Misty Morning Hike on the AT/LT with Keith (6/15/23)
shoreline of the beaver pond in the mist.
This was a kind of “special event” hike. For those that read my first post, you’ll know that my hiking buddy Keith from Adams is hiking the Appalachian Trail this year. He’s a retired postman in great hiking shape, amazing really. Very lucky to have met him back in 2021 when I moved here. Many locals know more than me about the trails around here, but Keith’s knowledge is up there. Also a great guy, and so fun to hike with. Very fast uphill (but I got him on the downhill). He said he’d been averaging 18 miles a day!
Me and Keith at the brand new Seth Warner shelter. Keith has an amazing beard, right?
Anyways, this was the week he would be coming back through town on his way up to Maine. I had been looking forward to his big 2/3-way homecoming since he took off for Georgia back in March. Plan was to hike with him on the AT around here. I was a bit busy so I missed him as he came over Greylock. We caught up Wed night in town, but we needed to do a hike! I was free the next day (6/15/23) when he would be taking off northward into Vermont along the Long Trail—the north-south trail that runs the length of the state. The AT overlaps with it in the southern half of the state before branching rightwards into NH. Hence the “AT/LT” you’ll see on the signs.
Now I’ve done a good deal of the AT (and AT/LT) around these parts. But I hadn’t gotten to the section right beyond the state line. (Hiked up there from Pine Cobble a few times, but not much beyond). Today we’d be doing this section from a remote trailhead on County Road, a rough dirt road from Stamford, VT (the last mile of the road is a bit rough, be aware). We met at the trailhead around 7:00; he would go on and I would return back to my car solo. Honestly, it was a gloomy and wet morning, light rain, fog, so I was tempted to call it off (had to be early of course, as he was hoping to do 21 miles that day). But I just had to make it out to get in a hike with Keith on his AT thru hike. Glad I did. The section was totally beautiful, very remote. We ascended through a magical quiet wet fog, hazy mist. The greens were bursting onto the trails (lots of viburnum). First big rain in a while and the plants were loving it. That time of year, mid-summer—big growth. There’s just something special about hiking in still mist through remote wooded trails—white, grey, green, brown—you experience colors more than space/distance. Very calm feeling.
After a few miles of moderate uphill, we popped out from the canopy onto the edge of a beaver pond. It was totally beautiful and serene, all sorts of birds singing and flying across the bright grey background of sky. Still mist also gives one an intimate, almost indoor feeling. Very peaceful, restful, comfy. The trail runs right along the edge, only for a hundred yards or so, but it’s completely beautiful with the moss and the carved out tree trunks.
We went on to “Consultation Peak” (he had good joke, but I forgot it, something about a doctor’s office?) a few miles past that where we took a selfie, I wished him luck, and then I turned back south to MA. Keith went on, he should be done by late July I think…
there’s a joke there, somewhere…
The way back was nice too, but the fog had cleared and so some of the misteriousness (ha ha) had lifted from the beaver pond when I hit it on the way down. Nonetheless it was good to catch a clear view. Back at the car and I’d done 8 miles. Great hike. Think I’ll for sure make it a regular part of the rotation. Look out for updates.
Until the next one…
-TDG
