START LOCATION: Governor Clement Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: US-4/Sherburne Pass/Long Trail Inn
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 10.4
TRIP MILEAGE: 1,691.2
MILES TO GO: 487.9
I woke up and everything was wet. I didn't get wet, just everything I had was wet. Moisture just finds it's way in. I told Smoke... "I'm getting a room." This was in reference to The Long Trail Inn coming up in a few miles.
At 8AM, we pushed up the 2,000 feet climb to Killington Peak at 3,800' above sea level. It was a pretty easy climb given the ascent. Weather was good for hiking... Cool and overcast. We arrived at the top to find Fred, Lou and Mimi still kicking it at the Cooper Lodge. We also found some cool Green Mountain Club trail maintainers replacing old wooden steps to Cooper Lodge with stone ones. Hard work for only $8 per hour. But, they were happy and enjoying our company. Fred, Lou and Mimi pushed down to the Long Trail Inn while Smoke and I took the .2 mi blue blaze to the peak. It was gorgeous up there. There were puffy clouds below us hanging over the surrounding valleys. There's views of Maine, New Hampshire, Mass, New York, the southern provinces of Canada and of course, the nearby peaks of Vermont. It is said that Killington Peak's vista is the inspiration for Vermont's name... Verd-mont, French for Green Mountain... Coined back in 1763. The N8blawg... Entertaining AND informative.
We buzzed the Sherburne Pass blue-blaze down to what else, Sherburne Pass. The Long Trail Inn is right there. It's a hotel, restaurant and pub that is accessed by the blue-blaze that parallels and once was the AT. The AT has since been rerouted to minimize impacts to an area which is a sensitive bear habitat. I don't understand this though. Nearly every hiker makes a stop at the Long Trail Inn, so I doubt the blue-blaze is seeing any less foot traffic since it was changed from a white-blaze. Nevertheless, we are here.
Smoke and I had lunch at the bar and enjoyed a couple of Long Trail Ales. We had to act fast though... The bus to Rutland was coming. We checked in at the Inn and jumped on the bus where we hit the Rutland Walmart. It was perfect. Left at 2:20, back by 4:30.
We did laundry at the inn, had a nice dinner and a couple beers with the slew of hikers that rolled in... Another guy named Fred, Abolitionist, Shorts, Nobody and Creepy. We're now ready for the 2+ day push to New Hampshire. But, not before we witness a foot race that has been hyped since the mid-point of the AT in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania. Mimi and Shorts have been planning a 50 yard dash after some trash talking at the PGFSP. The race has been hyped over 6 states and 600 miles. So, it better be good. I had my bet on Mimi, but Shorts is looks prepared. The battle goes down 30 minutes after the later racer finishes their complimentary breakfast included with our hotel stay. Stay tuned for the results.
-natedog
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