Today was my last full day on the Long Trail before the AT makes a break for Nee Hampshire. I’m also passing a SOBO bubble which has been pretty fun; there’s something really special about passing people out doing the same thing in the opposite direction. I’m taking names so I can remember if I ever end up with them again on the flop section of my flip flop.
As for my NOBO friends, today was a big day as we are all within 500 miles of Katahdin now. For me, this means 1,524 miles to go, but for them it means real life is incredibly close to starting again. Please pray as there is plenty of anxiety for many about going back and having to face all of the things we get to leave behind on the trail. 
I also climbed over Vermont’s biggest peak and a popular ski area, Killington Peak.
For the evening, I stayed at a famous hostel in Rutland, VT. It’s run by the Twelve Tribes spiritual community, a Christian spin-off that believes in living in total community with one another. Their hostel, the Yellow Deli, has been taking in hikers for years. While the organization is considered by many to be a cult, I sure did enjoy getting to meet their members and learn about their way of life.
Ps-anyone know what plant this is?
Notice we could definitely use some more chicks out here–ladies, apply for the 2019 chaplaincy!
Lunch was spent with yet another group of hikers at White Rocks Junction where rumor has it that forest gnomes have built all of these cairns (piles of rocks).
My feed did finally stage a blister rebellion today after 7 days in wet socks, but I’m hoping drying them out and some more sunshine will help them recover. More adventures to come!
Ps-passed the Rutland Airport, an interesting sight for sure.
After Bromley, it was time to start cranking miles to get ahead of the hail. Check out this thunder cell building while I ate lunch: 
The severe weather did show up and I just made it into a shelter before it got really bad. I put down my bag and took a nap while a dozen other hikers rolled in who had gotten caught in the weather.
Even though I was under my mileage goal for the day, I decided to duck into a shelter just in time to avoid the second storm. It kept going all night long, but all is well.
This afternoon, the rest of my hiking crew rolled into town and many of them ended up at Green Mountain House with me. Instead of going out to pay resort prices for food, I decided to use my time to cook for the whole hostel. Ten hikers and I feasted on a double portion of my mom’s spaghetti casserole!
If I’m being honest, I would like to stay here another day, but I suppose I’ll have to move on as Jeff has a full house tomorrow. There is an 80% chance of rain-bring it on!
There was too much rain to pull my phone out for pictures the rest of the day, but I walked for 8 more hours, fell in some mud, ate some snacks, and rode in the back of a pickup truck in pouring rain down to Manchester Center.
The best part is Duffie, the guy helping the owner Jeff run the place, has been in contact with the chaplaincy program since Wildcat hiked in 2015. He was watching my tracks (via Facebook) get closer and closer to Manchester until I surprised him by showing up at his door! To Alan, Wildcat, and others-Duffie says hi and to keep sending chaplains his way!
The rest of the day was a very intimate encounter with Vermud. After the rain yesterday, the trail was a literal mud pit/creek. My shoes were already wet, so I freely sloshed through it but they got sucked into the slop a few times.
Double Dip, is you’re reading this, I found your favorite creek to fall in.
Tomorrow there is a 90% chance of thunderstorms all day…gonna be a wild ride, but going into town tomorrow!
But indeed the hope was false and the rain continued to bucket down. When I reached a shelter 1.5 miles later and realized there was still a spot available, the temptation was too great and I called it a day early. Here’s what it looked like just outside the shelter:
And here’s what it looks like inside a shelter when it’s pouring rain…we say a shelter that sleeps 8 in good weather sleeps 15 when it’s raining. 
However damp I felt, being crammed in with so many other people did provide for some excellent conversation.
Next it was off to the grocery store for a resupply where I ran into about 7 of my hiking friends. Pastor Dan and I were able to bless them with a big box of fudgesicles and ice cream.
When it was time to hike out, Bill from Backpacker magazine joined me so he can get some insight into the ministry for a story he’s going to write about the chaplaincy program.
The final excitement of the day was crossing the border and heading into Vermont. Here the AT joins the Long Trail so I’m camping with NOBOs, SOBOs, and Long Trailers every night for the next 100 miles.
After fueling up on Dunkin on the way out of Cheshire, it was up and over Mt. Greylock-the highest point in Massachusetts and my first peak over 3000 ft on my hike. There are many more to come! 
There were a lot of hangliders riding the wind at the summit and a restaurant where I pounded a grilled cheese and fries.
This visit couldn’t have come at a better time as they were gracious enough to take me on a phone-fixing saga to Albany, NY. Five hours, a Chipotle burrito, Starbucks frappuccino, and Sonic milkshake later, my phone has been resurrected! Thankfully, the kiddos enjoyed their extra screen time at the Apple Store.
I can’t tell you how refreshed I feel by being around this family. I haven’t really spoken with another believer in over a month and that can run my soul weary pretty quickly. But how sweet it is to be with God’s family again!
Just a few miles later, we came to an open mountaintop with more blueberries than I’ve ever seen in my life. I spent an hour living up to my name.
I forgot to take pictures the rest of the day, but I passed through a town with even more trailside snacks put out by locals on their porches. Whoever you are, hikers sure do appreciate you!