Date: 2005-08-04
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: US 4 / Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

Hopeful:   It's unusual for me to be the one to write the journals three days in a row! Red Wing is the better writer, and I'm the faster typer, but tonight he's not feeling well. I'm trying to help him to rest all that I can. We're in a great spot for resting. The Inn at Long Trail was the first ski lodge in Vermont, but in the summertime, at least, does an incredible job catering to hikers. Our room makes us feel cozy, as if we're in the guest bedroom of someone's home. There's no TV, phone or airconditioning, but it's comfortable. The TV and phone are available in a common area that's decorated with a woodsy/rustic theme, and there's a pub said to be "one of the livliest, coziest pubs this side of Dublin". The back wall of the pub is formed by the rock of the mountain behind the building. We spent almost three hours there this evening, sitting, eating, sharing stories and laughing with Hairball & Snowbunny (we finally caught up with them again!), Handyman, Muleskinner & Woodrose (an older couple travling with their yellow lab, Bella, who we met in our first two weeks of hiking and haven't seen since), and Toad & Hiccup (a young couple hiking the Long Trail). The Inn at Long Trail gets its name from the trail which runs from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border, the entire length of Vermont. The AT has followed its route ever since we entered Vermont, but within a mile of the Inn, the AT will head east into New Hampshire while the Long Trail continues north.   Our day ended relaxed (Red Wing is fast asleep as I write), but we had to hike hard to get here in time to enjoy it. We visited as we got ready to go this AM with Harmony and Rad Walker, the only other people at the shelter. We were still able to leave before 8 AM for the second morning in a row. The first part of the day wasn't a hard hike, but after we passed the Governer Clement Shelter, and old stone structure, we started the ascent to Killington Peak. That's one place I have heard of in Vermont, because of the skiing. Today we didn't take the chair lift up, however. We walked the whole way. Nearly at the top, the AT turns to go back down, but there's a spur trail, 0.2 mile to reach the actual summit. Red Wing wasn't very excited about it because the trail is virtually straight up, but I never want to miss anything. So we went. The climb was a challenge, it makes me wonder if the New Hampshire White Mountains will have spots that cause my fear of heights to kick in like this one did. Yet, the top view was 360 degrees and very cool. There were non sweaty people there too, young and old, who had taken the chair lift up from the Killington Base Lodge. They keep it running for summer tourists. We had our bagels and cheese for lunch and descended. Red Wing really wasn't feeling well by now, but we both perked up and got rather excited when, once we were back on the AT for a short time, we spotted a cow moose (quite hidden by the trees), and then her calf (in plain view and close to the trail). Wow! I never expected to see moose up so high. And I knew they were big, but to see the calf, bigger than a full grown deer, still surprised me. We watched them, and they watched us for a few moments, (time enough to get a descent picture), and then they ran off. We feel like it was a treat, since most people see moose in Maine, not Vermont.   The last 6 miles to US 4/Sherburne Pass seemed long, but it was mostly downhill and we made it. Some section hikers gave us a ride to the Inn and we had a happy reunion with Hairball and Snowbunny. Sam I Am, her friend Woodstock (who thru hiked in '02), and Origami are here as well. We're trying to make plans for tomorrow and the days to come, but it's hard to know how much to push when Red Wing is a little under the weather. It doesn't seem at all bad enough to go to a doctor yet, so don't worry! It's just that feeling even a little bit sick can affect hiking, because it requires so much from your body. We do know that we need to enjoy the hiker size breakfast that comes with our Inn stay in the morning, and take the bus into Rutland to run some errands. Then we'll probably hike a short distance and camp, rather than spend $ on another night at the Inn. The next down stop will be Hanover, in New Hampshire.