Introduction

About Pathways

Appalachian Trail

Why Walk?

Make a Pledge

Hiking Schedule

Journal

Photos

Links

Acknowledgements

August 9, 2001

Chillin' here at Pack-Rat's "Welcome Hikers" hostel in Glencliff, NH listening to David Gray. The hostel sits at the base of Mt. Mossilauke. At 4802', it's the first mountain above the 4000' since the Great Smoky Mountains on the TN/NC border. The weather has been hot hot hot and humid all week long making me sweat like never before and cut mileage back. (I don't think what I've been doing could be called glowing.)

I've had quite a few adventures since last writing. I spent a night at the Inn at Long Trail in Killington, VT. On trail it marks where the AT and LT split to ME and Canada, respectively of course. It's a fantastic Irish Put and B&B that has a really good hiker rate. Jobnick had left a riddle for several of us pertaining to the real name section-hiker Grace. When we got it right, we got a free beer. The Black and Tan served VT-style with Guinness and Long Trail Ale was so good that I had to get another one. I shared a huge plate of nachos and listened to Irish/Celtic/Bluegrass music at tables made from sawn tree trunk cookies. All of the dark wood paneling, bar, and furniture made it feel dark, cozy, and solid. I could've grown roots there.

Instead, when it rained the next morning, I offered to shuttle a hiker the 100 trial miles to the beginning of the Long Trail at the VT/NA border. Hilltopper had flip-flopped (completed a thru-hike half N. bound and half S.bound) last year and I had met him a couple months ago at a hostel in S. Va. I might have done it out of the kindness of my heart. But the promise of driving a truck all day and listening to music really made my heart more kind. Prince Charming, named for his resemblance to Prince Williams, had to take a day off from his Long Trail Hike, so he cam with. When we stopped in Cancehseter Center to leave a box for Hilltopper, I saw Zog-Zagger, one of my favorite old men on trail. So we picked him up on the roadside and gave him a ride to the hostel as well.

The car died several times on the trip to the trailhead. Many kind folks gave up jump starts. Most likely it was only the alternator because it started the next morning after Molly's (Grace) family reunion. (I thought Hilltopper would really want me to put another 50 miles on his truck and go have a good time. Molly's family took us in--some of us unexpectedly--and fed us Cornish Hens and fresh salad. We played UNO and watched Space Balls. Smittee and Mary stayed another day and went water-skiing.