Date: 2006-09-16
From: Bennington - Chris & Arla's Home

To: Almost Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up around 8 and ready to get packed, again, and out on the trail. I talked to Chris for awhile about the trail and the weather and such. Then I fixed some of those delicious grilled chicken and rice leftovers for breakfast, with permission from the hostess of course. I checked my email one last time and made a phone call to Courtenay, the section hiker I met in Glencliff. I spoke to her husband who told me they were looking forward to my arrival. We made some tentative plans for meeting up tomorrow.   Then I let Arla know that I was ready to go whenever she was available to drive me up to the trailhead.Arla drops me off and I bid her farewell. I really enjoyed my time with her and her family and am so appreciative of their hospitality. At the trailhead at 11:30, a little late for me considering I want to hike almost 12 miles today, but we'll see if I can do it. The first part of the trail is rock steps straight up for about 0.5 mile. It takes me 30 minutes, but it's an easy climb. Then the trail levels out but gets muddy, rocky, and rooty. This is the worst section of trail I have seen in VT. I am probably more frustrated with it than normal because my feet are still tender from whatever I did to them the day I hiked into Bennington. The roots just seem to roll and jab under my sore feet. Because of this, I am slowed down a bit, but it does feel good to be back on the trail and know that in about 15 miles I will be in my 4th state.I saw a good many nobo hikers today. Most of them section hikers I gathered. One was a young guy named Matthew from NY. He was very friendly and talkative. We swapped stories about where to stay and he mentioned he might be available for trail magic when I get to NY. Then I met a retired couple, Tom and Lecretia, who were just adorable. They decided to try out this backpacking thing as both of their daughters are hikers. Further down the trail I pass a beaver dam that is so big it has the pond about four feet higher than the trail. Due to the rain, its overflowing and I have to walk fast over the boardwalks to avoid getting my feet soaked. But it is an interesting engineering marvel to behold. Due to my chatting with hikers and slow start in getting my legs and feet back into the hiker groove, it doesn't look like I am going to make the shelter before dark. I stop to get water so I'll have it in case I have to stealth somewhere not near water and as I am leaving the stream two dogs with packs come toward me. No owner in view and I am sure that they wouldn't be on the trail alone. Nope, the dogs have just run ahead, their owner appearing now heading north. She is hiking the Long Trail and I give her the location where she and her dogs can camp as she won't make the shelter before dark either. Then its up the hill I go, my goal to make it to the powerline at least and then look for a place to camp. I get to the powerline and have a nice view of the sun setting. Sunsets are not as amazing as sunrises lately, but it is worth pausing to admire. But it also reminds me that I have limited daylight left. I keep climbing and find a little bald spot that offers a westward view. There are two trees that will do for hanging my hammock and I set to work to make camp fast. Its getting chilly and dark and I am hungry and tired. Mac n'Cheese, beef jerky, and double stuffed oreos for dinner. It's about 8 and the stars are starting to come out. It's absolutely beautiful.I climb into the hammock and journal and read a bit before drifting off.