Vermont

Appalachian Trail Days 65-72: Vermont Restart – The Trek

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2024

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Appalachian Trail Days 65-72: Vermont Restart – The Trek

Day 65 – Drive back to Vermont (0 miles)

Day 66 – Vermont Route 11/30 to USFS Route-10 (17.7 miles)

Day 67 – USFS Route-10 to Vermont Route 103 (14.7 miles)

Day 68 – Upper Cold River Road to VT Route 103 (5.7 miles)

Day 69 – Upper Cold River Road over Killington to The Inn (VT Route 4) (12.1 miles)

Day 70 – The Inn to Deer Leap to Thundering Falls & Greengate Rd to VT-12 (5.6 + 6.4 = 12.0 miles)

Day 71 – Greengate Rd to Thundering Falls (13.2 miles)

Day 72 – Drive to Maryland (0 miles)

Day 65 3^rd

We returned to Vermont where I left off. I had taken much more time than I had hoped which badly affected my schedule. Once off the trail, everyone else expects you to do all the things you normally do. But now I was physically recovered, I had caught up on those things, and was ready to return to the trail. I am OK with everything on the trail, except that I still have questions on where I will be able to resupply going forward. So, we drove back to the Green Mountain Hostel in Manchester Center during the 4^th of July holiday period. Decent weather is forecast for a few days which should help.

I decided to get some help from my wife and ease back into the routine by slackpacking (hiking without my backpack). She dropped me off at the beginning of the day, and picked me up at the end. This would mean finding convenient access points – which is a real challenge in Vermont.

We’ll stay a couple days At the Green Mountain Hostel and a few nights at The Inn at the Long Trail in Killington, further up the trail. Then I’ll decide what’s next. We had a private room at the Green Mountain Hikers Hostel which was quite nice and very comfortable. This hostel is great with lots of extras and very low prices on supplies and treats such as $1.00 for a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and $1 Gatorade!

Day 66 4^th

My patient wife dropped me at Vermont Route-11/30 where I had left off. I cooked myself eggs for breakfast (provided by the hostel along with pancake mix and cereal).

The weather was warm, but not overbearing in the shade of the woods. The humidity, however, was nearly 100%. The dew point was so high that the rocks that were embedded in the ground were cool enough to be below the dew point, and were covered with condensation! Oh, boy! More slippery rocks

The path to Bromley

At the top of Bromley

I started out very strongly uphill to the top of Bromley Peak (1,500-foot climb) and Peru Peak (another 1,000-foot climb). The trail alternated between nice and rocky, but still better than southern Vermont. Bromley Peak had nice views including north toward Killington, and south toward Stratton Mountain.

Looking back at Stratton Peak – about 17 trail miles back

I passed a group of 6-8 guys hiking naked. Hike naked day was on the Solstice, 2 weeks ago, but they said they were celebrating independence from clothes… (Sorry, no pictures. Or maybe you should thank me that there are no pictures?) The rest of the day saw a mix of through hikers, section hikers, and day hikers out for the holiday period.

And, there were still a lot of muddy sections, even though it hadn’t rained in days.

Having been off trail, I was pretty tired when I was picked up at the end of the day at US Forest Service Road-10. 18 Miles and some serious climbs would normally be a longer day for me, but I was without a pack. I felt tired but good.

We returned to Manchester Center to eat and then to the hostel, showered, did laundry from the day. I was trying to decide the itinerary for the next day – Not a lot of elevation change, but what will the trail be like, and can I find decent drop-off and pick-up points?

Day 67 5^th

After cooking breakfast again, we packed up from the Green Mountain Hostel, and I started back at USFS-10 continuing north. The trail was OK up to Vermont Route 140, then it became even better. I passed a lake, but otherwise the trail was pretty uneventful.

Unfortunately, I was still tired from yesterday and the humidity was still terrible. I sweat so badly that by the end of the day, I could barely walk from chafing. Unfortunately, my Glide (for chafing) was in my backpack. This was too bad, because the trail, itself, was the best I have seen in Vermont. On the other hand, the flies have been relentless since arriving back in Vermont.

At the end of the day was a steep descent to a suspension bridge over Clarendon Gorge.

Clarendon Gorge

The Suspension Bridge

Meanwhile, my wife had checked us in at The Inn at the Long Trail in Killington, Vermont. The dinners at the pub at the Inn were very good, very hearty, and very inexpensive. Plus, it being Friday night, there was a live Irish band. A great way to end the day (except for the severe chafing).

The Inn is actually built around the jumbled, giant rocks. Thankfully, I did NOT have to climb them as part of the trail.

The Inn at The Long Trail – What looks like a boulder is a boulder

Day 68 6^th

A hearty breakfast comes with room at the Inn, but doesn’t start until 07:30. That means a late start to the day. The chafing improved a lot overnight, but I decided to keep the mileage low. I started at Upper Cold River Road – a dirt road access point with no parking lot (so no pickup possible here!), and headed south this time back toward Vermont Route-104 and Clarendon Gorge. The route was mostly very good, except:

1) Near the beginning was a stream that was overflowing (in spite of no rain) that required me to take off my shoes and cross barefoot; and,

No way to hop across this stream

2) At the end, the descent to the gorge was a very steep, technical climb.

The day was, of course hot and humid. Going in reverse direction, I passed a number of through hikers that I recognized.

We had another inexpensive, great meal with the band playing again.

Good Food, Good Drink, and Good Music at The Inn

Day 69 7^th

After breakfast, I started at Upper Cold River Road again, but headed north this time to cross over Killington Peak – 4,000-foot peak. The humidity was a bit better, the flies were a bit better, and there was a tiny breeze near the top.

The trail started out great, but deteriorated slowly over the 3,000-foot climb. However, near the top, the trail improved a bit. Near the top, the trail bypasses the peak, but I took a 0.2-mile, nearly vertical “trail” to the top. It was so steep, that I could touch the “trail” in front of my face. Between the climb up the trail, enjoying lunch at the top, wandering over to the top of the ski gondola, and working my way back down, I spent 1½ – 2 hours.

View from Killington

Rutland about 10 Miles West of Killington Peak

A couple days later, I ran into another through-hiker called Story (in his early 40s and a fast hiker) who told me that he ran into another through-hiker Puffy (in his 20s) at the shelter at the junction of the steep side trail to the top. Puffy had already taken his shoes off for the day and replaced them with Crocs at the shelter at the trail junction, but he wanted to go to the top. No problem – Puffy proceeds to motor up this ridiculous rock climb with Crocs and did it faster than Story! Which leads me to question why am I still wondering why I’m the slowest one on the trail…

The trail down the rest of the mountain was rugged, and slowed me a bit. I opted to take the old AT which goes directly to The Inn, so I could just walk across Vermont Route-4 and into my room at the Inn. This route took me to the edge of Pico Peak ski slopes and great views of The Inn. I would make up for the missed section of the AT tomorrow with a nicer side trail tomorrow.

From Pico Peak There is a Clear View of the rocks of Deer Leap and The Inn at The Long Trail

Day 70 8^th

Access to the trail in a convenient manner continues to be challenging. Consequently, I decided to split the day into 2 smaller, but more convenient hikes. After breakfast, I walked directly from The Inn up to Deer Leap for views back toward Pico Peak. This extra bit more than made up for the missed section of the AT and was much, much more rewarding than another walk in the woods seeing nothing but more woods.

Pico Peak from Deer Leap. Killington Peak in distance at left

Killington Peak from Deer Leap

I then re-joined the AT and continued to past Kent Pond to Thundering Falls and ended at the boardwalk to be picked up.

Thundering Falls

We drove to a sketchy drop off point off Greengate Road where I then walked north to Vermont Route-12. This section was very nice and pretty easy. It was very hot, but the humidity was off just a bit. This ended up the farthest I would get into Vermont for now.

Day 71 9^th

After breakfast, I returned to Greengate Road – this time for a southbound return to Thundering Falls. A short distance in is a private cabin generally open to public access a short distance off the trail with great views from a platform on the roof.

View from The Lookout

The trail was mostly very good with few rocks. I passed a dozen through-hikers, a couple section-hikers, and a couple day hikers. I recognized most of the through-hikers, having seen them at The Green Mountain Hostel and The Inn.

Now, the forecast had been

I had originally planned to hike further tomorrow morning before driving back, but my soreness, my clothes that wouldn’t dry overnight, and an all-day rain forecast made it easy to skip knocking out another 3-5 miles.

Day 72 10^th

With my wife needing to return, and my left Achilles tendon and knee sore and swollen, I have opted to return to Harper’s Ferry and head south on what I believe is tamer trail. I have crossed the 700 miles mark. I have not gone as fast or as far as hoped, but I’m not entirely dissatisfied.

I will take another brief healing rest, and continue on my way – this time southbound. As for the Northern section of New Hampshire and Maine that I have not completed, I will have to return to the East Coast next year anyway. What I have definitely learned on the trail is that while plans are necessary, I have to be flexible to change with the situation. It happens literally every day. Am I disappointed? A bit, yes, of course. Will I change plans and go from this point optimistically? Absolutely.

So next is the mid-Atlantic heat of summer as I head south, but I think a better trail.

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Vermont

Vermont postal worker allegedly threw away mail she was supposed to deliver for months

Published

8 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Vermont postal worker allegedly threw away mail she was supposed to deliver for months

Crime

During a search of a dumpster where the worker allegedly discarded the mail, police found several packages and holiday cards.

A Vermont postal worker was cited and suspended for allegedly throwing away mail that was supposed to be delivered to other people, according to police.

Natasha Morisseau, 34, of North Troy, was cited on nine counts of petty larceny and five counts of unlawful mischief, Vermont State Police said in a statement. She works as a mail carrier for the town’s United States Postal Service (USPS) office.

Officers were first alerted to the discarded mail on the afternoon of Jan. 23, according to police. Upon finding the mail in a dumpster on Elm Street in North Troy, they determined that none of it was for that address.

Police identified Morisseau as a person of interest and learned that she was a postal employee. They confirmed that she had regularly been throwing away a small amount of mail under her care since at least October 2025, according to the statement.

After searching the dumpster and Morisseau’s mail vehicle, officers found opened and unopened packages, along with several holiday cards, one of which contained money. Morisseau was later cited Feb. 14 and is due to appear March 17 in Vermont Superior Court, police said.

Since Jan. 23, Morisseau has been suspended by USPS, and all recovered mail has been given back to them for delivery, according to the statement. The case has been forwarded to the USPS’ Inspector General for further review.

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Vermont

Vermont Air National Guard joins Iran campaign – The Boston Globe

Published

20 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Vermont Air National Guard joins Iran campaign – The Boston Globe

On a typical day, some of the 20 stealth fighter jets based in South Burlington, Vt., take off from tiny Burlington International Airport for training runs near the northern border. In recent months, they’ve flown much farther afield.

The Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing was deployed in December to the Caribbean, where it took part in the US campaign to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Shortly thereafter, the squadron joined a military buildup in and around the Middle East to prepare for US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran.

Though both deployments had been widely reported, the military remained mum about the whereabouts of Vermont’s F-35A Lightning II jets. Even Governor Phil Scott, technically the commander of the Vermont Guard, said he only knew what he’d read in the news, given that US military leaders were directing the missions.

On Monday, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed the deployments at a Pentagon press conference about the war on Iran. Caine praised National Guard members from Vermont, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.

“In the case of the Vermont Air National Guard and the 158th Fighter Wing, they were mobilized for Operation Absolute Resolve,” Caine said, referring to the Venezuela campaign. “And then were tasked to take their F-35As across the Atlantic instead of going home, to be prepared to support this operation” in the Middle East.

Much remains unknown about the Vermont Guard’s recent missions, including the precise role they played in Venezuela and Iran, where the jets are currently based, and how long they’ll remain.

The Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment., Its recently elected leader, General Henry “Hank” Harder, said in a statement that the force was “proud of the dedicated and professional service of our Airmen” and pledged to support their families in the meantime.

“We will continue to carry out our commitment to these Vermont Service Members until, and long after, they return from this mission,” Harder said.

Vermont’s three-member congressional delegation, meanwhile, has praised Vermont Guard members for their service in Venezuela but has criticized President Trump’s campaigns there and in Iran, particularly absent congressional authorization.

“The people of our country, no matter what their political persuasion, do not want endless war,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent, echoing similar remarks from Senator Peter Welch and Representative Becca Balint, both Democrats. “We must not allow Trump to force us into another senseless war. No war with Iran.”

Paul Heintz can be reached at paul.heintz@globe.com. Follow him on X @paulheintz.

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Vermont

In Vermont, small town meetings grapple with debate on big issues

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

In Vermont, small town meetings grapple with debate on big issues

Tuesday is town meeting day in Vermont. Municipalities in New England and elsewhere are increasingly grappling with major national and international issues at the local level.

JOSEPH PREZIOSO/Getty Images

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JOSEPH PREZIOSO/Getty Images

If you haven’t lived in certain New England towns, it can be hard to fathom their centuries-old direct democracy-style Town Meetings, where everyday residents vote on mundane town business such as funding for schools, snow plows and road repairs.

These days, voters are also being asked to weigh in on national and international issues, for example, demanding the de-funding of ICE, and condemning “the unprovoked attack and start of an illegal and immoral war against Iran.” It’s all fueling a separate – and fierce– debate on what towns ought to be debating.

“When you have people sleepwalking into an authoritarian regime, it’s up to us to sound the alarm,” insists Dan Dewalt, an activist in Newfane, Vermont, one of several communities where residents scrambled to draft a resolution against the Iran war in time for their annual Town Meeting on Tuesday.

Local resolutions are a uniquely effective tactic, activists and experts say, and they’re being used increasingly around New England and beyond, especially as national politics have become so polarized.

“People feel isolated, helpless and hopeless. And when you hear about other people who are just like you taking a stand and representing something that you believe, that gives you not only hope, but it gives you power,” said Dewalt.

Several other Vermont towns will be considering resolutions Tuesday calling for the removal of the president and vice president “for crimes against the U.S. Constitution,” while many others will vote on a pledge to ” to end all support of Israel’s apartheid policies, settler colonialism, and military occupation and aggression.”

A similar divestment resolution passed 46 -15 in Newfane last year, following hours of heated argument over the plight of Palestinians, the security of Israelis, the “inflammatory” language of the resolution – and whether such problems half-a-world away even belong on the agenda of the tiny town of just about 1,650.

“It’s a Town Meeting for town issues,” Newfane resident Walter Hagadorn declared at a recent Select Board meeting, where residents pressed board members to block any future resolutions not directly related to town business.

“You shouldn’t be subject to hours and hours of people virtue signaling” and trying to “hijack Town Meeting,” Hagadorn said.

Others agreed, suggesting activists host a debate on their issues at another time and place, or stage a rally or protest instead.

But Select Board member Katy Johnson-Aplin pushed back, saying that would not have the same impact.

“It doesn’t work the same way,” Johnson-Aplin said. It’s only when the issue is formally taken up at a Town Meeting that “it goes in the newspaper and it’s recorded that the town of Newfane has agreed to have this conversation.”

University of Pennsylvania political science professor Daniel Hopkins has been watching the growing movement of local communities taking a stand on issues far beyond town lines.

“This is a trend we’re seeing increasingly across the 50 states and in a variety of ways but I think it has taken on a new and potentially more concerning edge,” Hopkins said. “I worry that we are in an attention-grabbing, sensation-rewarding media environment in which the kinds of issues that engage us at a national level may further polarize states and localities and make it harder for them to build meaningful coalitions on other issues.”

Indeed, in Newfane, the resolution regarding Israel became so divisive that some residents decided not to even come to last year’s Town Meeting, according to Select Board vice-chair Marion Dowling.

In Burlington, where a similar resolution was proposed, City Council President Ben Traverse says things got so heated, he and his family were getting harassing phone calls and even death threats. Burlington city councilors voted in January to block the question from going to a popular vote.Vermont has a history of “big issue” resolutions, from the push for a Nuclear Arms Freeze in the 1980’s, to calls to ban genetically modified foods in 2003. Dewalt, the Newfane activist, was behind several of them, including calls to impeach then-president George W. Bush in 2006, which got him invited to talk about it on network TV shows, and quoted in The New York Times.

“I can guarantee you if I stood up on my soap box and made a declaration of the exact same wording, I wouldn’t have had anybody asking me questions about it, he said. “We’re not pie-in-the-sky here about the power of our Newfane Town Meetings, but our actions have consistently had an impact.”

But opponents say activists overstate the impact of their resolutions, and their victory. They say it’s disingenuous, for example, to claim the town of Newfane supported the resolution against Israel, when the winning majority of 46 people was less than 3% of town residents.

“I feel like they’re using the town as a vehicle for their personal messages and that bothers me,” says Newfane resident Cris White. “It’s so junior high.”

Traverse, the Burlington City Council president, also takes issue with what he calls the “inflammatory” language of that resolution.

“The question, as presented, approaches this issue in a one-sided and leading way,” Traverse says.

In Vermont, any registered voter can get a resolution on the Town Meeting agenda by collecting signatures from 5% of their town’s voters. While elected city or town officials have the authority to allow or block the resolution, there is no process in place to vet or edit language.

Traverse says it would behoove city leaders and voters to require an official review to ensure that language is fair and neutral, just as many states do with ballot questions. Traverse says he’s not opposed to contentious, big issue resolutions being put to local voters, but the language must be clear and even-handed.

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