McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 9/06/2024 | AT Mile 457.0 | Day Total: 15.3 miles | Gain: 3901 ft

Got up and out this morning. I still need to get food for the next few days so I made my way over to the co-op around the corner. They open at 8 so I spent this time to recharge my electrics and transfer some journals to the website while I waited. There’s a nice area just outside the co-op that has some tables. Unfortunately the closest outlet is around the corner so I sat next to it while my phone charged and transferred journals.

At 8 I went inside and got food for 3 days to get me to Rutland VT. I also got some donuts, a banana and a can of Arnold Palmer for breakfast. I’m trying to pack in the calories while I’m in town. Afterword I transferred more journals and organized food. There were also a few other nobos here that I also talked with.

My water bottle clip officially broke this morning. My bottle will have to live in my outside pockets until I can find a bottle sleeve – the more reliable option.

I didn’t start hiking till 10:30. I’m planning on hiking about 15 miles today to a shelter so I’m not too worried about time. The first few miles were through the towns. About 1.5 miles through Hanover and across the Connecticut river, the boarder of NH/VT!

I spent the next 1.5 miles walking through Norwich and up a steep road. It was fascinating walking through a town for this long and still being on the AT. Lots of commotion.

I had a little bit of climbing to do out of the bat but the next 4 miles I’m just walking in the wooded forest on relatively flat terrain. I ate a late lunch, around 1, at Happy Hill Shelter. I signed the logbook which I haven’t been good about doing. It’s for a loft so lots of hikers are able to squeeze inside.

I went through another town, West Hartford, this afternoon. It’s smaller than Hanover and doesn’t have the convenience factor of walking directly past everything you need for a resupply. I also walked across a bridge over the White River.

As I climbed up I walked through a bunch of fields. They are everywhere now. The views a pretty but I don’t enjoy all the weeds and grass brushing up against me.

During one of the downhills I passed a hiker that had a fabric cage strapped to the top of his bag. As he passed I realized it was a pet bird! I asked him about it and he was hopefully going to take I’m through the whites?!?! Crazy.

I passed a road 1.5 miles away from the shelter and there was a water cache! I loaded up with water for the night because I heard the waters not great and so I wouldn’t have to filter any water tonight.

When I arrived at camp there was a large group of Dartmouth freshman on their orientation trip. This is their second night. They probably spent the better part of an hour setting up a large tarp to sleep under. Part of me wanted to help but the point of the trip is teamwork so I ate dinner entertained as they attempted to pitched it.

There are not many great options for bear hangs, all the trees are tall. I managed to turn a tree into a willow tree with my heavy bag. Hopefully I don’t do too much damage…