Journal 235-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!

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Tuesday–October 12, 2021
Trail Day–235
Trail Mile–-3.2/2349.9
Remaining Miles–267.5
Location–US-4 (489.0) to Gifford Woods State Park, Campsite #5 (485.8)

Today will be a very short-mile day in order to get set distance-wise for tomorrow’s climb up and over Killington Peak. Hiking the 3.2 miles around to US-4 will reduce tomorrow’s mileage to 12.2, that being manageable, although there will be much climbing.

We all slept in. Odie and Barry are up first. Barry gets the fire going and Odie fixes late breakfast, bacon and eggs, country fries. He’s got an old Erie cast iron frying pan. No better way to fry bacon and eggs–none! Thanks, Odie! We all linger around the fire. But soon comes that time again. So long, Odie, safe travels.

It’s going on ten before Barry gets Kitchen Sink and the old Nomad back on trail. Though I’ve hiked this AT twice before, this section we’re on today I’ve not done. It’s a relocation, taking the trail away from and bypassing the historic old Long Trail Inn. In 1998 the trail passed right by the Inn. However, by the time I came back through on my southbound ECT trek in 2000, the trail had been moved. I didn’t hike the out and around relocation then, choosing rather, to follow the old trail past the Inn, where I stayed the night. So, this time around, I’ll follow the relocation, since Barry has us situated at the campground.

This evening, though, we’ll sure enough be spending time at Long Trail Inn–and that’s exactly what we do!

It’s the possibility of having a dream come true
that makes life interesting.
(Paulo Coelho)