Date: 2007-09-04
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: clear sky

mi. 13.8sleep hammockdest. Minerva Hinchey Shelter day 54 Well, didn't make it out of the hammock to watch the sunrise. It was a little cold and I was cold. The sunrise and last nights sunset would have been spectacular. Oh well. I'll have to catch them next time. The night before I go into mancestor center for resupply in a couple days, I am planning on staying in a ski resort warming hut ontopof bromley mountain. Hopefully I'll have some good views then. I got started and the trail was pretty chill for most of the day. The only remotely bad section was going down killington where the trail was really eroded, all that was left was a lot of rocks and roots. But I've been there. The trail actually was really fun. Some ups and downs, but nothing to servire. I really think Vermont has some great hiking. It still has some mountains in killington, mansfield, camelshumps, Jays Peak, and others. But it also has a lot of good parts along the AT and LT to experience. Unfortunatly though killington is the only peak I listed the AT goes over. I still enjoy the smaller peaks. I don't know if I mentioned it yet, but Vermont reminds me a lot of the midwest I hiked back home. Just with some mountains, hills, views, and clean water. I was planning on doing huge day today. My first 19 mile day. But was usual I got a little side tracked. .5 miles down one of the roads I crossed today was a little resturant. I heard about this from some northbounders. I didn't reall want to make the road walk over there. I didn't know at first how far or what direction it was. I got to the parking lot and got out my guide book. I saw it was only .5 away. I also saw a minivan sitting there with someone in it. So I went over and asked him about the resturant. I asked him a couple fishing for a ride questions about the place. He said he never been there. He then offered to take me there. That worked out better than I had planned it. In talking with the guy he was actually with the group that ran the hostel. He just wasn't there when I was. We got to the resturant and they also had an ice cream place. I offered and bought the guy some ice cream. He gave me a ride and everyone there was really nice, so it was the least I could do to say thanks. No Ben and Jerry's, but a huge vinella soft serve cone fit the bill. I was starting to doubt my big mile day at this point. I knew I could hike it, but was concerned about daylight. So to stretch my food reserve a little I went to the resturant. It was a great diner that reminded me of something you would expect to drive up to in the middle of no where along the highway. Oh wait it was. I had a delicious openfaced turkey sandwich with mash potatoed and gravey over everything. I am really starting to enjoy the little things. I sat there for a hour eating, reading the newpaper, and listening t the country station o the radio. Life was good. On the walk back to the trail who would I see but the guy I had been hiking with. He had left Hanover a day after me. He took a day off from being sick too. He read the note I left him thanking him for getting me sick. He actually was staying at pico camp the night before. I almost stayed there, but wanted to put on a few more. He was headed in for a resupply and food. He doesn't wanted to be named here. Instead of saying hiking partner or guy I am going to start calling him Catz. We parted ways along the road. Back on the trail it goes over a cool suspension bridge over a small gorge. I really wanted to go swimming, but the water looked cold. More importantly the air temp was cold and I didn't want to worry about wet clothed tonight. I decided to call it a day 1 shelter early. I was going to start stealth camping again, but the LT shelters are nice and only 4 or 5 miles apart. Funny I remember them being farther apart last fall. Today I passed 2 I didn't stay at. I think I am in a little better shape now. I got here and had a really good talk with a couple from Hotlanta. He is sectioning the AT and missed this section last year. He is making it up with his wife. Tonight was there last night. We got to talking and I mentioned how I was stretching my food, I really need to stop doing that. They ended up giving me all their extra food. I ended up turning down some of the snacks. But I got some great dehydrated meat, 3 dinners, some bacon bits, and lots of string chz. I am going to be eating well and carying a heavy pack for the next couple of days. I'll have to share some with Catz. Maybe do a huge dinner tomorrow night. Or a short resupply out of Mancestor Center. A crazy thing happened to. Right at dark a northbounder by the name of Zero came in. He started on Janurary 9th in GA. Lets just say his trail name was very discriptive. He stopped in, talked, ate, got water, and left. He wanted to do 10 more miles tonight. Did I mention it was dark when he got here. But to each his own. He was also carrying a ton of food. I thank he said he started with at least a 10 day food supply on this section. Now that is a lot of food. He said he has a trail journal if anyone wants to check it out. Off to sleep to the sound of cows mooing in the distance.