Long Trail - SOBO resupply plan

[Deadeye]

In my mind I've assumed that the northern end of the trail is about the equivalent of the Whites. I did 15 mile days through the Whites with about the same amount of daylight and I stopped well before dark each day so I was kinda hoping I could maintain at least a 15-17 mpd clip.

If you did 15-17 mpd in the Whites, then you probably had it right for you the first time.

[10-K]

Think I'm going to switch it up a bit....

Leave Journey's end with 3.5 days food.....
Resupply at Johnson PO, leave with 3 days food.
Hitch into Richmond for quick bite to eat and small resupply (forego mail drop to Jonesville)
Hitch into Waitsfield for resupply and zero day.
Stop at Long Trail Inn, spend the night, resupply in Rutland
Hitch into Manchester Center and zero day
Home

I'm trying to carry no more than 3.5 days worth of food. The reason I'm giving up all but the first mail drop is because I suck at making them and always wind up with too much food and a bunch of crap.

[Slo-go'en]

Think I'm going to switch it up a bit....

Hitch into Richmond for quick bite to eat and small resupply (forego mail drop to Jonesville)
Hitch into Waitsfield for resupply and zero day.

There's a country store just off the trail at Jonesville - they might have enough so you'd not have to go to Richmond. At the most you'll only need 2 dinners to get to Waitsfield.

I've been looking for affordable accomidations in Waitsfield - all these quaint Vermont B+B's are out of my price range.

[Mountain Mike]

If you want to skip the trip to Rutland there is a large convience store/deli/liquor store at Shell station east of long trail on RT4. next to Killington PO. It's almost at Jct of Rt 4 & 100. You could even catch the bus there both ways if you a quick enough.

[10-K]

There's a country store just off the trail at Jonesville - they might have enough so you'd not have to go to Richmond. At the most you'll only need 2 dinners to get to Waitsfield.

I've been looking for affordable accomidations in Waitsfield - all these quaint Vermont B+B's are out of my price range.

My plan is to go into Waitsfield for resupply, dinner, etc. and spend the night at The Hyde Away in between Waitsfield and the LT - $69 - $149.

[Deadeye]

There's a country store just off the trail at Jonesville - they might have enough so you'd not have to go to Richmond. At the most you'll only need 2 dinners to get to Waitsfield..

There was a store at Jonesville, but no longer. Options are west to Richmond or East to Waterbury. There's also a gas station in Bolton (east), but if you've hitched that far, Waterbury's not much further.

[Papa D]

Hey 10-K you're plan looks good - we hike at a close pace (you might be a little faster) but it looks fine. I just finished a section hike from Menden VT (US 4) to Gorham, NH that I did in 13 days with a nero day - I averaged about 12-15 mpd in the whites - - I'd say (with the exception of AP Gap and Danforth Ridge) the upper stretches of the LT are a tick easier than the whites - your estimate of 15 - 17 mpd seems about right for you on the LT. A couple of tiny suggestions:

1) The hitch from Jonesville (where there is N o t h i n g) to Richmond isn't very easy - we stayed in a hostel there called Mama Bower's and they picked us up. Some people are now using Morrisville for re-supply - not sure of the hitch -
some people also go to Waterbury - I don't know anything about it - - if you were going to do a maildrop, this would be the place.
2) The hitch into Waitsfield took me about 30 minutes due to light traffic but I got one - the grocery there is excellent
3) Hancock is a great little hamlet - the convenience store there is good for nearly a full re-supply - they have rooms, beer, pizza, and a swimming river too - pretty easy hitch too - Sobo, it would be about mile 150 or so

[Mountain Mike]

Mama & Papa Bowers closed last year I believe. To bad! It was like staying at Grandma's with an awesome breakfast.

[Papa D]

Mama & Papa Bowers closed last year I believe. To bad! It was like staying at Grandma's with an awesome breakfast.

oh - sorry to hear that - Mama Bower was in a wheelchair when we went in '10 - they were getting old - I bet we ate 100 pancakes there - Papa Bower kept his pants up with a belt AND suspenders.

[10-K]

Maybe the Jonesville post office will let me stash my pack there while I walk in to Richmond and back. It's like 3 miles.

[Mountain Mike]

Postmaster is a member of GMC so good possibility.

[Papa D]

Maybe the Jonesville post office will let me stash my pack there while I walk in to Richmond and back. It's like 3 miles.

I think it's more like 4 miles - that would be an 8 mile extra walk for you. You should at least put your thumb out.

[10-K]

I think it's more like 4 miles - that would be an 8 mile extra walk for you. You should at least put your thumb out.

Already made my sign with "TRAIL" on one side and "TOWN" on the other..

[Papa D]

Already made my sign with "TRAIL" on one side and "TOWN" on the other..

you are ahead of the curve sir

[lazy river road]

My Plan for first resupply is hitching into Morrisville I hope I can find one.

[10-K]

My Plan for first resupply is hitching into Morrisville I hope I can find one.

I looked at Morrisville and decided that Stowe (13 miles further south) might be an easier hitch and according to the guide about perfect for resupply.

I think Stranger and his partner are also going into Morrisville.

[lazy river road]

I looked at Morrisville and decided that Stowe (13 miles further south) might be an easier hitch and according to the guide about perfect for resupply.

I think Stranger and his partner are also going into Morrisville.

Thanks for the Tip 10-K. I guess when it comes down to it. Ill take what ever ride I can get/comes first into a town for re-supply.

[Slo-go'en]

I looked at Morrisville and decided that Stowe (13 miles further south) might be an easier hitch and according to the guide about perfect for resupply.

I don't know. It's mostly tourist traffic between Smuggler's Notch and Stowe. I've never had much luck getting rides from tourists. If I remember right, the supermarket is a ways down RT 100 from where RT 108 comes in from the notch. Way back in 1990 I was fall caretaker for Taft Lodge, so used to know the area well

Morrisville probably won't be too easy either, but it will have much more local traffic. I think I'd do the mail drop to Johnson and the small resupply at Richand. Too bad about the country store in Jonesville closing, it's been a while since I've been through there.