Date: 2022-07-14
From: Clarendon Shelter Mile 1688.6

To: Yellow Deli Mile 1705.3
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: few clouds

Today is the day that we summit Killington Mountain. The AT goes near the summit, just shy of 4000 feet, but we¢re planning to take the blue blaze trail up to the summit which is at about 4250 feet. We¢re then planning to catch the bus into Rutland, and We are hoping to make the 425 or 525 pick up. As a result of a longer day with bigger climbs, Orchid and I plan to get out about 30 minutes earlier than usual and Pilgrim before that.Pilgrim left about 6:15, Orchid got out a little before 645 and I got out about 10 minutes after her. Immediately we started a long steep climb where it felt like my heels didn¢t touch the ground for the entire climb. It¢s definitely a hard way to start the morning when you don¢t even get to warm up on the flats.The last water source before the climb to Killington was a couple of hours from camp and I spent the morning trying, and failing, to catch up to Orchid. Today she actually pulled away and gained on me probably 10 to 15 minutes. The journey there was very nice and there were a lot of streams and brooks as well as a bunch of meadows and farmland. Much of the forest generally looks the same so it¢s nice to get a change of pace.After getting water, we started the 3.3 mile climb up to Killington. While we were in the ¢Alpine zone¢ it was rough walking and there were long steep drop offs, climbing over rocks and rotted out tree stumps, and just generally a hard trail. Definitely had to be sure footed to not go to tumbling off the mountain. Despite the challenges, it was quite a beautiful climb up towards Killington Peak. We saw Grits heading south just before we got to the peak point on the AT. Pilgrim got to the peak just before we did. One of the original shelters on the AT is at the peak but it is definitely in rough shape and needs quite some work both on the inside and the outside. There is a steep 300 foot climb up to the actual summit of Killington Mountain, and Orchid and I left our packs in the shelter and climbed up to the summit. It¢s definitely challenging, rocky terrain and I¢m glad that I was doing it without a pack.At the summit we headed over to the Peak Lodge for some desserty items and flush toilets. It was definitely a little strange being at the summit in non-ski season. There¢s food trucks, mountain bikers, and a little wedding chapel set up at the lodge. It¢s also strange to be around so many day hikers who took the gondola up.  Fortunately it wasn¢t overly crowded at the top. Summer prices at the lodge are pretty much the same as ski season. Pilgrim had started down the mountain ahead of us, and Orchid and I caught him about halfway down. We all finished hiking down the mountain together. We managed to get to the RT 4 parking area just before 4 PM, plenty of time for the 425 bus. The bus was on time and it was easy to flag the bus down and catch it into Rutland.We¢re staying at the Yellow Deli Hostel ( run by the Twelve Tribes spiritual community) which is located right next to the main Rutland bus depot. You can actually see the rear entrance to the Hostel from the bus depot, but you have to walk around to get in the front. We checked into the hostel where the men are on one floor, and the women on the upper floor. There are bunks for 34 men and only two toilets! There are 30 bunks for women and three toilets. After grabbing a shower, we headed out for pizza at a brewery down the street. Pilgrim and I finished our pizza, but Orchid didn¢t so we¢ll have pizza leftovers for the Killington house where we are taking a zero or the trail.Steps 34500Weather Forecast: chance of Tstorms