It was cold and damp as I got up this morning and so I wasn’t in the mood to dawdle. I skipped my morning oatmeal and settled for a power bar before I took off. I was gone before ranger Rick and radar were even out of their tents. 

Today was a day I had been looking forward to for a long time and I think that made me move a bit quicker as well. I was able to get up into high gear fairly quickly as I navigated the long, wet downhill to town. I powered through yet another overgrown field, clothes dripping from the tall, wet grass I walked through, stopping only to eat a few wild raspberries that were directly in my way. 

I made it to the first town of the day but not the one I was excited for. I walked into what looked like the only building in West Hartford, the public library, to enjoy a few dry minutes. But soon enough the librarian came around and starting to chat. I think she was trying to be friendly, but she spent the entire 5 minute conversation telling me that I would die if I kept going (There are bears, there are lightning storms, I won’t be able to eat enough, etc.) and so pretty quickly I found myself back on the street and heading onwards. 

It was a long slow climb before another long descent before I came to one of the longest road walks of the trip. 2.5 miles on paved road. I walked first on a small suburban road, then through Norwich Vermont, then under I91 and then finally across a bridge that let me into New Hampshire and the town of Hannover. 

New Hampshire has long held a special place for me on this hike. I went to summer camp in NH so did a lot of my hiking when I was growing up here. But more than just wanting to recreate childhood memories, NH is home to what’s often seen as the hardest mountains of the trail. For almost 1800 miles we’ve heard talk of the white mountains and now I feel like we’re finally here. Finally ready to prove that we can do this thing! 

I took a few celebratory photos as I crossed state lines and then walked into Hannover. The AT goes right through downtown Hannover – home to Dartmouth University. Smelly and unkempt, I walked the streets next to preppy college kids and their now unnerved parents. I sat down at the local college pub and had a massive burger, a salad and a beer. And then, because I felt so lousy after that, went next door and got a large coffee. 

I thought briefly about staying in town but it was too early. And I had just taken a near-o. I moved on. Continuing my road walk. 

“Did you get the free pastry?” Called hi Viz as I got closer. Once again, Hi Viz had known about snacks I hadn’t. I thought about going back to town to get it, but I was afraid I’d get sucked into the vortex and end up staying in warm, dry town. I kept going.

I made it to where I had planned to camp for the night but it was barely 6:30. After my burger, I wasn’t hungry and I still didn’t feel great so I didn’t want to just sit around and eat. So I kept going. There was another site, I saw, in 3 miles. 

By the time I got to camp it was almost dark, the shadows had grown long and I was starting to struggle to make out some of the smaller rocks. But I was glad I had walked further. The campsite I had just gotten to was way nicer (a small island between two rivers!) and I had walked myself into a full digestion of the burger. I set up my hammock in the dark and climbed in. The sound of rushing water coming in not 3 feet from my head. 

Key stats: 

Miles: 25

Elevation gained: 4700 ft

Mile marker: 1765

Free pastries: 0