Date: 2018-07-06
From: Seth Warner Shelter

To: Goddard Shelter
Miles today: 21.6
Weather: overcast clouds

When I woke to heavy rain at 0500 I was glad I decided to sleep in the shelter. It was still raining when I hit the trail at 0730 and would continue for the next two hours. The rain created three issues that would define my day¢wet rocks, mud, and chafing. Vermont is often referred to as ¢Vermud¢. Today I saw just why it carries that label. Most of the mud was avoidable, some was not. In spots, there was this silty mud that sometimes appeared like solid ground. But when you step on it, you sink straight to the bottom. Between the rain and the thick canopy there was not much in the way of views today. I did pass several ponds that were shrouded in fog. Pretty neat to see, but not real picture worthy. There was a partial view atop Harmony Hill. The town of Bennington could be seen below. It was a very steep, rocky, and wet descent from there down to VT Route 9. The rocks were slick and uneven. It was slow and tedious and I had actually worked up a sweat on the way down. My wet shirt and shorts under the hip belt of my pack were causing some major chafing around my waist. It looked like a thick red belt around my hips and low back. This is something I thought I would have to deal with on the trail and am thankful it has not been an issue before now.There was a nice surprise waiting at a parking lot on the far side of VA 9¢TRAIL MAGIC! It was delivered by two guys in a pickup truck. The wife of one of the guys, Brian, has been NOBO since Harpers Ferry. The hiker¢s name is Puddles. I caught up with her later in the day and told her what a great job Brian and his friend Dave were doing.From the parking lot, I had 10 miles to the Goddard Shelter, my goal for the day. It was a 2,500¢ ascent, with a few downhills thrown in to thwart my progress. It was a very painful 10 miles for me. My feet and ankles were throbbing and the rest of my muscles were feeling weak. Finding a position where the pack did not rub on my inflamed hips was causing my back to get sore as well. When I reached the bottom of the final descent I called to check on Which Way. Okay, maybe I was looking for some sympathy too. I had 2.5 miles and 800¢ in elevation gain to go and I wasn¢t certain I could make it. WW reminded me of something I like to say when I face a climb while running or hiking. ¢You can work the hill or let the hill work you!¢ It¢s all about having the proper mindset. With that pep talk, I ate a Snickers Bar, downed a Gatorade compliments of the Trail Angels, popped a Vitamin I, lathered on some more Lanicane, and started working the hill. When running up a steep hill, I like to use imaginary ropes to pull myself to the top. Today I imagined that I had on cross country skis and used my poles to propel myself forward. It worked! Those last two miles were the easiest of the day for me. I arrived at the Goddard Shelter a little past 7PM. The shelter was a very nice structure and there were already several tents along the hillside. So I decided to stay in the shelter with a half dozen other thru hikers. After I soaked my feet in ice cold water, I changed out of my wet clothes and ate dinner. It was windy and cool at the top and the temperature was headed to the 40s. That¢s just what I needed to end this day. Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 5,470Descent - 4,080Grade - 8.4Weather:Day - 70 / AM RainNight - 49 / ClearOver The Horizon: Stratton Mountain, VT