My Epic Adventure. How About Yours?

For the first time since graduating from university, I took a month off. For my sabbatical during the month of September, I thru-hiked (and climbed) the entire 273-mile Long Trail in Vermont, the oldest long distance hiking trail in the US and widely considered the most difficult with 68,000 feet of elevation gain (twice Mt. Everest)!

I finished in 26 days.

It was truly an epic journey. In my several years of planning and practice hikes, I learned about fitness, hiking strategy, proper gear, and the importance of preparation.

Learning about myself

Yes, even into my 60s, I can take on a challenge and prevail. Yes, there are still amazing things out there to see and do. And yes, there are new and fascinating people to meet.

During my hike, I resisted digital communications. Yes, I had my iPhone with me as well as a satellite communications device for when I was out of cell phone range. I checked in daily with my family.

But I only scanned mainstream media headlines about every three or four days. The only news stories I read during the month were several recaps of the Harris-Trump debate. I didn’t look at my social media feeds except now and then to check DMs to see if there was something important. Same with email, I responded to maybe twenty emails in the entire month.

It was certainly a mindset shift to go from several hours of digital communications on an average day for decades to several hours for an entire month.

I felt liberated.

I was able to focus on the beautiful autumn Vermont scenery, the plants and animals (a bobcat!), and my own body as it worked for an average of 8 hours a day to carry me along the trail.

Best of all was the people I met. It’s fascinating to roll into one of the dozens of backcountry camping spots and encounter like-minded people. Most of us use trail names. (I’m “Tie Dye”). Since we’re only using trail names, and we’re unlikely to meet again, plus we’re all enjoying the same epic adventures, there’s very deep conversations in the shelters and around the campfires.

I met people struggling with addiction for whom the trail was a substitute addiction that keeps them alive. There were fresh university graduates out for a pre-career adventure. And there were those who just love to hike in the wilderness.

At the top of Bromley Mountain, at 5:30 in the morning, I met a wedding party who hiked up at night to see the sunset as a kickoff to their celebration. They welcomed me when I joined them at the top of the Bromley fire tower and even gave me some homemade coffee cake. After days of freeze-dried oatmeal for breakfast, oh boy did that taste great!

Vermont’s Long Trail

The Long Trail traverses Vermont’s spine, heading up and over the highest mountains and seemingly every ski resort in the state, including Jay Peak, Stowe, Mad River Glen, Middlebury, Killington, Bromley, and Stratton.

When the trail was originally constructed between 1910 and 1930, switchbacks weren’t used, so most of the trail goes straight up the very rocky and very steep mountains!

In places there are ladders to make it a bit easier, but mostly in the worst parts you’re relying on tree roots and rock handholds going up and butt sliding to go down. It was a hell of a challenge. I fell 18 times and sport numerous scrapes and bruises. Fortunately, nothing major.

The Long Trail is administered and maintained by the Green Mountain Club, and they do fabulous work.

An average of about every five miles brings hikers to a (free) rustic shelter with a water source such as a pond or a stream to filter water, and a privy. Many shelters also have spots for tents, which I preferred. Bunk space in shelters is first come first served, however I never experienced one that was full. I used the shelters when it was raining and in spots without tenting space.

Some shelters like Butler Lodge on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain, are beautifully maintained. Originally built in the 1930s, Butler Lodge has amazing views. When I stayed there it was just me and “Polar”, the caretaker. Polar told me it was the clearest day of the season and one of the best sunsets he’s seen. I could see beyond Burlington to Lake Champlain and the Lake Placid NY area some 50 miles beyond. It was the best sunset of my life, and I captured a wonderful photo of the moment.

What epic adventure will you undertake?

While I chose to do an end-to-end long-distance hike, we all have an opportunity to plan and undertake a new adventure.

You might decide to start a company. Or move to a new country. Or write a book.Or learn to dance.

Like me, perhaps you can take time off to do something that you’ve always wanted to do.

There are many ways to learn about yourself and challenge your thinking, all it takes is the will to do it and supportive people who love you to support your dream.