Upper Goose Pond

[The cabin at Upper Goose Pond.]

I got off the bus in Lee, Ma. and stepped straight into a high-powered storm. I sprinted for cover but not before hitting a parking lot flash flood that soaked me to my calves. A taxi brought me to the trailhead and a 1.6 mile southbound hike brought me here, where a nice family is serving as caretaker.

Zero day today, pancakes for breakfast and Dalton tomorrow. Then a 20-mile-a-day dash to Manchester, Vt. by Sunday.

Warm welcome back to the Trail

[Sudden thunderstorm hits Lee, Massachusetts, July 19.]

Now boarding: the Vermonter

After like a month off in Pennsylvania, during which I got my grad school future that much more sorted out, I'm traveling trailwards again.

Here commences MA->NH '10!

I'm hoping for new memories, new friends and to catch up with my friends from this spring. Surely I'll be taking it easy because of the heat-I'm built for cool temps-and I'd like to savor lovely Vermont and rugged New Hampshire.

Harper's, 6/6/10

Thru-hiker! Technically, at least. I did the 2,175 miles in under a year. Which makes it so.

[The ATC hq, the place I started a year ago.]

[Somebody toss me the mic!]

I briefly entertained the idea of re-hiking WV->ME and clock 3,000 miles, completing a traditional thru-hike. But, it got too hot, I have too much business to attend to to be ready for grad school [less than two months away!] and I require novelty to drive me. So I'm off the trail. I am coming back to hike a section I'm keen to hike, and shortly. That would be Dalton, Mass. to at least Rutland, but perhaps to Gorham or Andover.

I'll keep you in the loop. And I'm going to add more posts about upper VA->upper PA.

Happy 4th! This time last year I was celebrating at The Mayor's House in Unionville, NJ. Remember that?