Long Trail Hike 2018

On the 6th of September I was finally free to start my Long Trail hike going north from Killington. The elevation profile on the map indicated a tougher trail than going south. Having gone over Killington two times and Camels Hump once I felt confident about the jagged  profile on my map. Little did I know how relentless the trail is peak after peak and how much my knees were challenged going down on the often very steep north side of these mountains. At times I was sliding down big wet boulders where my legs were simply not long enough to step down, or at times to step up. I loved scrambling up steep rocky places, even pushing my pack up first to keep my balance. How much the present condition of the trail is due to erosion after the 100 years since it was built. I am sure though that it looks very different today.

I had prepped for the hike for some time. With my gluten free, sugar free, vegetarian, mostly organic diet the food is a challenge. Concocted my personal choice of dehydrated veggies, beans, spices and herbs trying to vary the flavor of each meal which is a challenge with half a dozen or so of veggies and same of beans. I bag them individually into ziplock snack bags, approximately 3/4 of a bag filled provides one meal.

Dehydrated veggies have a tendency to all taste pretty much the same. I knew I was having broccoli mainly by the chewiness... Adding olive oil or coconut oil not only improves flavor but also increases desperately needed calories. 

My favorite meals were the ones I blended into almost powder. Blending them beforehand  seemed to bring out the flavor more, especially my split pea soup tastes better that way. The meals also cook faster.

I took the habit of emptying them into a secure leakproof bag with water hours before mealtime which shortens the cooking time additionally. I put it into a side pockets of my pack with my water bottle just in case it would leak.

In addition I carry dehydrated egg powder which I mix into my meal for a more filling meal when i feel the need for more calories. I also carry a small bottle of olive oil and a small jar of coconut oil that I add a tablespoon or two of once the meal is cooked. As I don’t eat grains the extra fat is a necessary source of energy. To feel completely satisfied after my dinner I have a good size chunk of my power bar I make myself by blending seeds, nuts and dried fruit. For a basic recipe check out my blog section of the recipe. I make it different each time trying to improve it to suit my personal taste.  

My breakfast is gluten free unsweetened granola that I eat either dry or with water. It could be mixed with milk powder for those that tolerate cows milk. I do add dried fruit to my granola before packing it into the individual ziplock snack bag. 

In my hip belt pockets I have bags of trail mix for snacking on.

I pack about 5 days worth of food with an extra meal or two for a bad weather day. I send a food package to a post office I calculate to be 5 days ahead. 

Once I get to a town I look for a place to eat and a supermarket where I hopefully will find some of my favorites such as goats cheese, rice crackers, a small box of salad mix and fruit. After some time on the trail, usually after about 10 days I am hungry enough to buy Kind Breakfast Bars that I add to my breakfast for a snack. I find them almost intolerably sweet as I don’t eat sugar or sweets besides an occasional green apple and dried fruit which are sweet enough. 

The breakfast bars add needed carbs which are absorbed fast, but also burn fast which necessitates another bar soon...No wonder most long distance hikers keep eating high carb bars all day long..... I have not yet found my perfect balance between fat and carbs on long hikes.

This time i sent my first resupply package to Waitsfield with a plan to hitch hike from the Appalachian Gap on Rt 17 down to town 7 miles away. I was however running out of gas for my stove so I got down at Lincoln Gap. At my hiking speed it would have meant one night more before reaching Rt 17.

Hitch hiking was easy to Warren and from there to Waitsfield. I stayed at Hostel Tevere on Rt 100. At only $35 a night it is very affordable. The only inconvenience is it’s location. One has to hitch hike to either Warren or Waitsfield to get to a food supply. It is further to Waitsfield which has more options for food and it has a Shaws supermarket. I never went to Warren so I dont know what is is available in the stores there.

As it started to rain heavily I stayed an extra night at the hostel. The morning I left I had to wait about half an hour before I got a ride. Fortunately it was a man who loves hiking and he brought me all the way to the trailhead at Lincoln Gap where I left off.

 On this hike I carried my hammock, which I only slept in it once and that was because the shelter was newly painted and I did not want to inhale paint fumes all night. The shelters were near empty at this time of the season.