Down The Trail

Hike North______________The Long Trail______________Hike South

The Long Trail End-to-End Journal (Southbound)
September 26, 2007
Burlington, Vt to Journey’s End Camp
LT Miles – 0
Total LT Miles – 0
Extra Miles – 5

I wake this morning in a motel room in Burlington, Vermont.

After yesterday’s long ride on Greyhound, today primarily consists of an afternoon of hitch-hiking from Burlington to North Troy – the closest town to the northern terminus of The Long Trail. It sits just south of the Canadian border.

My final ride drops me off at a small gas station in North Troy. The town is made up of only a handful of quaint, silent buildings. This church is the most dominant feature, and the sound of workmen’s power tools echoes through the streets on this lazy evening.

There are some picturesque homes near town, evidenced by this view through a roadside wildflower garden.

The Long Trail Guidebook directs me from the center of town to a rural lane that leads into the mountains. It says to look for a large dairy barn, where I am to turn onto an even smaller road, which fades into the Journey’s End Trail, which leads to the LT’s northern terminus.

Occasional rain showers fall as I walk these roads with my backpack, eager to hike.

The homes steadily become more infrequent, as can be seen with this lone mailbox at a private, wooded lot.

I planned this hike to coincide with the southward progression of Vermont’s fall foliage, so I’m delighted to see these colors in the north

The local shooting range, apparently.

Permanent residences are replaced by vacant hunter’s cabins along Journey’s End Road.

The jeep road finally changes into a footpath marked with blue blazes. Here’s a marker with a register book placed by The Green Mountain Club. I sign in as Duct Tape, taking on my old Appalachian Trail name.

Excited for my journey to underway, I shoot a simple video of crossing a stream and ascending a rock staircase.

After some continuous climbing I reach Journey’s End Camp.

It is the first (Or last) of approximately sixty shelters on The Long Trail. I am pleased to discover that this is a rare four-sided structure – and relatively new – built in 2003. Darkness falls shortly after I arrive, and I view a brief sunset through the trees and clouds. I am alone for the night, and have yet to meet a soul on the trail.

As I prepare a tasty dinner of Spanish rice, it appears that I’m going to have some company for the night after all!

Hike North______________The Long Trail______________Hike South