Long Trail Day 15

3 Miles (171 Total)

Appalachian Gap to Birch Glen Lodge

We had a good nights rest in a completely temperature controlled and dry environment. The Inn served us breakfast of French toast and ham, and even allowed us seconds. There was good coffee out too, and the owner, John, gave us a lift after breakfast back to the trail.

The sky looked dark and foreboding on our ascent back up to Appalachian Gap. The forecast called for more rain starting around noon. The rainfall amount that was posted on Weather Underground called for over 4 inches of rain, most of which were predicted to come in only a few hours. Yuck.

The trail was still wet and soggy and overflowing with water. About the same conditions as we left it yesterday.

It was slow going to the first shelter only 3 miles away. We got there around noon just as it started to rain. We decided to stop there for the day. We didn’t see much value in hiking in a torrential downpour, and the shelter was a a nice one with a big, open porch. It was a good spot to spend the day lounging around and reading, listening to the rain while not having to be directly in it.

It rained for about 5 hours straight, hard at times. A young guy came to the shelter around 1, Ryan from Connecticut. It was his first day of 5 on the Long Trail, headed north to Smugglers Notch. He was wet and timid, perhaps embarking on his first ever solo backpacking trip. He was courteous before he took a jar of peanut butter from his bag.

“None of you are allergic to peanut butter, are you?”

Carolyn and I both said no.

Nice guy.

“It’s gonna be really wet today,” I said. “Are you continuing on?”

“Yeah. It’s my first day out. Drove up 4 and a half hours to get to Appalachian Gap. I’d feel bad stopping early.”

“Cool. Be safe out there,” I said, as courtesy. Not that it wasn’t safe. It was perfectly fine. Just really wet.

“Do you think it’s okay to go on? It’s safe, right?” He asked me this with an unconfident tremble in his voice. He was seeking affirmation for what he knew was a crazy idea.

4 inches of rain is an incredible amount of water in such a short amount of time- only a few hours. 

“Yeah, it’s probably fine,” I replied.

Just not something I need to put myself through if I don’t have to, I thought.

He fastened his rain jacket tight. Drew the hood over his head and snapped it up to his chin.

With a smile, he said, “Alright- have a good day!”

He left the shelter as it began raining harder.

We were right we’re we needed to be. Dry and warm.

It’s 5:30 now and the rain appears to have stopped. I think that’s the last of it for at least three days. Or so Weather Underground tells me.

It looks like we may have the shelter to ourselves. Fine by me.

Up and over another 4K foot mountain tomorrow- Camels Hump. I’ve been there before. It’s the only undeveloped 4K foot mountain in Vermont.

Hopefully we can finally get some grand views.