Date: 2005-08-08
From: Back Home Again Hostel (Rutland, VT)

To: Back Home Again Hostel (Rutland, VT)
Miles today: 0.0

7:43am - 500 milesBoy, did it get cold on Sunday night. I actually had to wear my fleece pullover around camp in the morning. Perhaps that was my motivation to get going - I was hiking by quarter till seven, even after figuring in my quick detour to check the nearby trail magic cooler (still empty).About a half mile later I came across a note under a rock just before a minor road crossing explaining the directions to the secret shelter. I guess that explains why I couldn't find it last night. I'd been told the wrong road. Oh well. I enjoyed my night in the woods.I didn't stop as I passed Governor Clement shelter. I saw a fresh pile of beer cans and two guys sleeping in their trucks, one of which was technically parked on the trail. There's a reason why the GMC doesn't recommend hikers staying overnight. Any shelter that can be driven to is ripe for abusive situations. I made sure to "accidentally" bump one of the trucks with my trekking pole as I passed by to show my appreciation for him blocking the trail's exit from the woods.Just after nine I reached a side trail leading to the top of Killington. I took it, bringing my pack with me. If I had to do it again I'd leave the pack behind. The view from up top was spectacular, but it was an extremely steep rock scramble the whole way up. I explored the peak and found the restaurant. The guide book describes it as having prices to match the altitude so I didn't bother buying a snack. I did linger for a bit, people watching. Unlike Bromley, the Killington ski resort's lift operates in the summer, bringing sightseers and mountain bikers to the top.On the way down I watched the all-fir-and-spruce forest turn to an all-beech forest before gradually expanding to include maples, oaks, and others. Only the ever present ferns remained the same. I had a brief lunch at the Churchill Scott Shelter and then found myself at the trailhead. It took maybe fifteen minutes to get a hitch from an older couple, the gentleman of which is section hiking the Long Trail. They provided me with door side delivery to the Back Home Again Cafe.The Cafe is run by a Twelve Tribes Community, a sort of Christian commune striving to live in the sort of tight-knit community favored by early Christians. I may be making them sound to be a bit of a cult, but after spending some time with them I assure you they come across as anything but. They're extremely into organic foods and their cafe reflects this persuasion. Last year they opened a hiker hostel upstairs. It's fairly basic - shower and bunkhouse - but very nice. They're also in the midst of a bit of construction to add a common area for hikers, a laundry facility, and an outfitter's store. Next summer, this is going to be the hot hostel to hit. Excellent facilities run by some of the friendliest people you've ever met, with an exquisite cafe with outstanding organic food, teas, and smoothies - how can one go wrong?After doing my laundry nearby I ran into the other hikers staying here - Moose Charmer, Thunder (another one), and Superfeet. My name apparently was a bit familiar to Superfeet - apparently his Mom has occasionally read my journal. He and Moose Charmer are southbounders and Thunder is another northbounder. Anyway, the four of us walked to a nearby movie theater and watched The Wedding Crashers. It won't win any prizes for unpredictability but it was consistently funny throughout.Afterwards we had dinner at the cafe. I had a fantastic chicken wrap complemented by a mate. Note to self - look into these things afterwards at matefactory.com Then came grocery shopping, followed by food bag packing, and then a trip back downstairs to hang out in the cafe and help out a bit with their closing by sweeping the floors. We sat around talking with some community members for an hour or two sipping on cold teas and mates. The evening ended with a quick tour of the bakery where they showed off an extremely impressive number of loaves of bread - primarily made from spelt flour - baked that day We sampled a defective raisin loaf, which was pretty darned tasty. It was then bed time for the hikers but their night was just beginning. The loaves needed packaging before the 3am distribution truck came by.