Hurricane Irene’s damage on the Long Trail
Hurricane Irene takes out a metal bridge
This section of the AT was supposed to be pretty damaged by Hurricane Irene, but I wasn’t sure where the damage started. My internet research before I left didn’t show anything about closures, but, like always, one can never know what the trail will bring.
I woke up earlyish to attempt making it over Mt. Killington before afternoon thunderstorms set in. Crossing the Clarendon Gorge/Mill River Suspension bridge, I looked down at the rapids and thought: “On the PCT or CDT, there wouldn’t be a suspension bridge here. There would be a ‘hope I don’t die’ fording moment.”
Along Gould Brook, the trail usually follows the brook, but it must have swelled a lot during Hurricane Irene. There were some cairns up showing a higher route, which I ended up taking because the trail seemed to be washed away. it was hard to follow–another hiker said he could lost hiking it near dusk, which is totally understandable. None of the fords were more than ankle deep–it was crazy to think it could have swelled 20 feet high last fall.
The metal car bridge may be out, but hikers can still pass
The trail spit me out a road and as I looked to find the trail, I saw a large pieces of steel wrapped around a tree. It was the old car bridge the AT/LT goes over. The bridge was washed out. Luckily, the GMC built a little wooden ladder with a branch as a handrail for hikers to get across some debris still where the bridge was. The road 100 feet up was washed out with a hole the length of a big rig and 8 feet deep. Hikers could walk around it, but a car couldn’t.
Hail amongst the rocks and roots of the trail up Killington
It started raining and was a little cold up Killington. I saw some hail, and there was no way to get a view. It cleared up on the onr way down, but it took longer to get down that I expected! When I got to the road, I tried to hitch, but miraculously, the Rutland bus stopped by and gave me a ride to the Inn at the Long Trail. Owen, the same bartender I had last year on the AT, was working and it felt good to see a familiar face and eat the Irish stew I had been so dreaming of. I had a Long Trail-Guinnesss half and half and will catch a ride into Rutland to stay with the 12 Tribes at the Yellow deli and hostel…mmm…love their food. Last year,my hike was pretty streamlined, but I’m glad that this time around, I can see the Deli again. 3540′ gain
