Friday, July 26, 2019
Peru, VT (USA)
I slept from 0500 until around 1000. It was very hot, so I didn't sleep well but got up when my body felt ready. I tried to do some telework but was concerned about how hot it was getting and didn't want to miss a chance to hike. I packed up quickly and drove south to Manchester Center. By 1100, I had my backpack ready and was raring to go! I decided to tackle two shorter sections that were located along VT-11 between Peru and Manchester Center. It was only a ten mile drive to the zone but I lost my bearings on where the first trailhead was. Without cell signal, it was all up to the engrams... Fortunately, I recognized a landmark and soon found the AT parking lot on Mad Tom Notch (gravel) road. Left my car at 1145, headed SOBO towards Bromley Mountain. This section was only 2.5 miles but my muscles and joints weren’t in their Spring form so my initial pace was slow. Three SOBO Thru hikers caught up to me and blew by when I stepped out of the way - no chit chat. The section stayed under the canopy and there was a light breeze through the trees. The temps were high 70s, climbing to mid 80s - I normally avoid hiking after 1100 during the Summer but today was OK. During my climb to the summit of the highest peak in the Bromley Resort, I encountered about 10 NOBO Thru hikers and a grandfather walking with his son. Didn’t see any animals or major views - until I reached a spectacular “bald” with a 360 view. I’d last been at the peak five years ago - at that point, I’d only hiked a little over a hundred miles of AT. This time, many of the distant peaks had meaning because I’ve since climbed them. Turned around and headed back to my car. Dodged rocks, roots, fallen trees and mud. The latter obstacle wasn’t as bad as previous years (so I won’t call the place Vermud this time). Arrived at the parking lot at 1400 after around six miles, feeling limber and ready for more miles! Talked to some locals about the closed road to Griffith Lake - we all wanted to use it to get closer to Peru Peak but there must have been a washout. Repositioned to Rootville Road, where the gravel road to Prospect Rock gave me a chance to rescue an “orphaned” section I’d landlocked five years ago. It was much hotter but, again, the blue blazers access trail and the AT section (2.1 miles) were mostly covered by trees. The outbound leg climb was much steeper, though, and I took my time getting to the ridge. I noticed a lot of day hikers had started up before me and had given up because the nearly two mile road didn’t have scenery. Fortunately, I hiked the same trail last year and just plodded ahead until I made it to the white blazes. From there, the trail was mostly deserted - I only saw two hikers during the next two hours (and no wildlife). There was one big (annoying) descent before I reached my turnaround point (Spruce Peak Shelter) but I was pleasantly surprised that I got back to the top quickly. When I reached the gravel again, it was all downhill and I got to my car (after about eight miles) by 1745. After almost two months away from the AT, I managed to hike almost 14 miles on a hot day - seemed like a success... Drove back to Manchester Center and stopped at McDonalds for dinner (1800). There was no air conditioning but I stayed there, blogging, until around 1900. It was almost dark when I drove back to Danby. Had planned to telework again but was exhausted. Instead, I read for a few hours and then went to bed (2130), exhausted. More AT tomorrow! AT Today = 4.60 miles / Grand Total AT = 1418.12 miles