A thru-hiker's diary from the Appalachian Trail's Vermont stretch offers a warm snapshot of why this corner of New England has such a devoted following among long-distance walkers. Writing in late September, the hiker logged a 22-mile day — roughly 48,000 steps — that started with a shivery night near freezing and ended with a state line ticked off and gear repairs stitched up beside a van.
The day began slowly. Overnight temperatures hovered around 40°F, wet gloves refused to dry, and the author didn't crawl out of the tent until 7:30am. But once moving, the trail delivered: gentle, grassy terrain down to Cloudland Road, switchbacks through early autumn colour, and a quick stop at the Thistle Hill Shelter for breakfast. After weeks of grinding pace since Virginia, the easier Vermont ground let the hiker hit 3 miles an hour again for the first time — a benchmark that matters more than it sounds when you're covering 20-plus miles a day.
What makes this stretch memorable isn't the mileage, though — it's the small acts of trailside kindness. On Howard Hill, two hand-carved benches sit under an apple tree, one inscribed 'Welcome to VT', the other 'VT Relax and Enjoy'. A mile on, a library offers water and a cosy chair to passing hikers. The standout is the Bergeron family farm stand on the road walk: alongside eggs and baked goods, the family invites Appalachian Trail hikers to pin their hometown on a map mounted behind the stand. Hikers have also signed their trail names across it, and the author spent several minutes spotting familiar names from the past six months before adding a green pushpin near their own hometown in Connecticut.
The route itself traces a classic section: after finishing the last miles in New Hampshire, the trail crosses the Connecticut River at Hanover, with a road walk through Norwich before the forest swallows the path again. The hiker also notes a curious wildlife shift at the state line — red squirrels dominate Maine and New Hampshire, while grey squirrels take over in Vermont, and deer reappear after none east of the river.
For anyone considering a taste of the AT, this is a good reminder that you don't need the full 2,000-mile commitment to enjoy it. The Vermont sections described here feature forgiving terrain, reliable resupply stops and a community that actively caters to walkers — libraries with water, farmers selling snacks, benches built just for you. Late September brings cool mornings and turning leaves, so pack layers you can trust to dry. And if you're driving to do a section hike, as this hiker did, base yourself near Hanover, New Hampshire, where the trail crosses the river and Dartmouth's college town gives you easy access to both states' miles.
