Date: 2017-07-09
From: Little Rock Pond Shelter, VT

To: Cooper Lodge, VT
Miles today: 24.0

7/9/17, Cooper Lodge, VTMiles hiked: 1336.9, Miles to go: 803.3So, I gave in to peer pressure today. I had to do what the cool kids were doing. My wife, Marguerite, would probably say that I got led astray by a pretty young woman, as usual. I awoke to a beautiful day on Little Rock Pond. Little Rock Pond is the quintessential New England pond. The rest of us would call it a lake; but, New Englanders like to call their lakes ponds. The sun was rising over the ridge behind the lake and shining through the gently swirling mist. The water was lapping against the shore and the pines were gently swaying in the light breeze. Then I heard it - the sound I had looked forward to hearing before I ever started this hike - loons! What a unique and evocative sound. Although I'd never heard one in person before today, it's a sound I always associate with New England ("Look, Norman, the loons!"). After spending some time just soaking in the whole pond scene, I headed out on a 19.7 mile hike to Governor Clement Shelter. There were several thru hikers on the trail again today. I spent most of the day hiking around Blue Steel, a 30-something guy I've been hiking around the past few days, and a nice couple in their 30s named Lighthouse (her) and Ninja (him) that I've seen on and off the past couple of days. I say "hiking around" because it's not quite like hiking with 1st Sgt, where we would hike together and have sparkling conversation (e.g., Ginger vs Marianne). In this case, I was hiking by myself; but, close enough to the others that we would cross paths often and exchange a bit of conversation. It was just sort enough to remind you that you weren't alone in the woods. Speaking of hiking alone, I finally broke down and listened to music while hiking today. Always before, I've had conversation with 1st Sgt to help pass the day while walking. And walking. And walking. By this afternoon, I was tired of the silence and put in one ear bud and listened to music while keeping the other ear open to listen to what was around me. I'm always amazed by hikers who wear both ear buds and are startled when you walk up behind them. It is always important to maintain a certain level of situational awareness. The woods are beginning to slowly change. More pine trees, fewer hardwoods. More ferns and less poison ivy and Virginia Creeper. Higher mountains and rushing streams. I am even beginning to see moose droppings! We still have plenty of mud, though. We continued hiking up and down hills and over streams. The climb out of Clarendon Gorge proved to be especially long and steep. At one point, we passed a sign saying 500 miles to Mt Katahdin. On one had, that seems like a long way; but, on the other, it's beginning to seem almost attainable. Lighthouse and Ninja planned to continue past the Governor Clement Shelter to the Cooper Lodge Shelter. They encouraged me to continue with them. I told them I'd have to see how I felt after 19.7 miles. The Cooper Lodge Shelter was only 4.3 miles past Governor Clement; however, it was 4.3 miles of climbing to the top of Killington Mt. Killington is the first 4000 footer we've encountered since Virginia, so it was a long climb. Besides, it was looking like it might rain at any minute and I wasn't wanting a repeat of yesterday. I reached Governor Clement around 5:30 PM, just before Lighthouse and Ninja and took off my pack and sat down to rest. Blue Steel was already there and was also resting. Ninja and Lighthouse arrived shortly and said they were heading on. Lighthouse appeared a little disappointed to see me sitting with my pack off and asked if I was going on. I said I had to eat a snack first. To be quite honest, I was pretty tired from all the climbing we'd already done today. They headed out and Blue Steel picked up his pack and said he was heading on also. I looked around the shelter and decided it looked pretty dank and uninviting. Besides, the clouds were beginning to break up and a sunset at 4000+ feet would be pretty cool. So, I shouldered my pack, cranked up Mumford & Sons on my iPhone, and started climbing. Actually, I got my second wind and felt pretty good. I soon overtook Lighthouse and Ninja and they were happy to see me. I think they'd decided that I was staying behind. We climbed, and climbed, and climbed for the next 2.5 hours and finally reached the Cooper Lodge just before 8:00 PM. The Cooper Lodge is an old enclosed shelter that is actually in pretty bad shape; however, there are tenting platforms nearby. So, that's where I set up for the night. It is still a steep 0.2 mile climb to the summit from the lodge, so I did not end up going up to see the sunset. Blue Steel went up and said the view was amazing.I'm now in my tent. It's pretty late and I'm pretty tired; but, I'm really glad I did the climb. I think I'll climb up to the summit for sunrise.