Let me dust this this off.....

In case you have not already heard. My hike on the LT was a great success. We launched from the US Canadian Border on October 18, 2013 and stood at the Vermont-Massachusetts border on November 6, 2013. It was a trip of reunions, cold challenges, and nearly deserted trails. I took the train from Chicago to Rutland, VT. I then hitchhiked 60 miles up Highway 100 to Waterbury, VT. Once in Waterbury I met up with JC and Sherps. We zipped around Vermont caching food that we would pick up along our hike.  

Sunroof (AT '12) and Grumpy (AT VT-ME '12, 1,200 PCT miles '13) met up with us along the way, this hike had a reunion feel to it at times. Hell even the trail was an old friend. The last 90ish miles of the Long Trail are coincide with the Appalachian Trail. 

All in all it was a wonderful trip.

Only took me to hitches to get from Rutland, VT
 to Waterbury, VT. Gotta love Vermonters

Starting off the hike at the US-CAN
border with a little night hiking! 

JC, Sunroof and I packing up at Spruce Ledge Camp.

The Long Trail is blazed with 6x2 white blazes, just like the Appalachian Trail. 

Nothing beats a great spring! 

This is where Vermont's world famous maple syrup comes from. We saw the last bit of fall color only at lower elevations.

Sherps whipping up some amazing dinner in Taft Lodge.

Mt. Mansfield. Highest Point in Vermont.

A little UNO by candle light, thanks to Grumpy!

Mt. Abe! 

The LT after a nice dusting.

Maine Junction, where the LT and AT meet. Quit your job, sell your house, rent out your car, lose the spouse, come walk with us, we're going to Maine. Life is never going to be the same. -- Rabbit '09

Vermont is still recovering from Hurricane Irene. There was once a bridge here.

This is Mount Snow's North Face from the Glastonbury fire tower. My dad's side of the Family grew up skiing those slopes.

Sky blaze!

Another trail completed. We maybe hung out for a 10 minutes and high tailed in to North Adams for free Mexican food! 

Getting the Band Back Together on the LT

The Long Trail is a 275 mile footpath through the Green Mountain State. It's the trail that inspired Benton Mackaye to dream up the Appalachian Trail. The LT is also America's first long distance hiking trail. On October 19th, 2013, Aaron "Jerusalem Cruiser (JC)" Knapp (AT Thru-Hiker '12), JP "Sherps" Krol (AT Thru Hiker '10) and I will be headed from the US-Canadian Border south to the Vermont-Massachusetts state line. Between the three of us we have over 6,500 miles of long distance backpacking!

Sherps visited JC and I on the AT in 2012
with some epic trail magic in New York!

My travels to Vermont will start in Chicago on October 14th, I'll take the train to thru the night to Schenectady, NY. I'll have a five hour layover, however I will get to spend that time with my sister! From there it's back on the train to Rutland, VT. Sherps lives in Waterbury, that's where my plans get a little more interesting. I will be hitch hiking from Rutland to Waterbury! When I arrive Sherps will be finishing up his last few days of work. Over the next few days we will be shopping, going over LT maps, guide books, dropping our food caches at road crossings and taking care of any last minute things. We'll stay the night at the US-CAN border on the 18th and begin our hike toward Massachusetts state line on the 19th.

I'm extremely excited to get to spend time Sherps and JC again. We spent a few nights on Mt. Leconte in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park this March. JC and I also spent a few days hiking the AT in Georgia as well.

This spring and summer I was doing a lot of running and developed plantar fasciitis. I'm worried if this will prevent me from doing big miles or forcing me off trail. My feet are my biggest worry at this moment.

Since I'm one of the few people holding onto their "dumb phones" the best way to follow my hike will be via my twitter page @PretzHikes.