I am preparing to hike the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the US—272 (435 km) miles long running the length of Vermont from the Massachusetts to the Canadian borders. It is considered more difficult and rugged than the Appalachian Trail, with lots of mud and mountains (53 named ones) including 27 that are over 3,500 ft. high.
To get in shape and to learn how to use hiking poles, I take early morning walks carrying a 30-pound pack. Never having used poles, I found them awkward at first but have developed a rhythm, at least while tap-taping on Sarasota streets. My morning ventures have produced unusual comments and lots of questions.
- One woman warily keeping her distance asked me what I was doing in her neighborhood (one that I have been walking through for years). She seemed more accepting of me when I told her that I was in training to walk the Long Trail. By her demeanor, I assumed she thought I was a street person casing out the area.
- Another woman asked me how far I was going to walk on the trail. “Two miles?” she guessed. I imagine for some people, walking two miles is a long distance.
- One woman said, “Oh, you’ve had your baby!” At almost 65 years old, I couldn’t imagine what she was talking about until I noticed that she was trying to look over my shoulder. She had confused the backpack with a child carrier. That’s understandable, but why did she think I just had a baby.
There are no mountains in Sarasota to train on. Some people use the Ringling Bridge or the Celery Fields to help develop the leg muscles. Instead, I have been working out with weights and a step-bench. I know that this is not adequate training, but until I get to NH where I will have two weeks to practice walking the local hills, its the best I can do. My husband and walking partner, Dennis has been bicycling, but that is not the same as walking. Knowing that we will not have our “hiking legs,” we will start off slowly and walk short distances until our bodies adapt. Luckily, the first 100 miles on the Long Trail are the easiest.
I have yet to decide if I will hike in a skirt (my preference) or wear long pants to ward of the black flies, mosquitoes, and deer ticks. Dennis, purchased Permethrin to spray on our clothing. Since the EPA states “a 140-pound person would have no adverse health effects if exposed to 32 grams of Permethrin/day.” and there is less than 1 gram of Permethrin in an entire bottle of clothing treatment, it seems that using this toxic chemical is a good precaution against the Lyme Disease-bearing ticks.
Gear
Having hiked long distances before, I only needed to buy gear for wilderness hiking. This included
We are using the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Tent that we used on other adventures. Dennis will most likely carry this.
Clothing
Instead of hiking boots, I purchased Topo Athletic wide toe box shoes and added a metatarsal support to the right shoe. I have been wearing the new shoes all day and have no problems with them. I just hope they are rugged enough to withstand the wear and tear of the muddy trail. I also purchased Injinji toe socks which are said to help prevent blisters. They felt funny at first, but I quickly accustomed to the “toes.”
I also ordered a pair of Off-Road Crocs, which are supposedly more rugged than the original ones. The drawback is that they are heavier.
Food
According to research, we each should plan to carry 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. per day depending on body size and exertion. We each bought one dehydrated meal, for that night when we crave a special meal. The rest of the time, we will buy high-calorie foods such as pasta, couscous, rice, oatmeal, bagels, peanut butter, and Dennis’ favorite(?) hiking food: Pop Tarts.
To cook the food, we need to carry fuel. The canisters add 1.5 lbs to my pack.
Water is plentiful on the Long Trail. We only need to purify it. For this we purchased the Sawyer mini water filter. It’s much lighter than the filter Dennis used on his Appalachian Trail adventure.
As it stands today, I think my pack will weight 35.54 lbs (13.57 k), unless I decide not to take the fleece jacket and pants. According to Wunderground.com, the average temperature in June and July 2014 at Troy VT was 61 °F. That’s on the chilly side for this Floridian. Of course, it will be warmer in North Adams, MA, where we start. I am hoping that by the time we reach Troy, I will have acclimated.
This Wednesday, we are taking our packs to the Appalachian Trail Club of Florida. They will evaluate my packing list Hopefully they will find ways for me to reduce the load a bit. I’m not too worried about the weight. I carried the equivalent or more on past trips. The backpack is on the small side for wilderness hiking, so fitting everything including food will be tricky.
Yesterday an Thursday we hiked about 5 miles in Winnekenni Park in Haverhill, Ma. I think my legs are ready for the easy first days on the Long Trail. After the walk on Friday, we picked up a pizza and I couldn’t resist this beer, just because of the name.
Today, it is rainy and cool (56 F), which makes me hesitant. But, it is what it is, and I will have to make the best of it. We should arrive at the B&B late this afternoon and we’ll have our last night in a bed for a while. Our ride to the start of the Long Trail in North Adams, Ma. is confirmed. Tomorrow, we will walk to the Seth Warner Shelter, at about 2000 ft. elevation. We plan to use our tents, unless it is lightening, then we’ll stay inn the shelter, if there is room.
We plan to start slowly, walking only about 7 to 8 miles the first days. As we gain stamina, we’ll increase the distance. We hope to be in Manchester Center on the 20th, where we have sent a resupply box. Perhaps we’ll splurge there for a bed and hot shower. There are many possibilities. That’s what makes this so much fun.
