Hikers change plan after realism wins

A group of three hikers on Vermont's Long Trail has cut a planned 12-mile day short, stopping at Cogden Shelter after just 5.9 miles. The author, hiking with companions The Historian and Rock Rabbit, describes the necessary shift from optimistic planning to realistic assessment on the trail.

The Plan Versus Reality

During the planning phase, the group debated whether to tackle a 9.5-mile day followed by a nearly 12-mile day or to break the segment into three shorter days. They optimistically chose the two-day plan. On the trail, reality intervened. The extra effort from a difficult water fetch the previous night had taken its toll, and the group decided to stop early at Cogden Shelter. The exhausted Historian slept while Rock Rabbit filtered water and the author sorted food to last an extra day.

The author notes a preference for neat, realistic plans but had to strike out entries in the itinerary for this segment. The decision to add a day was a good one, and sorting the food supply provided a realistic focus on what would actually be consumed.

Trail Necessities: Water and Food

Food and water are constant priorities. The group learned a painful lesson about water sources the previous night when the water for the Melville Nauheim shelter was located a steep third of a mile north on the trail. Had they paid closer attention, they could have carried water from south of the shelter. The experience made them more realistic about shelter water locations.

The morning's first task was filtering water from a mud-bottomed pond that seeped across the trail. The Historian showed Rock Rabbit, who is new to it, the American style of water filtering. The group now uses two filters for three people to speed up the process.

Trail Encounters and Observations

After filtering, the group hiked at an easy pace on smooth trail, feeling realistically optimistic about their revised mileage goal. They were amazed by Rock Rabbit's physical prowess, highlighted when he demonstrated impressive flexibility in a small ravine. His pack weighed approximately 32 pounds with water and a nearly full food resupply.

The author reflects on his own mechanical knees, for which he optimistically requested the "hiking" model from his surgeon. While they function forward and back, they do not handle up-and-down motion well under a load.

Later, the unmistakable musky barnyard odor of a bear filled the air. The author optimistically spun around, sniffing and searching the southern Vermont woods for a black hump. They never spotted the animal, but after a few more noisy steps, the odor disappeared, leaving them with the thrilling knowledge they had been close to one of the bears locals said were present.

With an early stop made, the group rested their legs and ate dinner at Cogden Shelter. They nodded to each other, optimistically assuming their new plan matched their abilities. Whether it is realistic remains to be seen. They fell asleep pleased with their choice to be happy rather than right.