Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Start: Lincoln Gap/Bristol
End: Middlebury Gap/Gathering Inn, Hancock
Mileage: 17.6 on LT
Elevation gain/loss: 4373’/3661′
We had a lovely evening with my aunt and her partner, filled with lively conversation and a potluck dinner with their housing co-op. This morning, we were up at 6am, were served a scrumptious breakfast at 6:30am (cheesy eggs, home fries, fresh fruit salad, toast, & OJ), and then headed out to the trailhead around 7:15am. We were on trail and hiking by 7:45am.
We made good time today, putting away the miles like champs. From Lincoln Gap, we climbed up Sunset Ledge, Mt Grant, and Mt Cleveland, passing by Cooley Glen Shelter on the way (water source was dry). We then went over Little Hans Peak and Mt Wilson with some pretty views, and then stopped by Emily Proctor shelter for water and a lunch snack.
From the shelter, we climbed up to Breadloaf Mountain, where I took a short detour to summit the mountain for the New England Hundred Highest list.
Then we descended and passed by the side trail for Skyline Lodge, then climbed up to Mt Boyce. We stopped for a quick break at Boyce shelter and chatted with two other SOBO hikers we met at Black Barn Farm. Then we descended to VT 125, passing by the Burnt hill trail and the Silence Cliff trail.
We arrived right at 5:30pm, right when Kathleen from the Gathering Inn arrived. She took us back to the Inn and got us settled in, and showed us where the shower was. As it turned out, Tuesday nights are a communal meal, so we were fed quite handsomely! Kathleen who runs the Inn has a lot going on; she has chickens, geese, and cats, and a number of boarders.
