From Hanover, we had three or four days walking to the next town of Rutland VT, where Brenna would leave me, hitching back to where she first met up with me. The first day out of Hanover was great. The difference between the trail and terrain in Vermont versus in New Hampshire was amazing. Where New Hampshire is mountainous and rocky with steep descents and ascents, Vermont is full of gradual hills on wide smooth trails covered by a bed of pine needles. And green. Just miles into Vermont, I noticed so much more green around me (hence the name Green mountain state) and loved the open fields sprinkled with wild blackberries to devour. Not to mention the idyllic farms with big red barns and rolling fields all around. It’s not a surprise I fell in love with Vermont immediately.
I should mention that since Neon joined us, we’ve experienced the most trail magic we’ve encountered yet. First, while still in NH we stopped by Bill Ackleys house. He lives 0.1 miles off the trail and provides free ice cream bars for all hikers. He wasn’t home when we went but he leaves his back porch and freezer open so I helped myself to three ice creams. We came across an empty cooler of trail magic on another day which was disappointing but also exciting because it was the first time I’d even seen a cooler of trail magic (present or not) on the trail. Another morning we came across a cooler of beers and sodas and even though it was 8 am I enjoyed that PBR chilled by the river. Yet another morning we came across more sodas. The amount of trail magic was insane–there are so many kindhearted people helping out us hungry hikers.
About 6 miles out of Hanover, we passed through the tiny town of West Hartford. We stopped in the general store, which also functioned as a post office and restaurant, and enjoyed freshly made sandwiches. Neon also convinced the boys to pack out beers to spice up the day. They each got twelve packs (they are crazy clearly) and after much peer pressure from the three of them, I set out with six beers. I was so full from lunch I didn’t want to drink any but beers are heavy, so my main mtviation to drink them was to lighten my load. We had a lazy day hiking the relatively easy rolling hills and sipping our beers. Hiking with Neon has been entertaining because since she is going the opposite direction, she keeps running into people she knows. It seems like every person we pass is someone she’s met before so it is like a social tour for her, surprising them by going southbound and then stopping to chat and catch up. She must have stopped to talk to at least 30 people and that’s just when I was hiking with her. It makes me realize how many more northbounders than Southbounders there are. If I had been the one to go the opposite direction I’m sure we would have passed far fewer people and I would have known no more than ten or so.
The last four point something miles of the day seemed to drag on FOREVER so we were happy to finally get to the shelter, me especially because my knee, which has been sore recently, was really starting to bother me. We hung out with some northbounders brenna of course knew at the shelter and went to bed.