It was definitely warmer this week but it’s also still Mud Season. Because I didn’t feel like driving into the Whites without knowing I’d definitely get to hike, I decided to drive west into the Greens. I was up early because I hadn't packed yet for my trip... I finally left the hours at 0815 and got gas at Irving in Hanover (0830). From there, I drove south on NH-10 until I could get on US-4. Crossed into Vermont and then used I-89 all the way to Waterbury. Things at high elevations looked good all the way to the Camel’s Hump but I decided to try to hike the Long Trail further north. Followed VT-100 until reaching Stowe and then got on VT-108. I felt even more hopeful when I saw a sign about how the route through Smugglers’ Notch had just opened. By the time I reached the Stowe Mountain Resort, however, I could see lots of snow on Mount Mansfield. Hoping I could still make the best of the drive, I looked closely at my Long Trail maps and noticed that there were a few miles at lower elevations that I could probably hike. With beautiful blue skies, I left my car in the ski resort lot and headed SOBO from where the LT passed the Barnes Camp Historic Site (1000). Temps were in the mid 40s and there was a steady breeze so I layered up a bit. The initial section was a nice boardwalk but then the trail headed into the woods. Signs said “closed for mud season” but I kept going… A little later, I crossed VT-108 again and started up Mount Mansfield. Was feeling really good during this climb and got the idea I might be able to make it to the Taft Lodge. Making this goal doubtful, though, was that there appeared to be snow near that destination and I had left my micro-spikes in the car. I passed a middle aged couple (VT grads) who told me they had the same idea. However, we were only able to walk another half mile before snow and ice made the going more difficult. My hiking friends turned around but I kept climbing until the snow got too deep and was melted enough that I sank in up to my knees on every step (about 3K’ elevation). At that point, I was 1.5 miles from the car with no discernible landmark - not the turnaround spot I usually use... Oh well. Backtracked to a trail junction I’d passed near VT-108. This blue-blazed trail was called the Barnes Camp Loop and gave me access to the Long Trail on the side of Spruce Peak (other side of the Notch). I’m not sorry I used this route but I had to work very hard to make the circuit: had to ford a six inch stream and clamber up a steep ledge with lots of downed trees! From there, though, the 0.6 on the LT (back to my car) was easy. On the way, got lots of good views of the ski resorts, The Chin and Adam’s Apple. Finished hiking at 1315 after around 6 miles, feeling very glad that I hiked on such a nice day. Departed the area by using the extremely narrow road through the Notch - not a drive for the faint of heart! After crossing the ridge, I made the decision to cross the US/Canada border for the first time since 2011. I'd brought my passport, researched online and queried my neighbors (they regularly cross) but still had some questions about the process. The saying goes that all plans change when the battle begins so I figured I'd need to actually try to visit Canada to know how to actually do it correctly... Resolutely, I continued north... Stayed on VT-108 until I reached Cambridge and then switched to VT-104. Used the latter road to reach I-89 on the south side of St. Albans. When I passed through the town of Fairfax, I texted the girls to show them yet another place-name that has been used many times... Continued north on the Interstate and stopped for lunch (inside restaurant) at McDonalds in Swanton, VT (1415). Later drove north again and arrived at the border crossing station at about 1515. It wasn't too busy and I was soon talking to a Canadian border guard. After I was done answering all the questions he'd asked, I thought I was good to go but then he asked me why I hadn't used the ArriveCAN app. D'oh! I had to park and go inside the Border Checkpoint Office get a lecture on using the pre-clearance process. Eventually, however, they they let me re-enter the US (fortunately, no line there). In order to get internet access, I drove about 10 miles south but was able to complete the required process by 1535. Turned around again and headed back to the border. This time, everything worked OK and I was driving on QC-133 by 1555. I didn't immediately try out my International Calling Plan so I used one of my old paper maps (from c.1990!). Even though I could tell where I was going, the signs were strange (almost nothing was in English). I spent some time getting used to the flow and driving in kph. The scenery was also totally different from where I'd been - everything was perfectly flat (like Indiana)! In the distance (south), though, I could see the Adirondacks. I followed QC-133 until I reached A35, followed it until I was on A10. I hardly saw anyone with US license plates... Before long, I saw the prominent Mont St. Gregoire in the distance (northeast). As I approached the eastern end of the Pont Samuel-de-Champlain, I encountered a nasty traffic jam. At that point, I turned on my phone and enabled data roaming so I could learn more about the delay - it turned out to be more than 30 minutes. From that point, it was stop and go traffic for a LONG time (at least an hour) and I wasn't completely across the bridge until close to 1800. On the west side of the St. Lawrence River, I followed A15 until I could get off the highway in the Cote-des-Neiges neighborhood. I drove around on a lot of surface streets and started wondering if they actually allow right on red in Canada... Eventually, I found the entrance (closed) for the Cimiterie Notre-Dame-Cote-des-Neiges. Because I wasn't sure I was actually going to get into Canada today, I didn't make a hotel reservation. At this point, I was really exhausted from all the traveling and logistics so I looked online for the closest hotel to where I wanted to be in the morning (Mount Royal). Fortunately, I figured out that I only had to drive a few short miles to the Residence Inn Montreal Westmount (Avenue Lincoln). When I arrived, I learned that they still had a COVID-19 Mask Mandate in effect (through the following week)... I asked if they had rooms and, after a bit of a delay while they manually got me checked in, I was able to park in their garage and find my room (1830). The place they gave me, on the 18th floor, had a bit of obstructed view of Montreal and the St. Lawrence but I was very happy to have it! After getting a shower, I went downstairs and asked the Front Desk about a place where I could have a drink. They directed me about two blocks east, where I found the Rue Ste. Catherine. This was a major discovery that I hadn't expected. Research later told me that it was the busiest shopping and food district in Montreal and I agree with that assessment. I walked for about five blocks (towards the north) and saw lots of stores and restaurants that looked interesting. Everyone was speaking French... Since I wanted to try a local beer, I eventually chose La Chambre Brasserie Sportive (a sports bar). They weren't very busy yet but had a massive TV on the wall and the bartender (Pierre) mentioned that there was a big MMA fight coming up at 2200. I didn't plan to stay that long but did watch a WNBA game and an exciting undercard MMA match. It was nice to relax at a quiet pub, with a Hoegaarden and unbelievably cheesy dinner (mac and cheese plate). I finished up at the bar at around 2100 and then walked back to my hotel. It was harder to navigate, going back, but I eventually recognized Avenue Attwater and then Avenue Lincoln. I told the Front Desk manager that he'd made a great suggestion and then headed to my room. Mollie had called while I was at the Pub and I tried to call her back (no luck). Read for about an hour in my room and then went to sleep (2230). When I renewed my passport last year, it reminded me that I hadn’t actually left the US for 10 years; the dry spell ended today! LT Today = 2.1 miles / Grand Total LT = 121.3 miles
