-So, Long Trail complete. Mass to Maine Junction NOBO with AT in 2008, Journey's End to Maine Junction SOBO in 2017.

-8/4-8/17. Twelve full days and two half days, one on each end. Average about 13 miles per day- a little less around the higher peaks in the north, a little more approaching Route 4.

-I had no idea that some shelters and lodges charge a fee, so be aware that some do. $5/person/night, there's probably a list somewhere online.

-I believe there has been a break in the weather. I was dreading all the "it's wet" and "bring extra socks" warnings I had been receiving, but in 14 days I had just one 24-hour rain storm and three overnight rain storms. The mud pits don't dry out of course, but the trail was generally wet for only a day after the rain. I brought 5 pairs of socks due to the warnings, but found that 4 would have been ideal (1 pair for camp only, 2 pair for regular use, and 1 pair for a morale boost every few days). Of course, I may have just been lucky with the weather.

-It was dry enough that water was problematic south of Cooley Glen Shelter until Route 4 (where I stopped) but by no means was it emergency status. Just ask hikers coming the opposite way, especially if you plan to stealth camp, since it's mostly the unlisted small streams across the Trail that were dry. The day/night I stealth camped on approach to Route 4 I carried my max 3 liters and that was sufficient.

-I found a 30-degree down bag to be fine. Two nights I woke up needing to put my fleece-lined shell vest on to stay warm, and I wore it some mornings/evenings in camp as well. But I'd guess that, come September, the vest should definitely be switched out for a jacket. (Bear in mind that because it only rained during the day once, the contents of my pack never got wet.)

-I never used my mosquito head net, used sunscreen several times (I have fair skin), and used my DEET only once in camp.

-Black flies and mosquitoes were small in number and never a serious concern. Never saw a tick.

-The trail is marked well enough that I sent my compass home.

-The Ben and Jerry's tour was nearly worthless. $4 for a video (which is on YouTube), ten minutes in a room with windows looking into the factory (which is on YouTube), and a single spoonful of ice cream. If it were free, I would give it one thumb up, but for $4 I give it two thumbs down. In fact, all of Waterbury seemed like a skippable town to me due to heavy tourism.

-Resupply in Johnson is a fine idea. It's small, but has everything a hiker needs. Laundromat, post office, and excellent grocery store (which accepts mail drops) are all within two-minute-walk of each other, with a few restaurant options and a fine bookstore. Hitching was easy. Don't know about lodging.

-Resupply in Waitsfield also a fine idea. Hyde Away Inn is highly recommended. Hiker discount (for walk-ins only), laundry service, hiker box, restaurant and bar in house, free breakfast, loaner bicycles, cable TV, wifi, and a ride back to Trail in the morning. Plus, if you get lucky like I did, at about 9:30am the Hyde Away truck will pull up to the LT road crossing to drop off the previous night's hikers, so you could get a ride in as well. Mad Taco restaurant is good and popular. Clearwater Sports is well stocked, including denatured alcohol by the ounce, although service can be very slow if there is a line of kayak renters or something like that. They accept mail drops.

-When I finished I stayed at the Yellow Deli Hiker Hostel instead of the Inn at Long Trail, mostly because I had an early train to catch and the hostel is in downtown Rutland. I know these folks are controversial, but I found them to be everything advertised and nothing that wasn't. They're very friendly and accommodating, but they definitely have that "way too happy" religious vibe that leads to the cult accusations. But their hostel is free, has some strict rules that keep it clean and party-free, has free showers and laundry, discounted deli food, free breakfast, and is centrally located for bus/train/library/bank, etc. If you're not interested in their unorthodox religious view, don't pick up the pamphlet on the coffee table, that's all.

-Does anyone know why there's a sign at Maine Junction that says "This Is Not a Trail" which, of course, looks like a trail? I ask because it's been there at least 9 years.

-That's it. Back to the real world.