was also lighter than he inexpensive sporks found. Without a doubt the spork was better than a spoon and was better than a fork as it covered both functions, the only question is HOW MUCH TO SPEND.
Happy Hiking
Happy Hiking

Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Gear Review - Z-Pack Arc Blast Backpack
The Backpack I purchased for the Long Trail hike was the
Z-Pack Arc Blast, the first decision for buying this was the weight of course.
It came in around 1.3 lbs which is remarkable when you receive it and start to
fill it. Lots of room! To be fair our packs were a little heavier as I
purchased a few of the add ons which consisted of two belt pouches and a lumbar
pad. This added a small bit of weight but nothing that was really noticed.
When the packs arrived, I say packs as I purchased on for my
charming wife as well, when they arrived I was still astonished how light these
were. In fact I thought that this couldn’t really be a good pack. Even when
they were unpacked I still had some skepticism about how these were going work
out on the trail. I again watched some of
the Z-pack videos to make sure we had the initial setup correct which went
well. The only thing left was to pack them and start hiking. We completed some local day hikes with the
packs fully loaded to get some idea how these would feel, Like the Tent I was
pleasantly surprise how well it worked and how well it felt. Of course these
were just day hikes so it really is hard to get a feel for it. We did do a few
overnighters and again all was good. This gave us the confidence that these
would work good for us. On the long
trail we didn’t have any issues at all, the pack was easy to carry VERY comfortable
in spite of me carry some additional weight. If I had to find something that I didn’t
like it would have been the small strap used for the shoulder straps. Not a
problem early on but I suppose it worked in a bit over the course of the trail.
I may have caused the issue myself
because I mentioned I did carry a little more weight than I planned. I
had to assist my wife and take some of her gear. Other than that , Very
impressed with the construction and how it held up during our hike. I did notice that they now make a backpack
with a zipper the “Arc Haul-Zip backpack” . The zipper may make it a little
more convenient to get gear, this I would like to try. The Arc Blast is a top
load and it takes a bit of time to dial in how to pack and the order to pack in.
That’s life on the trail though.
Some of the features are
·
Our ultralight Flexed Arc frame keeps the pack
stiff so that most weight is carried on the hips instead of the shoulders. Which seemed to work well
·
The frame is curved to allow air flow and keep
your back cushioned from the pack's contents. The air flow I didn’t notice but
it was very hot during or long trail hike. There was a space between the pack
and the back so the contents did sit on your back.
·
The shoulder straps and load lifter straps worked
well after the initial set up
·
The belt is done with "V Style"
webbing so that the top and bottom circumference can be adjusted independently.
This helps wrap your hips much more securely, and prevents the belt from
sliding down. This is another good option, I did watch other hikers with the
single belt and it just didn’t seem to work as well as this.
Roll top closure ,Side pockets, Large stretchy mesh center
pocket ,Side compression straps, top strap, and base straps, all come together to complete the package. All
the items were well thought out and work well for a day hiker/ overnight hiker
and the thru hiker.
A little on the
expensive side but well worth it in my opinion. Monday, October 8, 2018
Gear Review - The Z-Pack Duplex Tent
I suppose you know already that my life has been influenced by YouTube videos for making some of my hiking gear choices, Not only are some of these informative some are even entertaining. So it is as no surprise to me that my tent choice was influenced by the videos I have watched. To go Ultra light there are decisions that have to be made, in case you don't what the decision is it is "weight" Now I purchased a Z-Pack Duplex tent, my original plan had me hiking by myself. But life has a funny way of changing plans, my charming wife decided she wanted to share this experience with me. I know what you are thinking it must be love. I think she just wanted to keep an eye on me. Whatever the reason she came along. I tell you this because this may help you if you decide to buy a Z-pack tent. As mentioned I purchased the Duplex which means it was made for two people. True to the description it did accommodate two people. I would say for one person it would have been perfect because you could have had your pack inside out of the weather. With two people in the tent this was not possible. Had I know about the person that was going to tag along ( my wife) i would have bought the three person tent for a little extra room. In saying that we were comfortable in the Duplex.
It was easy to set up with the use of the hiking poles. When we first started I would say the tent was not always set up to the premium state, after a few nights the kinks were worked out and we both enjoyed the nights huddled together in the Z-pack tent. It has doors fitted on both sides so each of us could enter and exit with out crawling over one another. There were mornings that I did inconvenience my wife by crawling over her but that was only because she kept waking me up. Yes due to the snoring bit, i know it was not mature to do this but I felt is was the only way of getting back at her. Moving on...The tent was light , packed well and as stated was water proof. Thinking back we had a couple of issues with condensation inside but this was attributed to our set up and having both side vestibules closed. One addition that my wife made was to have a small tarp in the vestibule area that we could take off our hikers/ camp shoes without kneeling in the soil before entering the tent. This worked out great. We had another hiker with us convert to the Z-pack into the trip as he noticed the weight of his old tent was 2 lbs heavier than ours Z-pack duplex. with all the packing/unpacking and setting up I have not noticed any signs of wear. Overall pleased with the product and would recommend it. As I always mention, these are my experiences and everyones are different. The price may deter some folks but have a look around to see what comes in at this weight..Not much.
Again I was happy with this But would like to try a hammock next. I need help with this? any suggestions?
The Blackstone Traveler.
It was easy to set up with the use of the hiking poles. When we first started I would say the tent was not always set up to the premium state, after a few nights the kinks were worked out and we both enjoyed the nights huddled together in the Z-pack tent. It has doors fitted on both sides so each of us could enter and exit with out crawling over one another. There were mornings that I did inconvenience my wife by crawling over her but that was only because she kept waking me up. Yes due to the snoring bit, i know it was not mature to do this but I felt is was the only way of getting back at her. Moving on...The tent was light , packed well and as stated was water proof. Thinking back we had a couple of issues with condensation inside but this was attributed to our set up and having both side vestibules closed. One addition that my wife made was to have a small tarp in the vestibule area that we could take off our hikers/ camp shoes without kneeling in the soil before entering the tent. This worked out great. We had another hiker with us convert to the Z-pack into the trip as he noticed the weight of his old tent was 2 lbs heavier than ours Z-pack duplex. with all the packing/unpacking and setting up I have not noticed any signs of wear. Overall pleased with the product and would recommend it. As I always mention, these are my experiences and everyones are different. The price may deter some folks but have a look around to see what comes in at this weight..Not much.
Again I was happy with this But would like to try a hammock next. I need help with this? any suggestions?
The Blackstone Traveler.
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Gear Review, My Mattress for the Long trail
When
thinking about hiking the long trail I really didn't want to spend a lot of
money on equipment/gear, this is possible but usually means you sacrifice
weight to do so. Anyone planning a long trek or a thru hike will understand
this. There is a balancing act between inexpensive vs not effective and this as
stated before will depend one persons desires.
When it came to choosing a air
mattress for my sleep system the first one I purchased was the Naturehike
Air Mattress (orange). I watched reviews
on you tube that said for the price which was about $50 Canadian this would be
a good light mattress. Upon receipt It seemed fine, I inflated it and rested
upon it on the living room floor. In this location it was a good mattress, it
was slightly different when hiking with it. We all know you can't have optimum
conditions in the wilderness. Of course rocks and roots are a part of everyday
life, based on this I found that this mattress was not good for me. The rocks
and roots found a way to push up through the mattress. It wasn't great but
better than with nothing at all. I suppose in hindsight it is good for the price.
My next decision was to go to REI and see what
was available. the nice part about REI is that you could try the mattress prior
to purchase, albeit in a controlled environment but you could try before you
buy. After trying a few we decided on the Nemo Cosmo Air Sleeping Pad 20R.
In our
opinion this was a great choice some of the elements that I liked were as
follows, First it was easy to inflate as it had an integrated foot/hand pump
built in. No batteries required. simply unroll and begin. if you decided to you
could oral inflate but I can't see why. During the pack up time I would pull
the plug after getting up and the mattress would fully deflate while I was
preparing breakfast. Very easy to roll up when deflated. I end up being a side
sleeper most of the time because my charming wife will not allow me to sleep on
my back and snore. Really I move around quite a bit and this is big enough to
allow for this movement. There is plenty of loft so you don't feel the rocks or
roots when you fall asleep. It is an insulated mattress but I cannot speak
about how the insulation works as we were hiking in warmer temperatures. The
mattress is relatively quiet as well, some of the others we tried sounded like
you were sleeping on a chip bag. Overall very happy with the mattress. Now a
said at the start I didn't want to spend a lot of money but ended up purchasing
two mattress to find the one that works.....Wish I had of read this review...or
at least had the chance to try all the mattress first. I might have just bought one as opposed to two But such is life.
The Nemo Cosmo that I used
Gear Review , Pillow for a nights rest.
OK OK, I know when doing a long distance hike it is important to keep your weights down, some folks get meticulous when it comes to their weight and do not take anything extra. I agree with some points of that But still like to be somewhat comfortable. One of the Items that did this for me was a pillow, I picked the sea to summit aeros pillow but there are cheaper models available out there. A hiking companion along the Long Trail had a cheaper brand from Amazon and his worked fine throughout the trip. I did like the Sea to Summit pillow for a couple of reasons, It was easy to inflate and deflate, It was easy to put back in the small bag provided. Of course it was light weight. It was built with a natural curve that was comfortable while sleeping on your back....although when camping with my wife she would wake me while sleeping on my back, something to do with the snoring....I tried to explain I snore when I sleep and I was sleeping...sorry to digress Yes the pillow, it will also work well not just for camping/hiking but also for plane or car travel. As I mentioned earlier there are different brands out there with different shapes and sizes so you have to get what works for you BUT this Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow worked great for us...now if I was only allowed to snore!

Saturday, October 6, 2018
Gear Review - Sleeping bag- AEGISMAX Outdoor Ultra-Light Goose Down Sleeping Bag
On the Long Trail I had brought two sleeping bags with me, The one I used the most was the Aegismax Outdoor Ultra-light Goose down Sleeping bag. I purchased this one based on the size it would compress down to a very small size, as you know space in the back pack is always an issue on a long hike. This did compress quite small which was great. Even after use it would go back into the compression bag that was supplied with it. The temperature rating was 8 degrees and I am guessing it would be good for that but I did not see those temperatures during our Hike. This was the main reason I used this bag, the temperatures were hot in the month of September and there was no need for any thing heavier. In fact I didn't zip it up at all based on the overnight temps. Upon receiving and unpacking it it didn't appear very durable but again I was surprised as it held up well. The cost was around $100 so based on the size and weight I thought it was worth it but would just consider it a summer bag, I am a warm sleeper anyway so I would used this in spring and certainly into the fall. I doubt my wife would do the same. Of course everyone is different and experiences are different but I was happy with this product. I will be using this on other hikes for sure.
As I was unsure of the weather in Vermont in September I also Purchased Nemo Sleeping bags. The Nemo Rave 30 for my wife and the Nemo Disco 15 for myself. WOW these are nice bags! expensive but you get what you pay for. They didn't compress to the same size as the Aegismax but were rated for lower temperatures as well. My wife just used my Nemo Disco 15 as it did compress a bit smaller than her Rave 30 so some extra room was available in the pack
As I was unsure of the weather in Vermont in September I also Purchased Nemo Sleeping bags. The Nemo Rave 30 for my wife and the Nemo Disco 15 for myself. WOW these are nice bags! expensive but you get what you pay for. They didn't compress to the same size as the Aegismax but were rated for lower temperatures as well. My wife just used my Nemo Disco 15 as it did compress a bit smaller than her Rave 30 so some extra room was available in the pack
Friday, October 5, 2018
Gear Review - Black Diamond Hiking Poles
While hiking the Long Trail we had lots of time to try our hiking gear, this is the start of the reviews of the equipment we purchased for the trip. I will state what we liked or didn't like with the equipment.For the most part I was happy with everything we decided on, there was of course the regular research we conducted prior to the purchase of each piece.
Todays review is on the Black Diamond Pro Trail Shock trekking poles. I was one of those people that really didn't think that a hiking pole was a necessity on the trail, the truth is I couldn't have been more wrong. We completed some preparatory hikes in our area and the trail was quite groomed and even in the rough areas it wasn't bad. With this small exposure to the trail with hiking poles it became clear that these would be something that I would and will take every where. Now the Black Diamond poles were on the expensive side but I decided on these based on the fact that they were going to be completing double duty as hiking poles by day and tent poles by night. They had a foam grip that seemed to stand up well with no deterioration during any of the hikes. They did have straps that showed some wear just after hiking 100 miles which was disappointing. I am happy to report there was not an issue with the FlickLock system at all. I am over 200 lbs and would exert this weight and more on the poles at any given time with no problems at all. There are shock absorbers built into the handles that worked well for the first part of the trip, it was about 50 to 75 miles in that it was noted that the shock absorbers had begun to stick in the compressed position. With nothing on the trail , water was added in hopes that this would help which it did for a short time. Once back in civilization some WD-40 was purchased and this was applied to the shock absorber. After this was applied we didn't have any issues at all. My wife also used this type of trekking pole with the same results. Over all , Very happy with the product and would recommend this to others that are planning to purchase hiking poles.
Todays review is on the Black Diamond Pro Trail Shock trekking poles. I was one of those people that really didn't think that a hiking pole was a necessity on the trail, the truth is I couldn't have been more wrong. We completed some preparatory hikes in our area and the trail was quite groomed and even in the rough areas it wasn't bad. With this small exposure to the trail with hiking poles it became clear that these would be something that I would and will take every where. Now the Black Diamond poles were on the expensive side but I decided on these based on the fact that they were going to be completing double duty as hiking poles by day and tent poles by night. They had a foam grip that seemed to stand up well with no deterioration during any of the hikes. They did have straps that showed some wear just after hiking 100 miles which was disappointing. I am happy to report there was not an issue with the FlickLock system at all. I am over 200 lbs and would exert this weight and more on the poles at any given time with no problems at all. There are shock absorbers built into the handles that worked well for the first part of the trip, it was about 50 to 75 miles in that it was noted that the shock absorbers had begun to stick in the compressed position. With nothing on the trail , water was added in hopes that this would help which it did for a short time. Once back in civilization some WD-40 was purchased and this was applied to the shock absorber. After this was applied we didn't have any issues at all. My wife also used this type of trekking pole with the same results. Over all , Very happy with the product and would recommend this to others that are planning to purchase hiking poles.
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Separate Ways
This morning we went our separate ways, the team split up. We drove from Vermont to Bangor with a quick side stop in North Conway. In Bangor we pick up a hotel room at our regular spot. Tonight we would sleep in a bed. As we are still on hikers time so bedtime came early. The air conditioning was but on low and we tucked in. Tonight we had the Fred and Wilma flintstone beds, if you remember them you will remember they had separate beds to sleep in . Fred could snore all night and Wilma couldn’t hit him! I think they were onto something. Anyway in our separate pillow top mattresses our weary bones settled in for the night. The bed hugged our bodies as the fluffy pillows comforted our sleepy heads. It is going to be hard to leave this in the morning. As we rest in our separate pieces of heaven Anita and I are having a light but witty conversation, in which I ask her how the dog is. She replies, good although he had a few accidents in the house! Nice I said! We have spent the last three weeks pooping in the woods and our dog has been pooping in the house. For Christ sakes what’s wrong with this picture! Home tomorrow so all will be good
Camels Hump
Camels hump
Today would be the day we set our sights on camels hump, this is one of the largest peaks in the green mountain range. Being a little excited I woke around 6:00am of course we were assisted by the 5:00 am owl who who made sure we were awake. Fueled by coffee and oatmeal we drove the hour to the camels hump trail head. The full compliment of hikers joined in on this one myself,Anita , Tom Pauline and Bernard. Looking up from the parking area the weather didn’t look so good at the top at least from what we could see, it appeared to be quite foggy . undeterred we set off , our feet had passed some of this ground before and the familiar space was nice. We stopped by here early in the year to check things out. 3/4 of the way up was a strenuous but manageable hike from that point things got steep and rocky. Tom Pauline and Anita stopped at this point and made their way back to the lot. It was still a very good hike for them to make it to this point and all should be commended for this achievement! Bernard and I moved onward and upward the steep rocky path would not slow us down, today we had only a light pack with the essentials. This section caused our bodies to heat once again and produce sweat. We crested the final section before the assent to the rocky outcrop known as camels hump. There was a lot of mist and fog at this point which saddened us but didn’t dampen our spirits.moved up! The next section had us scrambling the wet rocks making our way to the summit. Just as we made it a friendly voice yells out”light days is that you?” This voice belongs to Sunny a young lady who we had met earlier in our travels. Bernard and I had been her trail angel at one point giving her water that she needed for her next section. We were surprised as she was! Standing on the summit with the cool wet wind chilling our skin the clouds began to clear and most magnificent mountain views were given to us like a present. Our eyes feasted on a 360 degree view of the sprawling green mountains. The photos do not do it justice, sad for that. 20 minutes of enjoyment, talking , laughing and finally leaving. Bernard and I hit the trail hard , we were fast and fluid like a rushing river as our trail legs carried us down the slopes. Each step hit with precision and determination, no miss steps as we poured through the terrain to the parking lot. It was funny as we hardly sweat in this section . The camels hump was the icing on the cake ,
Enjoy the photos
The Blackstone Traveler and companions!
Today would be the day we set our sights on camels hump, this is one of the largest peaks in the green mountain range. Being a little excited I woke around 6:00am of course we were assisted by the 5:00 am owl who who made sure we were awake. Fueled by coffee and oatmeal we drove the hour to the camels hump trail head. The full compliment of hikers joined in on this one myself,Anita , Tom Pauline and Bernard. Looking up from the parking area the weather didn’t look so good at the top at least from what we could see, it appeared to be quite foggy . undeterred we set off , our feet had passed some of this ground before and the familiar space was nice. We stopped by here early in the year to check things out. 3/4 of the way up was a strenuous but manageable hike from that point things got steep and rocky. Tom Pauline and Anita stopped at this point and made their way back to the lot. It was still a very good hike for them to make it to this point and all should be commended for this achievement! Bernard and I moved onward and upward the steep rocky path would not slow us down, today we had only a light pack with the essentials. This section caused our bodies to heat once again and produce sweat. We crested the final section before the assent to the rocky outcrop known as camels hump. There was a lot of mist and fog at this point which saddened us but didn’t dampen our spirits.moved up! The next section had us scrambling the wet rocks making our way to the summit. Just as we made it a friendly voice yells out”light days is that you?” This voice belongs to Sunny a young lady who we had met earlier in our travels. Bernard and I had been her trail angel at one point giving her water that she needed for her next section. We were surprised as she was! Standing on the summit with the cool wet wind chilling our skin the clouds began to clear and most magnificent mountain views were given to us like a present. Our eyes feasted on a 360 degree view of the sprawling green mountains. The photos do not do it justice, sad for that. 20 minutes of enjoyment, talking , laughing and finally leaving. Bernard and I hit the trail hard , we were fast and fluid like a rushing river as our trail legs carried us down the slopes. Each step hit with precision and determination, no miss steps as we poured through the terrain to the parking lot. It was funny as we hardly sweat in this section . The camels hump was the icing on the cake ,
Enjoy the photos
The Blackstone Traveler and companions!
Hard Day Yesterday
How would today’s terrain be was the question on everyone’s mind. All the hikers felt the same as we did from the trail to the shelter so this was the topic of conversation. Two ladies that we met at lunch didn’t get in until 10:30 pm last night. A hard day for them!
The assent from the cabin to the crest of the mountain was another draining hike. My eyeballs were sweating on this section as well as an assortment of other parts that I shouldn’t mention. Bernard was also sweating out of every pour. After about 2 hours of this the trail became more manageable and miles were chewed up and spit out, it felt good to be on the move once again. Many types of terrain had been covered during the past two days, one section had a bed of bright green ferns that seemed to be energized from the sun, in the spots between the leafy greens there was many light yellow butterflies that seemed to have hatched just as we arrived, these are one of the moments I will try to remember. Bernard lead the the trail the whole trip I am not sure if he likes being in front or just likes to clean the webs for me! I hope it is the web cleaning he likes. At one point he had so many webs and green caterpillars hanging off of his glasses they looked like the hanging balls around the windows of a Mexican car.
Stopped for lunch at a shelter again and took our time to sit and enjoy the sun and location. While sitting and thinking I realized that Bernard and I hardly spoke while hiking , we just poked along in the rhythm of the trail. Watching our every step bouncing along to the sound of my spoons clanging together as this was our beat. When I say we didn’t talk that wasn’t entirely true , We did pause throughout to have a laugh. Made it out to the road crossing at 1:00 and awaited the arrival or our trail angels!
They arrived as planned at 2:30 for the pick up, drove back to collect cars and drove to a hotel for a well deserved shower . By the way we needed it !
The assent from the cabin to the crest of the mountain was another draining hike. My eyeballs were sweating on this section as well as an assortment of other parts that I shouldn’t mention. Bernard was also sweating out of every pour. After about 2 hours of this the trail became more manageable and miles were chewed up and spit out, it felt good to be on the move once again. Many types of terrain had been covered during the past two days, one section had a bed of bright green ferns that seemed to be energized from the sun, in the spots between the leafy greens there was many light yellow butterflies that seemed to have hatched just as we arrived, these are one of the moments I will try to remember. Bernard lead the the trail the whole trip I am not sure if he likes being in front or just likes to clean the webs for me! I hope it is the web cleaning he likes. At one point he had so many webs and green caterpillars hanging off of his glasses they looked like the hanging balls around the windows of a Mexican car.
Stopped for lunch at a shelter again and took our time to sit and enjoy the sun and location. While sitting and thinking I realized that Bernard and I hardly spoke while hiking , we just poked along in the rhythm of the trail. Watching our every step bouncing along to the sound of my spoons clanging together as this was our beat. When I say we didn’t talk that wasn’t entirely true , We did pause throughout to have a laugh. Made it out to the road crossing at 1:00 and awaited the arrival or our trail angels!
They arrived as planned at 2:30 for the pick up, drove back to collect cars and drove to a hotel for a well deserved shower . By the way we needed it !
Long Ups and Downs
We crawled out of our tent on the lean to site in the Bradbury state park, we were up before the sun crested the tops of the tall hardwood trees. We rejoice as it is another beautiful day to be in the Vermont wilderness. As we hike through the mountains today our thoughts will linger back to the chicken that was grilled on the open fire last night. Grilled meat on an open fire seems to infuse the flavours with every lick of the flame, this gives a taste that propane can not replicate. Now that being said I do miss The Blackstone. The hike today completed another milestone, it was at Maine junction. This is the part of the trail where the LT and AT separate so today we were strictly on the long trail. The trail sure changed when this happened. The white trail markers were less frequent which had us second guessing if we were on the trail. Stopped for lunch and had the worst meal to date , it was corn tortillas they were terrible I actually threw them away but could have eaten the package the came in. Moving on from the shelter we expected an easy day, this of course was based on the map. The elevation didn’t appear to be extreme. Much to our surprise this was not the case , they went up and down and up and down , you would turn a corner and the trail would go up then up again. It never gave you time to get a break, to add to it the water along this section was sparse. Hmmm after knowing that the water was low that was all we could think about. The thought of stopping had crossed our minds but the terrain would not allow this to happen. If we weren’t going up or down we were skirting the side of the mountain. With no choice we pushed on to the shelter , it was a welcome sight to see the sign for the shelter. It said 0.2 miles away, do you how long that is at the end of the day being tired? Me either... but it sure seemed long! Once acquainted with the camp surroundings we made tents and prepared supper. Tonight’s gastronomic delight was beef stew over mashed potatoes. Yum this was needed after the day we put in. As darkness fell we talked to the other hikers at the shelter. We then made a quiet quick trip back to our humble abodes and waited for slumber to enter our lives. 5:30 am seems to be the times when owls want anyone sleeping to awake. I stayed in until 6:00 before making coffee as oatmeal.
River Night
This morning we awake to the dripping leaves from the heavy dew that accumulated on the leaves over our tent. The river flowing in the background was still music the our ears. I gently stoked Anita’s should as I asked her to move her feet so that I could exit the tent. Of course she was happy to comply. NOT. Once out of our one bedroom accommodations I proceeded to boil water for our morning coffee and oatmeal. Anita crawled out of the sleeping bag and joined me for the morning Java. We sat and watched the river flow by as we sipped away. These are one of the moments that will be etched in our memories. With breakfast completed the camp site was packed up. Squirrel emptied his pack as always before repacking all the gear . We hit the trail about 8:00 am. It would seem the start and finish of every day starts the same , with a climb and today was no different. The path led us up into the fog as it skirted along the side of the mountain all along going in the up hill direction. The forest at times was dark as the sun tried to break through the overcast skies. We stopped at a few vistas and enjoyed the sprawling mountain ranges that stretched into the horizon. The colours are changing with every night, for the light yellows to the beginnings of the vibrant reds and oranges. Killington was in our sites and we hiked hard to make it there for lunch. Once there lunch was prepared on the tenting platforms that had been constructed at the top. This was not the peak of Killington but very close, the wet fog or clouds cooled our bodies as lunch was prepared, soup and sandwich was on the menu and you can believe me nothing tasted so good. It’s funny what it takes to make you happy on the trail. It’s the little things it really is. Life is all about perspective and this is showing us what is relevant. With lunch completed the next road crossing was 10km away. It doesn’t sound like much until you see what has to be hiked in order to get there . Also keep in mind we have hiked about 7.5 before lunch. Anita was moving slow in the morning but picked up the pace in the afternoon and was moving quickly in the afternoon trail section . I estimated we would be to the road after 5:00 but to my surprise it was just after 4:00 that we hit the road . A great accomplishment!
Our trail angels were at the parking spot waiting for us. This was a tremendous boost that have them looking out for us. To say thank you to them never seemed to be enough! We were happy to see their smiling faces when we emerged from the trail.
We moved to a campground called Gifford park, another state park, Vermont sure know how to do these.
Killington marks the 100 mile mark on the trail , we were a little short due to the run to the hospital for stitches but we are still happy with our progress
The inn at the long trail would be our destination for supper, a good hearty meal was had by all and setting was quite unique. Back to site for an early tuck in.
I think we all still like each other.
Our trail angels were at the parking spot waiting for us. This was a tremendous boost that have them looking out for us. To say thank you to them never seemed to be enough! We were happy to see their smiling faces when we emerged from the trail.
We moved to a campground called Gifford park, another state park, Vermont sure know how to do these.
Killington marks the 100 mile mark on the trail , we were a little short due to the run to the hospital for stitches but we are still happy with our progress
The inn at the long trail would be our destination for supper, a good hearty meal was had by all and setting was quite unique. Back to site for an early tuck in.
I think we all still like each other.
Bromley
Cool temperatures greeted us again this morning it seemed that this changed like a flick of a switch. Our car was completely unpacked this morning as I was looking for a puff coat, as fate would have it this would be found in the very last bag in the car. Go figure! Bernard suffered the same issue while on the trail, everything he wanted was in the bottom of his pack. Anytime we stopped he would be seen squirrelling through his orange backpack. He now has the trailname squirrel which is fitting. With all the unpacking completed it was time to pack up , this was done in record time. Well it was really the first time we did a complete repack but I felt like it could’ve been a record.
Drove to the 11/30 road crossing and hit the trail again . Bromley here we come, the start was a gently grade but soon changed to a steep switchback. Bernard was moving quickly through the wooded footpath. I though someone was chasing him. Made good time because of this , three miles were chewed up in short order.the summit was fantastic! We were treated to a 360 view of the green mountains. Mother Nature was at work last night, she gave the sprawling landscape a light blush of colour, things are changing! After took the time to enjoy the feast for eyes we then slipped back into the green tunnel. We again skipped along this next downhill section . Our next stop would e Mad Tom Notch. Once at this destination we relaxed and talked with other hikers.
Another good day.
Drove to the 11/30 road crossing and hit the trail again . Bromley here we come, the start was a gently grade but soon changed to a steep switchback. Bernard was moving quickly through the wooded footpath. I though someone was chasing him. Made good time because of this , three miles were chewed up in short order.the summit was fantastic! We were treated to a 360 view of the green mountains. Mother Nature was at work last night, she gave the sprawling landscape a light blush of colour, things are changing! After took the time to enjoy the feast for eyes we then slipped back into the green tunnel. We again skipped along this next downhill section . Our next stop would e Mad Tom Notch. Once at this destination we relaxed and talked with other hikers.
Another good day.
After Rutland
Still pouring rain this morning... hmmm what does this mean to us? Nothing ! Just means we hike in the rain . We did wait for a short time before going out in the weather, it seemed to take a break while we staged the cars . Once cars were parked Tom and Pauline shuttled is to the drop off location. Route 140 Parking lot was our starting point. This climb up bear mountain was filled with many switchbacks which guided us to the top. 5 minutes on the trail and the rain started, if it is said that the rain is the music in the forest we had an orchestra this morning. Actually a couple of them. We donned our ponchos, looking back not sure this was a good decision, I left my hood off so my head was wet but underneath it was a sauna, a stinky smelly sauna , after an hour I removed the sauna poncho and went with just the tee shirt. This was much better ! We had a couple of nice views throughout this hike ! So much to see . Stopped at a shelter for lunch which was nice break. The mountains rose up around us as the wispy legs of fog creeped up on top of the green foliage which blanketed the rocky terrain, truly a magical sight. Met more hikers and some smelled worse than us ,others were better , such is life. Nearing the end of the hike we came across a bridge crossing at Clarendon gorge . We stopped and viewed the flowing water, met met a young prospector who was planning for gold . I had a good talk with him about what he was doing, we talked about how he did this and what gold he actually pulled from the river bed . Very interesting. The suspension cable bridge was a treat for us to cross at the end of this leg of the trip. Looking back at the photos it amazed us the colours of all greens that were seen , from dark to almost fluorescent green , the light played off on all the leaves and ferns as well as al the other leafy greens that covered the forest floor. We stopped many times just to marvel at it all . A great day to be alive !
Rutland Hotel
Today the forecast called for heavy rain with this in mind we planned to resupply and plan the next leg of this amazing race . Of course with these plans made the rain held off I suppose Mother Nature wants to gives us some liquid sunshine along the way so she will wait to rain tomorrow while we slip and slid through the woods. Yes we will be careful! Tonight we will be staying in Rutland , Tom and Pauline wanted to go back to the Rutland restaurant to bring back some minestrone memories shadows of the past. The town was toured as supplies were purchased. Tomorrow we will do a small connection hike between two road crossings. Bear mountain will be tackled first and should be for the most part a downhill hike. Rained very hard late in the day so the trail will be muddy we will certainly e taking our time through this next section. Good news for Bernard tonight he had extra crispy Kentucky fried chicken, good news for me, Bernard removed my stitches . Anita is feeling better so all is good on the trail. This is our plan right now but may change in the morning. To bad Colleen didn’t give us Jubes for the trip we could have used them
Anita had a fall
Well woke up This morning to find Anita still likes me or so it would seem . I neglected to mention that she slipped on a log yesterday and twisted her hand back . All I could think of, was the lengths some people go through to get out of doing the dishes , taking a dive . I suppose it wasn’t really like that but that’s what we said to her . This pissed her off more than falling. Breakfasts was made , it was a wonderful mixture of brown sugar oatmeal with a little extra regular oatmeal to top it up. We also had a life giving coffee that coursed through our veins as we packed up the camp. The sun shone through the heavy green foliage to cast a wonderful hue upon our faces . We packed up quite quickly and were cascading along the trail before long. Today’s pace was nice due to the weather , lightly overcast with cool temperatures . It seemed the sun was out long enough for us to pack up then hid behind the light grey clouds as we moved on. How will we remember the trip? Will it be from the smells , how about the sights or even how it makes you feel ? If you are one of the lucky ones you will have the chance to draw on your memories with a touch of all three ! It’s funny to us even on the short time we have experienced this phenomenon of hiking on the trail how we can’t wait to get back out once we leave. I have talked to many others during this trip on the trail and they all voice the same opinion.
The hike would have us travel up and down through this foot path of The wilderness . We have encountered roots , rocks , mud , trees (ouch) and mud , roots, rocks and trees , you get the picture . The truth is the trail is all the same and Is always different . That doesn’t sound right but is .
- [ ] We travelled along and found a look off called prospectors rock. This looked into a valley and into a town called Manchester. Hard to describe ... the rock was a few hundred feet below the summit , it was a shear face that i could it see the bottom of and made us nervous just to be close to the edge. Looking into the valley we saw a quaint small town surrounded in the bosom of the green mountains. The sun beamed it’s way down between the peaks to highlight building tops . Many colours of green were visible to the naked eye, we wanted to stay but had to move on! Our next stop was the spruce peak shelter for lunch , ramen noodles in a cup, yes I know what you are thinking , I sure know how to treat a girl. She is living good , travel and exotic cuisine. This was a nice little shelter that slept about 15 to 20 people as required. After lunch our hike continued out to the 11/30 road . Tom and Pauline were there to greet us , they are our trail angels. Trail angels are people that wait at cross roads to assist long trail hikers or anyone who may need it . They fit the bill. After the pick up we drove to a state park called emerald lake named after the colour of the lake that the park surrounds. Cool night, outside fire , in bed just after dark
- [ ] Plan to be on the trail in the morning, MT Brommely awaits
crowd at the shelter , made our way out
Woke the next morning around 5:30 I felt that I had a nice sleep, started the water for coffee while I waited for the others to wake. The crowd at the shelter were stirring as well. Our coffee was served while the oatmeal was prepared. After that we did the regular morning routine eat , pack up and hit the trail. Last nights shelter or camping spot was about half way the mountain this meant we would have to climb up to the summit first thing in the morning . This was the most rocky area we encountered thus far . Took it slow to get to the top , what a great warm up ..LOL
After the top we focused on eating up miles . Kicking up mud as we travelled through the trail working our way out to the pick up point. Passed a few other hikers but didn’t spend much time talking as well were on the move. Crossed a lovely bridge that built over a gently flowing river. The sound of the water was tranquil as we paused for a break and enjoyed the moment.
We moved at a quick pace inching closer to the road , our trail legs were beginning to form. Not really calf’s were sore but other than that not in bad shape.
A welcome pick up with cold drinks and hand baked cookies. We hopped in the car but had to keep the windows down , we actually smelled like hikers . We picked up our cars and hit a motel room for the night.
We ate at rail car diner , turkey supper and some had meatloaf, the pies looked amazing . Tucked in for a early night.
After the top we focused on eating up miles . Kicking up mud as we travelled through the trail working our way out to the pick up point. Passed a few other hikers but didn’t spend much time talking as well were on the move. Crossed a lovely bridge that built over a gently flowing river. The sound of the water was tranquil as we paused for a break and enjoyed the moment.
We moved at a quick pace inching closer to the road , our trail legs were beginning to form. Not really calf’s were sore but other than that not in bad shape.
A welcome pick up with cold drinks and hand baked cookies. We hopped in the car but had to keep the windows down , we actually smelled like hikers . We picked up our cars and hit a motel room for the night.
We ate at rail car diner , turkey supper and some had meatloaf, the pies looked amazing . Tucked in for a early night.
Rock Climb
Left the hotel this morning bright and early. Completed our laundry last night so we have clean clothes ready to get dirty. Life goes in circles. The forecast called for sun but there was none of that in sight at least for the start. We left the 103 junction and crossed. What appears to have been a field. There was wooden steps constructed to cross over barb wire. Looked like it was going to be a nice morning. Into the woods it soon went bad as we faced the most extreme climb encountered so far. Rock staircases if you could call them that were placed by Mother Nature for us to use . With in minutes we were a lather of sweat and maybe tears as we moved on further. The make shift stairs zig zags between huge rock crevasse. I took photos but don’t think they will do it justice. At the top we stopped for a break and a drink! To bad it wasn’t bud light. The trail then evened out and for the most part was enjoyable, at least for me. Anita struggled for time to time as the humidity was at 100%. She does not deal well with the heat. We motored along at a steady pace , not fast but steady. There were road crossings , river crossings and bridge crossings every corner something new. At one road crossing a trail angel had a bag in the tree filled with energy drinks for the hikers ! Yes people here love to help the hikers . This is something we would certainly not see in Nova Scotia. Amazing! The trails were very clean even in places that were close to the road garbage could not be found. Again something else you wouldn’t see in Nova Scotia. Our shelter we stayed at tonight is the governor clement shelter , one of the oldest on the trail. It is rock construction with a fireplace inside . I can’t say how happy I am to have seen so many wonderful sights. We are actually camped at the river just down from the camp so we will be hypnotized by the gurgling river as the light rain gathered and fell from the leaves above us, they tap danced on the roof of the tent. Another moment I am happy to share with Anita and Bernard,
Leaving the shelter
Next morning
Woke to coffee being made in our little jet boil stove , as there was plenty of water we decided to eat our oatmeal before leaving , this would be another thing learned on the trail . Everyday there is something new to learn! After breakfast we packed up and hit the trail. A quick but steep climb to the fire tower to warm our bodies for the a happy pace to kid gore shelter. I say a happy pace but the truth is it is work . I know I talked about the heat but it was and is the main issue as we go along. We sweat more drink more and walk slower , it would seem that the trail sets the pace! Mother Nature will let you know how fast to go.
We talked about a lot of foolishness as the kilometres fell behind us. It’s funny what comes to mind or what each person talks about when there’s nothing else going on. Do we miss tv ? Not at all , really no time for something that wastes our time . We now eat hike eat sleep and repeat. Quite a change for all of us! We again met some characters along the way , Ross told me this would happen ,
We went through one section that felt like a rain forest, hot humid , it was that bad we started to look for monkeys... of course none were found .. the rest of the trail was like life , plenty of ups and downs . The final assent the the shelter was again hard uphill that slowed our progress but with a destination in mind we didn’t stop , the truth is we could not have, we needed water and a rest and this was available at the shelter. The story brook shelter was a welcome sight. We cooled off , set up tents and prepared supper . We had a pasta with bacon and a sloppy joe sauce . Hmmm doesn’t sound great but turned out fantastic! No flies and it seem to cool down . Finally bed time . Bern snugged in his tent as me and my bride tucked in ours as we listened to the the other hikers talk until bed time which started at 8:32 pm the quiet time .
Good night
Woke to coffee being made in our little jet boil stove , as there was plenty of water we decided to eat our oatmeal before leaving , this would be another thing learned on the trail . Everyday there is something new to learn! After breakfast we packed up and hit the trail. A quick but steep climb to the fire tower to warm our bodies for the a happy pace to kid gore shelter. I say a happy pace but the truth is it is work . I know I talked about the heat but it was and is the main issue as we go along. We sweat more drink more and walk slower , it would seem that the trail sets the pace! Mother Nature will let you know how fast to go.
We talked about a lot of foolishness as the kilometres fell behind us. It’s funny what comes to mind or what each person talks about when there’s nothing else going on. Do we miss tv ? Not at all , really no time for something that wastes our time . We now eat hike eat sleep and repeat. Quite a change for all of us! We again met some characters along the way , Ross told me this would happen ,
We went through one section that felt like a rain forest, hot humid , it was that bad we started to look for monkeys... of course none were found .. the rest of the trail was like life , plenty of ups and downs . The final assent the the shelter was again hard uphill that slowed our progress but with a destination in mind we didn’t stop , the truth is we could not have, we needed water and a rest and this was available at the shelter. The story brook shelter was a welcome sight. We cooled off , set up tents and prepared supper . We had a pasta with bacon and a sloppy joe sauce . Hmmm doesn’t sound great but turned out fantastic! No flies and it seem to cool down . Finally bed time . Bern snugged in his tent as me and my bride tucked in ours as we listened to the the other hikers talk until bed time which started at 8:32 pm the quiet time .
Good night
Fall Colors
The fall colours are becoming more intense with every night that passes, the water colour brush strokes of yellow and red trace along the green deciduous trees. Vibrant reds can be seen in isolated locations ready to explode into the autumn foliage. Each day we see changes and if you pay attention you can certainly smell the changes. Autumn has its own personal scent that is different from any other season. Fall is upon us, although we are experiencing warmer than expected temperatures the nights are starting to cool just a bit. As we move along yellow leaves fall and almost cover the path ahead , all I think is about how much this will change in the coming weeks but we will not ha e the fortune to see the vast landscape fully transform. Our life will take us back home before this happens. Looking back over the past few weeks i realize how lucky we are ! First we were able to have a dream and actually pursue it, the next bit of lick and a huge factor is the support that we have all along the trail. Tom and Pauline were instrumental in us going as far as we did. Truly TrailAngels !I would like to think this was not a factor but we all know the difference. As we entered the long trail with the path closing in behind us or emerged pushing our tired bodies out at a crossing we were truly happy to see this them! They greeted us with smiles , encouragement and of course a cold drink! Again I say this for all of us , we cannot thank them enough!
As for the rest of the team I would say I am very proud of Anita as well , going into this she didn’t say how far she would go but would be with me for support and encouragement. To make it as far as she did was an accomplishment especially based on hurting her wrist. She went back out to the trail and hiked many more miles and these were over some of the challenging encountered. Great job!
The squirrel was another welcome addition , it was entertaining to watch him bounce through the trail, adjust his backpack, look for gear, engage with other hikers along the trail. It was truly a special time for me to be able to spend time with both Anita and Bernard unplugged from the rest of the world all to myself. These times will linger in my memories and have a special place in my heart. I know when asked about the trip I will not be able to fully articulate how much fun I had but I hope all involved understand how much it meant to me that they were all involved
As for the rest of the team I would say I am very proud of Anita as well , going into this she didn’t say how far she would go but would be with me for support and encouragement. To make it as far as she did was an accomplishment especially based on hurting her wrist. She went back out to the trail and hiked many more miles and these were over some of the challenging encountered. Great job!
The squirrel was another welcome addition , it was entertaining to watch him bounce through the trail, adjust his backpack, look for gear, engage with other hikers along the trail. It was truly a special time for me to be able to spend time with both Anita and Bernard unplugged from the rest of the world all to myself. These times will linger in my memories and have a special place in my heart. I know when asked about the trip I will not be able to fully articulate how much fun I had but I hope all involved understand how much it meant to me that they were all involved
Trail Names
Trail names,
It would seem that most folks on the trail have a trail name . The reason for this I cannot explain, it’s just one of those things that started long before we thought about the trail. It would seem that hikers would like to have some Anonymity I suppose. Some of the characters we met had these trail names and each of the names held a meaning. The thing about the names is the typically someone will give you this name because of something you did or said or that happened to you. Some examples of this are , one guy we met was called triple zero, so this was based on zero meaning no miles hiked and the triple was he had to take three days off when he started due to twisting his ankle, triple zero. Another guy was fish fry, this guy carried a fishing rod with him and fired up what he caught along the way. There were many others that had funny or interesting names. We have named Bernard “squirrel” because like a squirrel when ever we stopped he would go through his backpack or his car looking for something. Of course it would always be the last thing in the pack or the car . Very similar to how a squirrel would behave. My name became light days , now it sounds from the name that I may have carried a light pack, this was not the case. It may have been that I just did a few miles a day, this was not the case , the name came from when I cut me head open the the only thing Anita could get her hands on quickly was a light day pantie liner to stop the bleeding, hence the name light days. So you can see how some names come about , now when we meet the other hikers on the trail and explain our names they have a good laugh as we do as well!
It would seem that most folks on the trail have a trail name . The reason for this I cannot explain, it’s just one of those things that started long before we thought about the trail. It would seem that hikers would like to have some Anonymity I suppose. Some of the characters we met had these trail names and each of the names held a meaning. The thing about the names is the typically someone will give you this name because of something you did or said or that happened to you. Some examples of this are , one guy we met was called triple zero, so this was based on zero meaning no miles hiked and the triple was he had to take three days off when he started due to twisting his ankle, triple zero. Another guy was fish fry, this guy carried a fishing rod with him and fired up what he caught along the way. There were many others that had funny or interesting names. We have named Bernard “squirrel” because like a squirrel when ever we stopped he would go through his backpack or his car looking for something. Of course it would always be the last thing in the pack or the car . Very similar to how a squirrel would behave. My name became light days , now it sounds from the name that I may have carried a light pack, this was not the case. It may have been that I just did a few miles a day, this was not the case , the name came from when I cut me head open the the only thing Anita could get her hands on quickly was a light day pantie liner to stop the bleeding, hence the name light days. So you can see how some names come about , now when we meet the other hikers on the trail and explain our names they have a good laugh as we do as well!
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Stratton mountain and beyond
A night in the motel completed we made a plan for the next phase of the trip. For this part we had to get dropped add at the same location that we were picked up on. With car shuffles and food sorting it was decided that we spent a night in state park. With the dice cast the wheels were set in motion , groceries were needed as we need to eat of course. We decided on steak with Tom and Pauline choosing chicken , this would have string beans and asparagus added and all grilled on an open fire pit. Just like the old days , and just like the old days it took a couple of hours to heat up the coals before things could get started, what to do with that time ...hmmm bud light seemed to fit. After eating the rain poured down as we sat inside a lean to shelter in the park. Lucky to have the river meandering beside our campsite so we could listen to that as slumber overtook each of us.
Friday morning we would be facing Stratton mountain , the highest elevation so far on the trail. The drop of cars had been completed and the hike started around 9.30 and we made the summit for lunch . I climbed the fire tower and took a few photos. Meet another north bound trail hiker “triple zero “ was his trail name . Going down the other side we met the caretakers of this area. Had a nice chat with him and his wife,as it turns out he was related to folks from Nova Scotia.small world. With Stratton behind us the worst of the climb was also behind us but this was just today. Next stop was Stratton pond, it is to bad the temps had cooled off as we would have been in for a swim. Found another caretaker to talk to , this guy was young not like the the first couple who were in there late sixties. This young fellow was responsible to keep the trail somewhat clean and deal with the privies. By that I meant clean then out. He was a professional shit disturber I suppose we all know someone like that in life. He told us of our next camping spot next to a river . It was about a mile away so cheerfully we moved along. It’s funny as you travel along you have long periods of quietness followed by light conversation and laughter . That seemed to the rhythm. Arriving at our campsite we released the backpacks and Bernard did his thing , scouting the area looking for the best sites . Once the was decided we set up tents clothes lines and prepared a meal. Life is simple in woods and there is a certain charm to it . It’s not easy though! Tonight we were in bed before the sun went down.
I am lying in bed and wondering if Anita still likes me ...then doze off the sleep.
Route 9 and on
Today we walked from route 9 to Goddard shelter , the humidity and heat was almost unbearable. We scuffed our feet along the trail leaving our footprints in the muddy soil. We meet lots of eclectic folks that travel the long trail. One thing we noticed is we are built differently then most on the trail. They are slimmer and have longer legs and not to mention a lot younger ( most were) we also saw many young ladies as couples and singles with dogs trailing along .
Arrived at Goddard shelter after a 16.5 km hike . The last 1/2 km was very difficult, large stepping stones that required high deliberate steps not to mention it felt like it was straight up. Anita hated me at this point of the hike , but fell back in love once I built her a shelter and let her sit on an air mattress. Yes today she was easy to please. It’s the simple things I suppose .We made camp with our z packs tents , boiled water and cooked a gourmet chicken mashed potatoes with a mushroom gravy . We have a coffee and a tea to close out the day. We were treated to a lightning show as we snuggled together with our side door open. Bernard picked picked a nice spot to set up. He was the same as always no changes. I think he even enjoyed himself a little.
Good night .
Next morning
Woke to coffee being made in our little jet boil stove , as there was plenty of water we decided to eat our oatmeal before leaving , this would be another thing learned on the trail . Everyday there is something new to learn! After breakfast we packed up and hit the trail. A quick but steep climb to the fire tower to warm our bodies the a happy pace to kid gore shelter. I say a happy pace but the truth is it is work . I know I talked about the heat but it was and is the main issue as we go along. We sweat more drink more and walk slower , it would seem that the trail sets the pace! Mother Nature will let you know how fast to go.
We talked about a lot of foolishness as the kilometres fell behind us. It’s funny what comes to mind or what each person talks about when there’s nothing else going on. Do we miss tv ? Not at all , really no time for something that wastes our time . We now eat hike eat sleep and repeat. Quite a change for all of us! We again met some characters along the way , Ross told me this would happen ,
We went through one section that felt like a rain forest, hot humid , it was that bad we started to look for monkeys... of course none were found .. the rest of the trail toady was like life , plenty of ups and downs . The final assent the the shelter was again hard uphill that slowed our progress but with a destination in mind we didn’t stop , the truth is we could have, needs water and a rest and this was available at the shelter. The story brook shelter was a welcome sight. We cooled off , set up tents and prepared supper . We had a pasta with bacon and a sloppy joe sauce . Hmmm doesn’t sound great but turned out fantastic! No flies and it seem to cool down . Finally bed time . Bern snugged in his tent as me and my bride tucked in ours as we listened to the the other hikers talk until bed time which started at 8:32 pm the quite .
Good night
Woke the next morning around 5:30 I felt that I had a nice sleep, started the water for coffee while I waited for the others to wake. The crowd at the shelter were stirring as well. Our coffee was served while the oatmeal was prepared. After that we did the regular morning routine eat , pack up and hit the trail. Last nights shelter or camping spot was about half way the mountain this meant we would have to climb up to the summit first thing in the morning . This was the most rocky area we encountered thus far . Took it slow to get to the top , what a great warm up ..LOL
After the top we focused on eating up miles . Kicking up mud as we travelled through the trail working our way out to the pick up point. Passed a few other hikers but didn’t spend much time talking as well were on the move. Crossed a lovely bridge that built over a gently flowing river. The sound of the water was tranquil as we paused for a break and enjoyed the moment.
We moved at a quick pace inching closer to the road , our trail legs were beginning to form. Not really calf’s were sore but other than that not in bad shape.
A welcome pick up with cold drinks and hand baked cookies. We hopped in the car but had to keep the windows down , we actually smelled like hikers . We picked up our cars and hit a motel room for the night.
We ate at rail car diner , turkey supper and some had meatloaf, the pies looked amazing . Tucked in for a early night.
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