AT from Dartmouth, southbound

When I started my job at Dartmouth, I was very excited to discover that the Appalachian Trail runs right through campus. In fact, I've been told Dartmouth is the only university or college that the AT crosses; but I haven't yet been able to confirm that's true.

But, seriously, folks, how cool is that? I section hike the AT every day just by showing up to work! Meeting across campus? Section hike the AT! Lunch downtown? Section hike the AT!

This was my apartment building during my first month in Hanover:

Living there was a very unpleasant experience, hence the one month stay. But the one redeeming value is that I slept mere steps from the AT! Check out those blazes on the telephone poles.

Shortly after moving in, I decided one weekend that I would hike southbound on the AT and see where it took me. Here I cross the Ledyard Bridge from Hanover, NH into Norwich, VT:

The AT actually went along the road into Norwich for a good couple miles before turning off into the woods. Here is a pretty church in Norwich center:

The trail takes a left down Elm Street, which is a residential neighborhood. It conveniently passes Allechante, a lovely cafe!

Finally, after a good couple of miles of road walking, the trail turns into the woods:

I didn't have snowshoes or cross-country skis at this point, so I walked in just my regular hiking boots. The snow was packed down reasonably well by skiers and snowshoers in certain stretches of trail, although I did manage to punch through in several areas. (Sorry, skiers!)

You can't tell in this photo, but the snow is actually about two or three feet deep here. I had high hopes to make it to the Happy Hill Shelter, about 3.5 miles in. But the snow on the trail was less well packed the farther I went; after all the slogging through knee-deep snow, i probably only hiked about a mile in of real, actual woods on this hike. Once I became sufficiently damp, I decided it was time to turn around and hike out. I retraced my steps and winded my way back to Hanover.

I'm looking forward to trying this hike again; next time with fewer road miles and more woods miles. And snowshoes or skis would definitlely help in the deep snow. Next time: to Happy Hill Shelter!