Date: 2018-11-08
From: Upper Cold River Road 

To: Vermont route 100
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

I had planned another 20 miler for today, but changed my mind during breakfast. Instead I chose to leapfrog and get a high elevation climb done during today¢s good weather. The next two days are predicted to be cold and rainy. That means icy and snowy up high.  Papa Big Swig dropped me off at my starting point a little late. It was after 8 am. I had not planned on taking Seylor either but she hopped out ready to go, so that changed as well. She flipped her head and pranced like a baby doe when she realized she gets to hike! She and I started out with a little creek crossing. The creek twisted around the trail in such a way that we crossed it again. Over the course of the next mile it grew to be bigger, and soon I had that lovely sound of rushing water that I enjoy so much.  I was about to start a small descent when Seylor stopped in her tracks. There was a hiker coming up the hill with a full pack on. I asked if he was a thruhiker and he said yes. It took us a minute to realize he¢s thruhiking the Long Trail not the A.T.  There¢s a brief section where the Long Trail and the A.T. are one and the same. We exchanged information about what¢s coming up for each other, then said our ¢Happy Trails¢ and continued on our way. I hiked to Governor Clement Shelter. It was right on trail so I took a minute there to drop pack. It was a nice shelter made of stone with a fireplace built right in. I took advantage of the privy which was also a nice one. As far privies go anyway. The trail went beside and behind the shelter where there was a ¢dog danger¢ sign. Apparently this area is over populated with porcupines. Sure enough Seylor sniffed one out! Thankfully no harm came to either animal. Seylor and I started going UP. We went Up for a little more than 3 miles to Mount Killington elevation 4235ft. At around 3200ft there was frost on the ground. For a very brief moment it snowed. I wasn¢t fast enough to even get a picture. Nearing lunchtime I found myself at Cooper Lodge. This shelter is the highest shelter in the state of Vermont. It¢s also the most dilapidated shelter I¢ve seen on the entire A.T. Nonetheless Seylor and I went inside for lunch. There was a good picnic table in there, and at least we were out of the elements. While there I made the executive decision to extend my hiking plans from 12 miles to 15 miles today. This will make tomorrow¢s hike only 19 miles instead of 23 miles. So I left out of there with a little pep in my step. I was moving along quickly when my foot caught a tree root and down went McGinney. It was a hard jolt on my already aching left hip and knee, but I shook it off and kept my quick pace. I really wanted to be off trail before dark. The trail had a lot of rocks and roots. I did some bouldering but not much. There were several trees down in this area. Many of them fell across the trail. I watched Seylor leap up like a gazelle over one with some pretty high branches. I was impressed! I had been making such good time that I was surprised to hear cars coming by on the road that was to have been my first pick-up location. I was just a few yards away. I called Seylor to come back so I could get her leash before we hit the road. At the same time I took a hurried step on the board I was using to cross a bog. I went down so fast. AND so hard! My left knee took the brunt of it. I was in pain. I laid there for a couple of minutes with tears in my eyes. This was not good.  After a few minutes I was able to get up and eventually walk. I have no idea why I felt the need to rush. She¢s such a good listener and always listens the first time. As a matter of fact she came over and sat by me until I was able to get up. I pulled myself together for the last 3.3 miles of my hike. There was a bit of up then all down. Little ice pellets started to fall as I began my descent . I guess technically it was hailing. They were so tiny that they looked like dandruff on my black shirt. I had to laugh as I was having a Lieutenant Dan moment. ¢You call this hail¢!?! The hail stopped before I reached the bottom. Seylor and I popped out at a campground which is now closed. I leashed her up and we walked to the road where Papa Big Swig was waiting. I¢m planning to fill in my 20 mile Gap tomorrow if my body lets me. My left knee is quite swollen at the moment. It¢s actually double the size of my right. Saying a prayer. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?