I crossed several milestones today. I left Massachusetts and entered Vermont and started the Long Trail (see photo), which coincides with the Appalachian Trail for 105 miles and I passed the 1600-mile mark. This morning, I left my room quietly to not bother Refill and walked to the motel office for breakfast. After helping myself to yoghurt, a banana, and an English muffin with peanut butter, I got a ride back to the AT with one of the Indian family members who owned the motel. My hiking day started with a 1700-foot climb with 45 minutes of rain. After a few miles of level, I stopped briefly at the Seth Warner shelter then continued uphill to powerline corridor then dropped down to Roaring Branch where I got water. After a climb to Consultation Peak, I descended to Stamford Stream at mile 12 where I ate lunch. The next six miles were uneventful but the ultra-steep drop to VT Hwy 9 challenged me to the max. The steep climb to the Melville Nauheim shelter sapped my remaining energy. I was grateful to get a sleeping spot in the shelter, given the forecast for rain by morning. Today's miles - 20.0. Total miles - 1612.2.
