Date: 2012-07-19
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Yellow Deli Hostel - Rutland VT
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: broken clouds

US Route 4, Rutland VT - 21.1 milesLess than 500 miles to goI was up and left by 6:00. It was an easy downhill walk to Clarendon Gorge. I was surprised I didn't see anyone camped there. I know at least No Sweat and Wolverine went there, and heard Jeff Davis, Sugar Plum, and Uncle Spider were there. At the road, I walked 1/2 mile west to the Whistle Stop restaurant for breakfast. It was good; 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, 2 toast, and OJ. Then 1/2 mile back to the trail, and head north. I went up and down a mountain and reached a temporary reroute. Huricanne Irene destroyed the bridge up ahead. However, I heard from SoBos that it is passable, so I stayed on the trail and did not take the reroute. Everything was going fine, and I crossed several streams. Then the trail came right down to where several streams met and there was a huge pile of blown down trees and bridge timbers strewn everywhere. I assumed this is where the bridge used to be (big mistake). The streams were jointly broad enough, and there was enough debris, but I couldn't make out what was on the other side. So, I found a combination of rocks and blown over trees to cross the streams, and searched the other side for where the trail continued. I bushwhacked up and down, but could not find the trail. So eventually I decided I better go back across the streams and take a closer look at where the trail went; back across the rocks and blow downs. When I got there, I saw the trail never crossed. It came right down to the the edge, then turned right back uphill without crossing. The pile of debris had distracted me, and I made an incorrect assumption about where the trail went. I had wasted 40 minutes climbing over stuff I didn't need to. I felt frustrated and stupid, but oh well; stuff happens. I went on up the trail and a 1/3 mile later came to where the bridge used to be. There was no debris here because it was all washed down stream, but you could tell this is where the bridge used to be by the abutments on both sides, and you could see where the trail continued on the other side. Crossing here without the bridge was much easier than the last place. Hop on some rocks; no problem at all. I hiked on up to the next shelter where I stopped for a break and wrote about my experience in the register; then continued on. From here it is a 6.6 mile climb up Killington Mountain. I didn't feel a need to rush and hiked at a steady pace. At the top I stopped at Copper Lodge (shelter) for a snack. I was trying to decide what to do. Either go to Rutland tonight from US 4 (5 miles from here), or stay at the next shelter (4 miles) and hike to Inn at the Long Trail tomorrow, then go into town from there ( 7-8 miles from here). Then Sparrow said he was going to Rutland tonight and the last bus into town was 6:20. It's 4:15 now. He took off. I thought about it, and decided to go for town tonight. I packed up. It was 4:20 when I left. I would have to hussle to make 5 miles for the last bus by 6:20. I hurried down the mountain. I was moving good and felt like I was doing 2 1/2 to 3 mph. But it took me an hour to get to the cutoff for Pico, only 1.9 miles. Unfortunately the guidebook is not always accurate and under normal circumstances this small difference is no big deal. But with the time constraint, I was in trouble. I continued hurrying. About 6:00 I saw a SoBo and asked him how far to the road without stopping. He told me 30 minutes. I wasn't not going to make it, but I kept going. I reached the road at 6:30. No one was there, so I assume the bus had come, picked up Sparrow, and was gone. I called Plans Too Much, a local Trail Angel and asked if he would give me a ride. He agreed, so everything was OK again. He arrived about 15 minutes later, and I reached Rutland about 7:15. I went to the Yellow Deli Hostel. It is run by the 12 Tribes religious sect. They follow the Old Testament. The deli and Outfitter are open 24/5. They close at 3:00 on Friday to celebrate their Sabbath and don't reopen until Sunday (the hostel remains open but with minimum services). I got settled in, showered, and went to the deli to eat. I got a Rueben sandwich. It was good but I could have eaten more. Afterwards, I was tired so I just turned in for the night.