Dover Sicamous presents: Updates

Dover Sicamous here,

Sunday May 22
Got dropped off at 2:45 in Norwich mile 443.3
Passed Happy Hill shelter around 4:15, so kept going. Did not make it to the next shelter, stopped and set up tent around 6:45 because the last thing I want to do on the first day is be caught out at night. Weather was good, mix of sun and cloud. Maybe high 60's. Stopped roughly at mile 453, between West Hartford and Joe Ranger Rd. Was all set up in camp by 730, so the rest of the night sucked. Just waiting for it to be dark enough to be able to sleep, alone in a tent, wishing I had not gone alone.

Monday May 23
Started pouring around midnight. Thankful that I had the foresight to put on my raincover for the tent. Rained nonstop until around 9. Was up since 7, waiting for it to stop so I could at least pack up when it was not raining and keep my gear dry. Regardless, the tent is soaked and won't dry anytime soon, same with my shoes which were pressed up against tent wall and got the full brunt of condensation.
Left around 945, everything is soaking, all the trees are dripping, air is really humid, wet, and foggy. Hopefully it dries up some once the sun gets higher so my stuff will dry off.
Met Marathon Man at the Thistle Hill shelter around 11, going the opposite way.
Got lost at some point during the day. Must have ended up on some kind of logging road instead of trail, realized when it led out into someone's back field. Got down to the road Vt route 14 which the trail intersects as well. Figured out I was only about a half mile from where the trail was. Cost time, its already 430 and I have 4.4 miles to next shelter.
Got to Winturri Shelter at 615. Weather was lousy all day. 100% cloudy, heavy fog, intense dew on all the grass. I passed through a lot of big open meadows at the top of the ridges I was passing, very cool looking with the fog, but my shoes are pools of water. Small blister on the heel, big toe hurts, but not a big deal. Shoulders hurt a lot from the pack, I wish I had weighed it before I left. Trying to estimate by comparing it to dumbbells I use, I want to say its between 45-55 pounds.
 Spending the night in Winturri Shelter with The Frenchman. 49 year old from Montreal, who works as a social worker. Has three kids, newly a grandparent. First started hiking the trail in 1984 with then girlfriend, came back in 2004, and finished the Long trail in 2009, 25 years later. Does a lot of hiking and biking around quebec during the year with kids and then girlfriend now wife. Very cool guy, heavy French accent, I guess this yearly week trip to the trail is his only time to practice english other then helping tourists.
Went to bed at nine after talking a while. Bottom of sleeping is wet, probably was pressed against tent wall yesterday in rain. oops.
Tuesday May 24 "The day from HELL"
Woke up around 630. Mouse ate a hole through The Frenchman's gorp mix, I gave him a new bag, he gave me some shortbread his wife made. He also informed me that the Tucker Johnson shelter was burned down. Which means the only shelters coming up are Stony Brook in 9, or Churchill Scott in 19. Based on pace the last two days, I want to go for Churchill, thinking I could be at Stony Brook by lunch.
First 5 miles goes fast. Next four suck. Talk to mother about coming home this weekend. I'm missing enough crucial equipment to put a damper on the trip, and my feet are getting worse. Stop in Killington for the night, because last few miles feet were very painful. Swelling, black toes, blisters, chilblains, alternating numbness and hotspots. Basically I have early symptoms of trench foot.
But other then the death of my feet, the trip is going well! Killington is nice, and I am able to relax for several hours. Located at Kent pond and Gifford State Park. I stay in the park, which has showers and campsites. I have dinner with a family of 5 that are camping out on vacation, lots of fun.
Coming home on Friday. A little disappointed because other then the shoe problems, things have been looking up. Having a lot of fun with people I meet, enjoying myself more now that I have slowed down, my shoulders are stronger too. But my feet are really bad right now, and there is no way to dry them out when on the trail all day, so if I continue they will just get worse.
Just going to explore Killington, do some side trails, go to Pittsfield for a night, just hang out while keeping Killington as my home base, because the next town on the trail is too far to get to by Friday with feet.

I am very glad I did this. Week seems to be a good time frame for camping in the future, and I know a lot more about how to make it more enjoyable for next time.