Hiking in Vermont is a treat for all your senses. The Appalachian trail through this state finally veers away from major highways, so the background noise of speeding cares is no longer heard (this was an obnoxious issue in New York and New Jersey). The forests of Vermont even smell amazing. The first 40ish miles of Vermont were all pine forests, so with every step I felt like I was surrounded by a Christmas wonderland.
Continuing north, I am now encountering stunning maple forests that are beginning to show signs of Fall. Many people travel to the northeast just to see the Fall foliage, and I'm going to spend an entire month walking through the epic beauty of colorful leaves.
There is also no lack of water in Vermont. While in Pennsylvania and New York, finding decent drinking water was a constant challenge. In Vermont there seems to be a fresh mountain spring every few miles. Additionally, there is free food everywhere! Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries have been a constant treat along the trail, but in Vermont there are also apple trees randomly growing throughout the forests. Life is easy when the essentials are literally just a few steps away.
To make this state even better, I got another visit from my dad! This time my younger brother tagged along as well, and we are going to hike the next two days together. Having great company on the trail always brightens my day and makes the hiking even more enjoyable. At the pace I'm going, I'll be out of Vermont and into New Hampshire in just a few days, but as always I am going to make the most of every moment I have along the way.
Wonderful!
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