It was a hard, hard day today. The mountains are rising and the 23 miles were tough, especially when you add mud and rocks! I am in state number 12, Vermont! The woods have been lush and filled with ferns. I’m excited to be in the Green Mountains and to have only NH and ME after this!

We got nailed by rain all last night. That made me real happy because I was in a shelter. The trail was empty of people until 2pm when I ran into 4 groups of SOBOs. I met up with Mouse & Cat—A daughter/mother section-hiking duo—for the second time. At the shelter I found Singe with two friends & four other thru- and section hikers. I was really hopeful that Rockhound, Hoplite, Wings & Feathers, Packrat & Mad German would be here, but they had all moved on to the next shelter unfortunately. I think I will have to do 28 miles to catch them tomorrow, so perhaps I will shoot to meet up with them Friday night in Manchester Center.

I am hoping the trail conditions will improve. The mud and puddles are difficult to avoid, but I try anyway to keep my shoes & socks dry. The decent/ascent around Rte. 9 in VT is quite something: a 1,000 foot drop, then a 1,000 foot gain, all within 2 miles. It’s quite the workout.

We roasted the pink Peep chicks that Heather had given me over the fire tonight. I’d never done that before – they’re great this way! Crunch sugar shell outside, gooey marshmallow inside. Yum!