Date: 2016-08-08
From: Goddard Shelter

To: Seth Warner Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: light rain

Entry written on Sept 1st from PA. The temperature cooled down over night and I had a good nights sleep. I forgot to mention that I swapped my 15 degree sleeping bag for a 40 degree bay back at the Yellow Deli Hiker Hostel in Rutland. That was a help along with the cooler night. I don't do well in hot humid weather and have been a little concerned about that coming up to NY and NJ in August. It was actually on the cold side eating breakfast and getting packed up to head out for the day. I left my long pants and shirt on until I was just ready to leave and put my cold sweaty shorts and shirt on at the last minute - burr... I was out walking by 6:30 starting with a pleasant descent for 2 miles of maybe 1000'. Along the way I met Red and Blaze a really happy Nobo couple in there 20's from Virginia. Talked to them for 10-15 minutes, and then met Feather and Sky, a second young couple. It was still cold for a good part of the morning but warmed up as we got into late morning, but still had a nice cool forest that I was walking through on my way up and over Little Pond Mtn followed by Porcupine Lookout. On one of the slight uphill climbs I met Blade (one of the many Nobo hottie's that I've passed) and Scout, her German Shepard dog. We talked for a little while too. I was curious about her name but didn't ask. We talked about trail north and south and then went our separate ways. About 9 miles into the day, I stopped to camel up at a stream just down from Maple Hill and on my way down an 1100' descent to VT 9. Crossing a foot bridge over a stream just before the VT 9 was a Nobo looking ratty and a little desperate. He told me that he have been red flagged (this means that you have been vulgar or rude or drunk at a hiker hostel and they are now shunning you), lost his credit card and was out of food. Wanted to know if I could help him out - my reply "No, sorry I barely have enough to get me to Dalton, my next resupply", but thought, hell no, I'm not going to help out an idiot who doesn't deserve to be a thru hiker. Leaving him behind, I crossed the road and immediately started the climb up Harmon Hill where I stopped for a lunch break. I took the time to divide the lunch food that I had left into equal portions for the days that I had remaining before my next resupply at Dalton, Massachusetts. I wanted to make sure that I didn't leave myself with nothing to eat for lunch on the day I would be going into Dalton. The nuts that I got from Avalon were a big help but didn't completely fill the void and I was still walking hungry. I did eat a Shepard's Meat Pie dinner with my usual oatmeal breakfast today and that kept me going pretty well until lunch. But not that was burned off and I still had 10 miles left to hike today. Along the way I passed a few unmarked beaver ponds (which I love) along with Sucker Pond (which is on my map). Passing Sucker Pond I saw a blue heron, who didn't like me being withing 50' or so and took off flying up the pond as I was standing there taking a few photos. With 4+ miles left in the day I had a 600-700' climb up Consultation Peak and Scrub Hill and was feeling tired and really hungry. I got to Seth Warner Shelter at 5:30 and met Sue there. Sue is a retired medical Dr in her 50's hiking the Long Trail north. Very nice and a good conversationalist. I set up my sleeping pad and bag, walked down .4 miles to the stream for water to camel up, made dinner and ended what was a good day if not a hungry one. Asleep at hiker midnight.