Virtual AT: William B. Douglas Shelter to Stony Brook Shelter

"Beans"...with replenished supplies and back on the virtual trail!"

Added a few apples to my pack...although they are a bit heavier than standard trail chow...I love them while hiking through this beautiful Fall-in-Vermont Foliage. Leaves underfoot and the smell of woodsmoke in the air.

(...it's an ambience thing...)

Clear and 60 degrees right now.

Everything they have ever said about the Fall Colors in this state is an understatement...and although there are still pockets of summer's green...there has been an abrupt change almost everywhere. It is gorgeous.

Picked up a tiny single serving bottle of Vermont's finest 100% maple syrup and planning on adding bacon jerky to pancake mix soon for a Vermont-On-The-Trail breakfast.

(...because...ya gotta...)

Adding my granulated maple sugar to everything now.

Chopped one of the apples with a handful of raisins and pecans to add to my oatmeal this morning...oh and maple sugar, of course.

And we're on our way!

To Prospect Rock Trail

View from Prospect Rock

Past Spruce Peak Shelter

(...did I mention how much I LOVE Vermont's Lincoln Log construction of these shelters???)

And up a quarter mile  to Spruce Peak

Across Vt 11 to Bromley Shelter

And up Bromley Mountain

Onward to Mad Tom Notch

(...who was Tom...and why was he angry...or maybe just a bit off??)

Mad Tom Notch Road

The locals were no help trying to solve the Mad Tom question. No one seems to know whether it was an anger management issue or if he was truly insane.

Another unsolved trail mystery.

To Peru Peak and the Peru Peak Shelter

Peru Peak Shelter

Past Griffin Lake

and Lost Pond Shelter

 and Lost Pond

(..no wonder they lost it...it is tiny...)

Past Old Job Shelter down Old Job Trail...

and Big Branch Shelter

To Little Rock Pond

And Shelter

Down the Green Mountain Trail to Homer Stone Brook and Thundering Falls...then west to White Cliffs Vista...

Short Tour

https://youtu.be/Xx7iIl7M0A0

Thundering Falls  (hear them for yourself!!!)

https://youtu.be/422Msv_8QXM

Past Greenwall Shelter

 Minerva Hinchey Shelter

and the Clarendon Shelter

Up the  Beacon Hill Trail

Across Upper and Lower Cold River Road

To Governor Clements Shelter

Which appears to have a river rock fireplace!

And bunks!

As great as it would be to stay here...we've miles to go to reach our 1/3 way...

So, sadly we hike on.

(...after yanking a small river rock out for a souvenir...hey...it was loose....okay???)

Past Cooper's Lodge

And the Jungle Junction, Sherman Pass Trail to

The Churchill Scott Shelter

(...who even knew Vermont HAD so many shelters???)

And the first of these signs I've saw...

Beware of Porcupines!

 "Yep...and we're waiting for you..."

"Well...I THOUGHT I had him..."

Make no mistake...they will do this to hikers, too.

Give them the right-of-way.

(...and no.. they cannot shoot quills...but they are loosely attached and a shake, brush up, or slap will get you a handful...)

Across Willard Gap
(only 487 more miles to Katahdin!!!!)

Down Sherburne Pass Trail

Up Quimby Mountain

And (..at last...) Stony Brook Shelter

Wait...we gave up a beautiful river rock stone shelter and a fireplace for THIS?????????????????????

Damn...

Last time I listen to you lot!

laughing

Well, we are only 50 miles out from the New Hampshire line...so there's that...

See everyone in the morning...going to get dinner stated here, then hunker down for another cold night.

Love,

"Beans"

We are 1708 miles in on the Appalachian Trail.