Day 1 – North Troy

Burlington, Vt to Journey’s End Camp
September 26, 2007

LT Miles – 0
Total LT Miles – 0
Extra Miles – 5

It was a long ride yesterday on Greyhound buses from Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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

the Green Mountain State.

I spend the afternoon hitch-hiking to North Troy. The rides go well as I make my way up route 100, always north. The village is just one mile south of the Canadian border. I’m way up there.

It’s the closest town to the border, to the northern terminus of The Long Trail.

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

I begin walking out of town.

There are some picturesque homes on the outskirts.

The 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.

This road fades into the Journey’s End Trail, which leads to the Long Trail’s northern terminus.

Occasional rain showers fall as I walk these roads with my backpack, eager and excited to be on my feet, beginning this hike.

Homes appear less frequently as people find their space out here. I planned this trip to coincide with the southward progression of Vermont’s fall foliage, so I’m delighted to see these colors in the north.

Already I find what I came for – rural Vermont.

It feels good out here.

Into the woods and on toward Journey’s End.

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.

There’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.

It’s a stairway to heaven as I look forward to another month in the mountains.

Excited for my journey to be underway, I shoot a simple video.

After some climbing I reach Journey’s End Camp.

This is the first (Or last) of approximately sixty shelters on The Long Trail. I’m pleased to discover that this is a rare four-sided structure – and relatively new – built in 2003.

Darkness falls swiftly after I arrive.

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 after all!

NEXT (DAY 2) —>