Day 2 - The word for day 2 was determination, as this day included the most technical terrain, the most evaluation gain and loss and additionally was the highest mileage day planned out of all my days.
Once my eyes and mind settled in to sleep it was time to start day 2. Whitney and I headed out into the darkness and once we were off the dirt road and on the single track we found wet trails and swollen streams. We looked for branches and roots to help us make it up the large slick rocks and resorted to sliding on ours butts several times on large greasy rocks on the downs. Once darkness dissipated and light made its way through the dense tree cover we were able to pick our lines down the trail more methodically.
Misguided or a misread we thought we were closer to the main road than reality. We swore that each uphill we encountered was the last, and at some point we were finally right! We passed the tree that I so vividly recalled ducking behind last year as I threw up. This year I was on target with my fueling plan and was crossing my fingers that my change in day to day diet had made the difference.
Photo Credit: Nancy Comstock
As we made it to Route 108 in Stowe, Corey and Hans were ready to take me the long stretch to Bolton/Route 2. Corey took the lead, with Hans behind me and we worked to find an efficient pace. There was no lack of conversation so the climb up to the chin on Mount Mansfield seemed to come faster than I anticipated.
Photo Credit: Corey Barrett
With variable weather still the trend I worked to keep up with Corey running across the ridge and it certainly appeared to me that I being pushed around more by the wind gusts than he was as worked our way across the summit. After navigating the chutes and ladders my parents greeted us at Nebraska Notch for resupply and check in. We all topped off our hydration and grabbed a few extra snacks.
Photo Credit: Corey Barrett
Miles later we worked through a snafu of who had the snacks. Did you grab them, did I grab them, did anyone grab them? Some quick problem solving and George was coming as fast as he could with calories for me, but he was a quick drive and several miles out on the trail. It was nice to see he and Twig even for the quick pass over of syrups and then Corey, Hans and I continued on our way as Geo headed back on a side trail.
A few miles later we could hear interstate 89, which meant we were about 5 miles out and just later we were greeted on the trail by Jason, Corrine and Josh who had hiked up to meet us. Corrine set an awesome pace to get us back to the crew and spirits seemed high all around.
At route 2 Jason was back in the game as we headed across busy route 2 and across the suspension bridge. Just as we made our way across a jumper attempted a triple back flip. Solid rotation rate, good effort, but a 1/2 rotation short which left a mark! We made quick work of the farm/river miles to Bamforth Ridge trail and arrived at the parking lot to see my parents and Doug from UnTapped. We topped off all of our supplies, double checked our headlamp situation and then it was time to get the largest climb on the LT behind us. I've done this climb so many times, it's so rewarding, yet can be so daunting. I kept saying "Just six miles, just six miles!" At each out cropping we were treated to a different stage of sunset and moonrise.
Photo Credit: Jason Koop
The summit of the hump was quiet, dark and daunting, as I knew we now had to navigate the technical descent down to Forest City. I turned my headlamp on max lumens and was methodical on foot placement. I had fallen on this section before and you typically don't just fall, you fall and you tumble from rock to rock. I was more than okay with sacrificing a little time in order to stay upright.
Jason brought entertainment as he asked, "Are you sure we are on a trail?" I liked to respond to this "Are we having fun yet?" That 1.7 mile descent is not fast, I think I typically can climb it faster than I go down it so when I heard voices and dog tags clanging off in the distance I was relieved to know we were getting closer to Mike, Berne and their puppies which marked the departure for the technical section.
At the junction of Forest City and the Long Trail, Josh took over and he would be the final pacer of day 2. These miles that connect the Wind Gap and Ap Gap don't require as much brain power as previous sections so it was nice to just be able to be in autopilot for hours. Some miles the conversation streamed and others we moved in silence. Josh shared stories of medical school and residency and of course due to my Netflix binge watching of shows like Grey's Anatomy, ER and The Residency, I had a lot to add to the conversation.
Focus shifted from conversation to swapping over headlamps. First mine went and then Josh had his die. Then my new one flicker and dimmed down to the lowest lumens, so we ended up coming in the final stretch with one. When we hit the pavement at AP Gap my crew shined their lights over at us and I remember seeing my breath. I questioned if was still lucid, which made them laugh.
A quick change over to sleep clothes and some recovery drink and I was off to bed. I pulled my comforter up tight, had a sigh of relief that day 2 was behind me and tried to get some sleep before officially starting day 3.
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