Brandon Gap to Sucker Brook Shelter. 5.1 miles with 1672 feet of elevation gain.
Feels good but strange to be back in VT. So many memories of hiking in this state and driving through for hikes and college visits. All I have left in Vermont now are the North Country Trail miles. After that, I don’t know if I will ever be back here again.
The NCT’s eastern terminus is at Maine Junction just north of Route 4, but that is not where I am starting. I did the miles between Route 4 and Sucker Brook Shelter back in 2023 when I did the NRT portion of The Long Trail, part of which coincides with the NCT. The beauty of this not being a thruhike is that I don’t have to repeat miles I have already done. Well, kind of. I have to get to Sucker Brook Shelter, so I am starting at Brandon Gap and rehiking the five miles from there to the shelter. So maybe I should call this Day 0 instead of Day 1 since my new-to-me miles won’t start until tomorrow..? Nah, I’ll keep this as Day 1 since I will be on the NCT even though today’s miles will be repeats.
FlipaKey, a wonderful trail angel who lives in Rutland, meets me at Avis after I drop off my rental car and drives me to Brandon Gap. I enjoy speaking with her.
I start with a climb straight out of Brandon Gap, I think about 1500 feet of elevation gain in the first two miles..? With 95% humidity. Woo-hoo! At least the temps shouldn’t top the mid-80s once I am up there, and if memory serves I will be in the shade all day. I’m only doing those five miles to the shelter since I wanted my first day to be short and I have that elevation gain right off the bat.
The climb is straight up, and my quads let me know they aren’t used to this anymore. I stop often for breaks, and it takes me an hour to ascend the one mile. Thankfully, the temps in the trees and up the mountain are pleasant. There is a heat wave going on in the valley, but everything feels manageable on trail.
There are several more ups and downs after the initial 1000ft+ climb, and my legs appreciate none of them. My lower back starts hurting too even though I am carrying the same stuff I carried on the AT. I stretch a lot throughout the hike. I think I am doing 3000 total feet of elevation gain, but later, when I check, turns out it’s less than 1700. Glad I only planned for five miles today and hope tomorrow’s 18.5 don’t kill me.
Being in the Green Mountains again is wonderful. There is a certain feel to hiking up high in New England. I think it’s the trees and the breezes. All the lovely evergreens, and the feel of the fresh, clean air coming over the ridges and through the branches. I take a ton of breaks and eventually arrive at the junction where the NCT leaves the Long Trail. Not that there is any sign for the NCT.
Sucker Brook Shelter is just a short downhill (less than 0.1 mile) from the junction, and I thought the area might be crowded with Long Trail hikers, but, so far, I am the only one here. I wouldn’t mind one or two other folks. I need to get used to woods camping again, I keep paying too much attention to random noises. Oh! I hear people coming. Wish granted.
