Date: 2016-07-27
From: Governor Clement Shelter

To: Kent Pond
Miles today: 14.5

I slept really well but did not get out of my sleeping bag until about an hour after I woke, 6:30am. I took my time in getting my things all packed up and got to hiking at 7:45. There had been a big group of campers near the shelter that I thought were part of a hiking club but, they were actually a trail maintenance group. I saw them on the trail working about 15 minutes into my hike. I wonder how much worse the trail would be without their efforts. Ooooh, I don't want to think about it. It seems like every morning that I get on the trail there is a climb. Today was no different, 2000 ft in 3.5 miles, arriving at Cooper Lodge Shelter. From the shelter there was a side trail of 0.2 miles to the top of Killington Peak for views and another small hike to the top of the gondola and ski lodge/restaurant. While I was resting at Cooper Lodge shelter, Nar Nar and Vanilla Ice arrived. They said it was worth the climb so I left my backpack and climbed up. It was very very steep and of course rocky. In this case the rocks help because they give me a place for my hands and feet. My fellow hikers were right...it was a great view. It was clear and I could see forever. I met a couple of girls who had accents and I thought they were from Europe. They were actually from Quebec! I have met a couple of other hikers from there and they had very strong accents too. I didn't realize that they spoke French there. I need to visit that area in the future. I went ahead and hiked to the ski area and went into the restaurant. It was very pretty in there with chairs and couches to sit on. I could see the peaks I had hiked over...these were views of the other side of Killington Peak. The climb down to the shelter was just as tricky as the climb up. I had to get on my butt a couple of times! I'm glad I left my pack at the shelter. Brah and the 4 section hikers were there resting when I got back. I spoke to them for a bit and got on my way. Now I was going downhill. It was a mixture of steep, rocky, and nice trails. The roots are starting to be very ubiquitous on the trail as well. (That one is for you Pauline). If it's not one thing it's another!!!! I decided I wanted to take a shower and wash my clothes as everything, including me, was starting to smell worse than normal! I booked a room at Mountain Lodge by Kent Pond. Boy, was I looking forward to that. I stopped at another shelter to rest and saw Brah, Nar Nar and Vanilla Ice there. Since Nar Nar and Vanilla Ice are doing the Long Trail, we will part ways today. Their plan is to hitchhike into Rutland and spend the night there. They are students in college and have the youthful energy that my body lost a few years ago. (Just a few years ). I enjoyed their company. I hiked a few miles further and arrived at the lodge and found it to be a great place to relax. It overlooks the pond and has well manicured grounds. They gave the hikers free pasta salad. Food is definitely a good way to lure me in! I met Sunshine, Moonshine and Barnum...we were the only hikers there. A shower and clean clothes felt great. I am sure that those around me appreciated that too! We all ordered pizza and indulged at the honor bar. Red wine was perfect! We sat, ate, drank and talked in one of the lounging areas. They had a TV room there so I went and watched a movie. I Went to sleep at midnight but I did a lot of relaxing this afternoon. No doubt I will sleep well.