Date: 2005-08-11
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Inn at the Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

Up and gone this morning by 7:30. I would have left earlier except that I started reading a book I found along the trail at one of the shelters I passed by yesterday. The book is called "The Blue Highway" by William Least Heat Moon. Written back in the late 70's (I believe) it was about his travels as he circumnavigated the "Big Cities" in the United States and traveled the lesser known highways by vehicle (a van to be exact). I read the book many years ago and enjoyed reading it again. I could relate to it also because of my own personal travels. When I was just 18 (before the service) I too traveled by Van, on the east coast, and experienced some of the similar back road travels as did the author. My trip ended abruptly when an intoxicated driver of my van (he said he could drive) fell asleep behind the wheel and crashed into a parked car. Back then everyone drove after a night of partying, nothing unusual about it at all. I was asleep in the passenger seat and all I remember is crashing through the windshield as I was ejected from the vehicle. I don't recall what hurt more, the accident or the end of the dream. The book, this trip and my past came together in someone else's words, I was re-living the dream I had so long ago forgotten about. A lot of memories resurfaced as I read someone else's travels, who would have guessed I would find that dream again inside of a found book.         In fact Jason left the book there in the shelter where I found it the day before. It kind of gave the book a good "Trail Karma" (he left it there as a way of reducing the weight in his back pack). Shelter books were often left behind. The biggest I had seen was the new release of Harry Potter, now that is a dedicated fan of that series, the book was huge.   A funny thing happened at the Governor Clement Shelter (mile 1676.3) before climbing Killington. There was four thru-hikers there, Socks, myself, I believe Professor Nut bag and Crazy Legs (I could be mistaken on those two) Regardless, there was a small dog there. In the past dogs have been found on the trail and stories of returning pets made for good hiker trail talk. We tried to call the owner who's name was on the tag without any luck. When we left the dog followed us. We figured we could get better reception up the trail and would try calling the owner again. On the way up we ran in to some south bound day hikers that took the dog off our hands, they were heading towards where the dog's tags said he was from. Later that night I ran in to those hikers and here was the deal. The Dog did this all the time according to the owner. He would walk to the shelter and "Yogi" food from the unsuspecting hikers. What a slick dog, I was yogi ed by the best of them that day (little S.O.B.).         This day I went up and over Killington Mountain (3900 feet with the summit a little higher). Earlier Jason left before I did and we planned to meet at the intersection of the AT and US-4 if we did not see each other sooner. It was a tough trail for me as the legs once again were feeling those collective miles. It was beginning to smell a lot like Christmas as the trail made it's way in to the Pines. The weather was clear and the views (when you could find them) were awesome. I caught up to Jason at the Cooper Lodge (.2 from the top), the trail veered off to the left and away from the "Killington Ski Slope". He was about to move on and did so soon after. I went and took the summit trail to the top of Killington. Two things I was told, on top the views were outstanding and there was a concession stand and it was open. No way, I thought, but it was true. It was so clear you could see for miles. Many thru-hikers were there as well as day hikers. The ski lift was operational and was bringing hikers and mountain bikers to the top. The concession stand was indeed open and served a good but expensive hamburger. I went back to the summit and enjoyed the view for a few minutes more. It was getting late and I still had 6 miles to go with a 2000 foot elevation drop. The down was tough, as tough as the up, with lots of roots and rocks. I was just thankful it wasn't wet and slippery.   Jason and I meet as planned near US-4 and walked the .9 miles "up hill" to the "Inn at the Long Trail" to try some of their legendary beer. Served apparently at the right temperature and on tap, a good combination if you ask me. Jason bought the first round of beer as we both ordered our supper. I apologized to the waitress for my "Hiker Funk" and she said not to worry about it, hikers were in all the time. She also told me there was once a woman (either an owner or worker, I can't recall) who used to walk around with a spray bottle of air freshener and spray the hikers. I would not have mined that at all, as long as she got under the arms as well.    Jason said earlier that when he came through on his thru-hike years before, that the trail came right through the Sherburne Pass (where the Inn is). I thought to my self then if it did, there must be stealth camp sites in the area. I asked the waitress, who turned out to be one of the owners, if there was an area hikers could camp at. She pointed out a small mowed grassy area where we could set up our tents on. What a nice thing to offer, it meant we could spend our money at the bar, not on a room (cool). We stayed and drank a few more beers until about 9:30 ( half past hiker mid night). We then walked across the road, settled in and soon after slept like the dead. It was good beer.   Note: On the way up Killington we passed the 500 mile "to go" mark.