JCTownsley.com

Heading up to colchester VT for more sailing today. It is so gorgeous here- hate to leave in a few days! Location: http://gpstwit.com/c9j

I’m sitting at the General Store, as I have most days this week. Most mornings have been the “Localvore Breakfast” with all local, organic ingredients. It’s been a nice week of relaxing, rehabilitating, and enjoying good company.
A short explanation on what happened on the trail. When I reach portland I may post a longer recap once I can get the pictures off my camera. Day 1 I felt pretty good, although didn’t get started on the trail until almost noon. After 15 miles of nonstop beauty, I was running out of light so I put in for then night. The next morning I felt a little soreness, but nothing unexpected.
By the end of day 2, fifteen strenuous miles later, I was really starting to feel pain in my right ankle. I had been hurting in my left ankle the last few weeks, so expected general pain there, but my right was becoming unbearable. A few advil helped me fall asleep (I should mention that it was below freezing that night, in an open shelter on top of Glastenbury Mountain). When I woke up on Day 3, I knew my ankle was in bad shape. I stayed in the sleeping bag until almost noon, trying to decide if I should rest for a day, continue hiking on, or hike out to Bennington. I ended up deciding to see how 4.1 miles would feel on the ankle with a little medication.
Unfortunately, the 4.1 miles took me almost 3 hours and hurt every single step. I pulled into Kidd Gore shelter that afternoon knowing I needed to do something. Because of the pain in my right ankle, I had changed my walk to take pressure off the right side. This of course made my right knee begin to hurt also.
Day 4 I awoke with a big decision to make. In hindsight, I made the right decision. 5 days of rest later, and my ankle is still in a lot of pain. I imagine I might have done some damage to the tendon on the right, rear side, but time, and possibly a visit to the doctor, will tell.
So Day 4 I started out pretty early knowing it could be a full day. 5 miles of very slow stumbling down the trail I made it to an old road across the Green Mountains. Once here, I walked another hour an a half or so before a truck picked me up and drove me the remaining 12 miles to Manchester Vermont. From there, I hitchhiked a few more hours back to Barnard.
I learned several lessons from this trip- the Long Trail is severely rocky. Not a walking path in the slightest. The fall may not be the best time to hike it- as if the section you are on is not a bog, as most of it was, then you’re stumbling over wet rocks, hidden by wet leaves, in a very precarious way.
I had rain, sleet, hail, wind, and cold weather.
All that to say- I loved every minute. One of the most beautiful trails I have hiked. Hopefully the pictures will be good enough to show some of the magnificent pictures I was enchanted with each minute.
Sunday I’ll take the bus back to Boston to spend a couple days with friends. Tuesday I fly home.
That’s it for now!

Sailing on lake Champlain today! Location: http://gpstwit.com/bs6

Back in Barnard after two great car rides, longer update later tonight or tomorrow

Off the mountain. Walked for an hour+ on an old dirt road before a hitching a ride. Will take all afternoon to hitch all the way back

D4- hiking out, both ankles done for. Kidd gore to storey spring shelter. 1 mile to Kelly stand road- then w to route 7

Burr it’s cold. Hike today was all rain and hail. Still haven’t warmed up. Sharing shelter with one other guy. Last update for today. Lo …

At Kidd gore shelter. Absolute stunning view. No picture would so justice. Location: http://gpstwit.com/bep

D3- heading out late. Very cold/windy/stormy today. Right ankle bad pain. Probably only go 4 miles to kid gore shelter.

Last update for tonight. View from where I am staying! Location: http://gpstwit.com/bbb

Random updates: knees great, ankles terrible pain. May need to rest tomorrow. Cell service non existent most of trail.

Day 2 total: 14.4 miles. Congdon shelter to Goddard shelter. 8:45 time. Terrential rains, soupy trail. Lots of scrambling.

Day 1 total: 14.1 miles, wiliamstown to LT to Congdon shelter. 6.5 hours. Awesome weather

4.1 miles in. Beginning of Long Trail. Feeling good Location: http://gpstwit.com/b6b

Official start on AT. 3 miles to start of LT. Late start today: maybe 15-18 miles