Vermont

After slowing down and working the system through the huts in New Hampshire's White Mountains, I hit terrain I had almost forgotten existed: relatively easier terrain. Although there are still mountains in Western New Hampshire and Vermont, they are the rolling Green Mountains. They're not universally easier. For example, I sweated a lot more as they were more muggy (hello mosquitoes, I did not miss you), plus it's been hotter the last week or two, but I was able to actually hike in a "higher gear". To all of you who drive, it may not seem like much of a difference to travel at 2 mph or 3 mph, but the difference is huge in hiking. The day I left the Whites was the highest mileage I've done yet, breaking 20 miles in a day for the first time. I actually did 40 miles in 40 hours (despite sleeping for 8 of those hours, and cooking and eating and hand-pumping water from creeks every time I was thirsty, which is all the time).

But I've slowed down the last few days. Just because you CAN go faster doesn't mean you should (I could just get on a plane and fly to Georgia in 2 hours if I was in that much of a hurry). Most of the locals I've talked to have similar assestments. SLOW DOWN they say. The whole point of the trail is to stop and notice the little things you'd miss if you were just "commuting" through an area. Julia taught me long ago that it's not a race, and it's good to remind myself that the only thing that's forcing me to do this is myself, and I can slow down or even stop completely whenever I want. But, that said, I have full intentions to go the full distance, and even though I've done only 20% of the miles, I've done 80% of the altitude change. So on to the flatlands (most aren't intimidated but the "mountains" of, say, Conneticut or Maryland).