Hello 2016 Long Trail End-to-Enders,
Are you ready to backpack 270+ miles from the Massachusetts border, through Vermont to the Canadian border? I sure am. With a tentative start date of Tuesday June 21st (flexible), I am geared and ready to complete this challenge. I plan to hike 12 or so miles a day to start, then build up to longer distances in order to hike this monster trail at a leisurely pace, stopping at swimming holes and towns to make the most of this hike.
If you are planning to through-hike this summer around this time frame please respond here so we can arrange a Kick-Off (a sizeable group meeting at the Southern Terminus to start on the same day). I am an experienced hiker, so I know the raw deal about the bugs, crappy shelters, crumby food and long hot Vermud days. I also know all too well the importance of teamwork and support especially at the start and finish of this beastly trail. I understand many people start together and end up hiking their own hike, but I would love to start off with some folks, and then see where it goes from there.
Best Wishes,
Brian
Check out my Long Path Journal for a sense of my hiking hangups, woes and fears. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=452706