It was a 14.9 mile day from Minerva Hinchey Shelter to Lost Pond Shelter. This was after adding 1.7 miles to our original plan. The major climbs were over early in the day, but we still had typical Vermont rocky trails which I really feel on the bottom of my feet. By the end of the day the trail became friendlier (less rocks). We had some beautiful lakes. Including this one where I ate a hot cooked macaroni and cheese lunch in the gorgeous Little Rock Pond Shelter close...

It was a cold night camping at Cooper Lodge. The cold wind blew all night long under the edges of the tarp and through the front opening. At first I could feel myself warming during pauses of the breeze, but eventually my body couldn’t keep up with the repeated blasts of cold air and I slept on the cold side of the edge of comfort.   Here is the tarp setup where I suffered through cold winds all night long on Killington. We had 14.1 miles to make Minerva Hinchey Shelter....

We planned on a 15 mile day, but ended up hiking 16 miles to Mountain Meadows Lodge. Turns out that Thundering Brook road crosses the trail twice and we had picked out the wrong one. What’s another mile when you are hiking 15 miles.   Today I was on stride. Felt good all day. Cooler weather and dry socks might have helped. Used some moleskin on some blisters from yesterday and feet did well. I went off trail twice. First, we lost the trail while leaving Winturi Shelter on the blue blaze. Using Guthook we bushwhacked back to the shelter trail. Not a good start. Next, I missed the trail when cruising the last half mile trail. Backtracked and Sheffy never missed me. Had fun climbing this trail ladder.   Stony Brook Shelter where we had a short lunch. I helped move this wedding trellis in return for a ride to the Deli store. Mountain Meadows Lodge: Hot showers, laundry, room, pizza delivery,  and breakfast. Thundering Brook Falls

The sun came out. Only 12 miles today, but they were tough. Hiked from Thistle Rock Shelter to Winturi Shelter. After 2 strenuous days, the sore muscles showed up on this shorter day. I also started getting blisters from the wet socks and steep descents. We are at Winturi Shelter. Piper showed up. Later after dark Shaker rolled in followed by Beast about 10 minutes later. Sheffield and I are tenting, rather I am tarping. A limb fell nearby last night. With better weather hopefully the limbs will stay on the trees tonight. Another salamander today. Winturi Shelter - I tarped outside the shelter.

We woke up to rain and packed quickly to hike into Hanover for breakfast and resupply. It was a wet 16 mile day from Velvet Rocks Shelter to Thistle Rock. Stopped  at Happy Hill Shelter for lunch where we met Beast, Shaker, and Woods Strider. Beast and Shaker were were with us for the night at Thistle Rock Shelter. Not much to report. Tough day. Sleeping in shelter tonight in order to dry out. Here is another salamander. They must love the rain. The trail leaves New Hampshire and enters Vermont on...