Danby, VT (USA)

I was awake by 0800 and left the hotel within the hour.  I promptly got a speeding ticket in Davenport.  Dang!  I asked the trooper for the best way back to I-88 and he actually gave me an "escort" cross the mountain (winding roads).  I stopped for gas (and a work-related telcon) in Rotterdam (1000).  Afterwards, i got back on the highway, using I-90 and I-87 through Albany.  I switched to NY-7 and drove across the Hudson at Troy.  Very slow going to the VT border...  Used VT-279 to get to US-7 near Bennington and made my way to Danby, arriving around 1300.  The whole drive to Vermont (my first in almost two years) was an adventure in itself!  Arriving at my accommodations by the early afternoon (thanks, Elizabeth!), I relaxed until dinner time. Ate a nice meal in Rutland (Friendly's) at 1800 and picked up a breakfast meal to go.  Afterwards, I drove to the trailhead at VT-140. There wasn't much daylight left as I started NOBO at 1930 but I wanted put in a few miles before bed... I headed for (little) Bear Mountain - all uphill - and had a brief conversation with a thru hiker on the way. Didn't see any wildlife but the sunlight peeking through the alpine forest looked like fire on the mountain. After that, though, it was dark for much of the way back (although I was still able to see the white blazes without a headlamp). Finished at 2115. It wasn't a long hike (~3.5 miles) but it served an important purpose: I got some trail confidence back. All week, I've been wanting to get back out there to overcome the many doubts that I picked up last Sunday. So I feel good saying now that I'm going to keep chipping away at the AT until something bigger stops me. I've completed almost 1/3 of the 2150 miles in just over two years. Weekends like this remind me that I don't have to - and shouldn't - give up something I want that is entirely achievable, even if the odds seem to be against the endeavor. On the way down the mountain (and back to Danby), I almost hit a porcupine on the way down the mountain!  It is so great to be here and I'm looking forward to more hiking tomorrow... AT Today = 1.72 miles / Grand Total AT = 714.58 miles