Alex and I, "the beaver baggers", have been hiking for a month and a half now! "The beaver baggers" is our trail name. Thru hikers go by a trail name that is usually given to them along the trail by other thru hikers. We are "the beaver baggers" because we got really hungry one night and had to kill a beaver for dinner. It was a difficult task but alex beat him to death with a trekking pole. No no, just kidding! Out here beavers have caused many problems on our hike. Some of our trails were flooded because of beaver dams and we heard rumor that a hiker was attacked by a beaver. While some people hang there food in the tree to keep it away from the bears "bear bagging" we like to beaver bag because beavers are the real trouble makers out here.
It doesn't feel like we have been camping for a month and a half at all because time is going by so fast and we have been so busy hiking. Everything has been awesome. Today we are in Manchester Center, VT which is mile 537 of 2,181. About 1/4 of the trail! My birthday was yesterday so we took a zero hiking day and it was so fun that we are taking another zero day today.
Otis "the dog" drove my parents up to VT to spend a few days with us which is amazing! We stayed in a B&B in Danby VT Monday night and then they slack packed us 18 miles into Manchester Center,VT for tuesday night. We have been touring VT with them for the last two days while trying to rest and do some shopping at the outfitter. I can't believe how hot it is here, the temp today is almost in the 90s. I am kind of glad that we aren't hiking today in this heat.
I picked up some brand new shoes at the mountain Goat yesterday. They are Low top, non-GTX Solomon! My old shoes were completely shot, the tread was worn smooth on the bottom and and I had worn several holes on the tops as well. I am very excited about my shoes. We are headed out to the trail again tomorrow morning!!!
Ann "little beaver bagger"
PS. We just checked out the Bennington VT pottery factory which was fun! They make some beautiful handmade pottery that I would love to buy when I am an adult.
