Date: 2011-08-06
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Vermont Route 9
Miles today: 11.5

I was awake fairly early but didn¢t want to get out of the sack and make noise in deference to my two shelter mates. Eventually they started to stir and I had some breakfast, packed, and was on my way by 7:15 am. It is another warmish, cloudy, muggy day on the Trail. One problem with being first out of the shelter is that you get to be the day¢s web-breaker.This section of the Trail does not have much elevation change and is generally in good condition. Still it took me two hours to cover the three miles to the Roaring Branch water source. Roaring Brook drains a marshy pond and the stream water is brownish in color and none too appetizing looking. However, I did not want to be caught with out water so I filled up and added bleach as a purifier. Before reaching Roaring Brook I crossed paths with a married couple who were on their last day of a southbound Long Trail thru hike. The Long Trail is on the Rocky & Swamp Fox To-Do list, so I was quite interested in their experience with respect to time of year and direction. They started July 2 at the very difficult north end of the Long Trail. It was quite buggy at the start of their hike as well. I concluded that we would want to do the Long Trail northbound and with a late August start.   Enroute to the Congdon Shelter, I was passed by two men running the Trail. They were ultra-marathoners on a 40.2 mile run. They suggested that I should take up ultra-marathoning in the Masters Class. I told them, thanks, but my marathon days were over, since my knee replacement.I reached the Congdon Shelter at 11:45 am. Minutes later my shelter mates from last night arrived at the Shelter. I had a couple of snack bars with jelly and loaded up on water. Twenty minutes later I was on my way again, heading for Vermont Route 9. Shortly after leaving the shelter, I met another married couple, Beardo and his wife, Sweet Pea, who were SoBo thru hikers. They are also from New Hampshire. In the course of our conversation about our respective hikes, I indicated that I was heading for Route 9, so I could hitch into Bennington to find a phone. They graciously offered me the use of their cell phone to call Rocky. This saved me at least three hours in the time it would take me to make a call from Bennington. Rocky told me she would leave within an hour and it would be around 4 pm when she would meet me at the road. Thank you so much, Beardo and Sweet Pea. Best of luck as you continue south.With the pressure of the phone call off of my mind, I proceeded at a normal pace up Harmon Hill. I reached the summit at 2 pm, and started the long downhill to the road. The last part of the downhill was incredibly steep, but made easier by the magnificent rock work on the descent.   I reached Route 9 at 3:05 pm. Rocky arrived at 4 pm, and I was on the way home about ten days earlier than anticipated. Both of my big toes are discolored and are painful. I don¢t know how long it will be before I can comfortably walk and resume my northbound section hiking. Hopefully, I can get back on the Trail in September. I have 280 miles left to Gorham, New Hampshire to complete the Trail. It has been six years so far. What¢s another year!Swamp Fox