Vermont Long Trail to Canada!!
As I get ready to embark on the biggest solo adventure of my lifetime I have made the itinerary (soon to be fall apart I am sure!!), I have tested the gear, gone through all the emotions and landed where I am now…..making the lists, checking them twice, packing all the gear, counting the calories, planning my 2 resupplies, and now counting the sleeps til I step into the footpath in the wilderness. The Vermont Long Trail, the original long trail in North America and the inspiration of the Appalachian Trail.
Fast Facts about this historical trail:
*over 67,000 feet of gain or 20,000 m
*crosses 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail
*connects the highest summits of Vermont along the ridges of the Green Mountains
My plan involves an aggressive first 10 days with some days being over 40 kms heading north from the Massachusets/Vermont border. The last 4 days will be much more enjoyable and taking in some cool places on my way to the Canadian border. The start will be August 2nd, my 51st birthday.
When planning an adventure of this magnitude a lot of factors come into play.
*this had been proving to be the biggest challenge with the recent airline issues then the generous offer from one of my best friends that lives in Ottawa to drive me to my trailhead. No connecting flights required….so hopefully all my gear arrives with me!! The other option had 3 connections and panic attacks if I would arrive let alone all my gear!!
*the plan is only to leave the trail once to go into civilization in first 10 days
*so where to ship (106 miles in will be my first stop on Day 5), decided that shipping my package for this location once we cross the US border for quickest arrival, and what to ship (as primarily vegetarian (some seafood) , relying on what can be bought in trail towns is not always ideal)
*2nd resupply will be brought to me by my bestie who will join me on day 10 (200ish miles in) for the last 4 days.
*I have been testing my gear and how to pack it a few times to ensure I could get everything in I need, how to pack it and if my chosen gear works!!
These are the key items I need to get through the full length of Vermont back home to the Canadian border. At the end of this adventure I am sure I will have stories of other items that became important along the way!! Less than a week to go…….
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Canadian mountain goat ultra runner now embracing the #disconnecttoreconnect of the backpacking/thru hiking world!! Excited to see where this journey takes me including the beautiful spaces, shenanigans, and the cool people I meet along the way!!