The return to the AT in Vermont in July netted us a state and also two weeks' worth of humid, warm temperatures, accompanied by lots of deerflies and mosquitoes. I wish I had brought more insect repellent as they were not easily deterred. In camp, my toes especially got bitten up, requiring socks.
We did meet up with many hikers seeking to hike the whole trail in one year, called thru-hikers. And we enjoyed our stay at the Green Mountain House in Manchester Center, which I highly recommend.
The trail did bring us to some nice pond areas where Papa Bliss took a dip, as well as scenery on top of Bromley Peak before the first and only rain of the two weeks which soaked us for about two hours.
An interesting suspension bridge took us over the scenic Clarendon Gorge, where just a few weeks ago, it had been unsafe to cross. Before that, a nice ice cream treat by a trail angel helped propel us up and over the steep rocks we encountered afterwards.
A long day up and over the wooded Killington Peak, crossing roots and rocks, eventually brought me to Rt 4 and Rutland for a much-needed two-day break. Especially as a few days before, I had banged my big toe quite severely on a rock while in camp and had been babying the foot. But now pain is on the rise, and icing is required.
Continuing on a fifty-plus-mile section from Rutland to New Hampshire included this quite tall ladder, which I climbed down. But the heat and humidity persisted, and the combination of this plus my hurting foot has moved the goal posts of the rugged White Mountains to a future hike in the fall.
Limping into Hanover, I am glad to have completed Vermont, but sad that I must delay any further hiking. Upon my arrival back home, it was determined I had actually broken my big toe when it struck the rock in camp ten days previous. Eighty miles hiked on a broken big toe, yikes! Thankfully, after several examinations, the doctors feel that fracture is stable and I can return to the trail in September.
Stay tuned for Part Two with the Whites of New Hampshire, coming soon.
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