Date: 2014-08-25
From: Cooper Lodge Shelter

To: Stony Brook Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

The Long Trail starts at the VT-MA border and runs 270 miles to Canada. The first 105 runs concurrent with the AT for 105 miles to almost Killington. When I arrived at the VT-MA border there were four hikers beginning to thru hike the Long Trail. I was the first AT thru hiker they saw at the border. Two of them--Giggles and Worm hiked the 105 miles to the AT-LT split pretty much in sync with me. Even if we were in a different Shelter, we usually crossed paths every day. Today I reached the Maine Junction, had my morning snack and they showed up. So I was the last AT thru hiker they saw before heading for Canada. (Unless Momma Bear came along after I said good-bye).I felt various emotions at parting, sad that we were going separate ways but happy we ended up at the at the split at the same time so we could tell each other bye. I expressed my gratitude for spending time with them for the last 105 miles and that they had been provided me encouragement to get over the hump and reach the less than 500 mile mark. I made up this song after I left them.Ode to Worm and GigglesOn top of old Pico all covered with spruce;I lost my good friends by looking for moose.For hiking's a pleasure but parting tis a grief;A good-hearted hiker is so hard to leaf.I was reflecting on Glggles' trail name and remembering others I have known who may have been called Giggles. I have one friend who giggles a lot and could call her Giggles. My sister chuckles a lot. I don't think of Wilma, my deceased wife, as giggling a lot but laughing. I would dub her as "She who laughs a lot" which simplifies to Laughing Bear since I am Bear. She has been right here in the trail with me the whole time, so she needs a trail name.I was sitting at the picnic table outside the Deli in Killington, eating lunch and watching people park their cars, come in and go out. I was wondering why some parked around at the end rather than use the closer spaces in front. Suddenly, I had a feeling of having lost my car and not remembering where I parked. Of course, in a second I realized I was walking and my pack was right by my side.A man sitting at the next table over asked me questions about my hike then said "God bless you" and I thanked him and asked for God to bless him too. I am so thankful for all the people praying for me.Last Sunday when climbing Mount Greymore, I had the sensation of someone pushing my pack because it suddenly felt lighter. I even looked around and no one was there. I thought it must have been an angel since no one was visible. All the people who post on Facebook or my journal and offer words of encouragement are like angels giving me a boost through the difficult times. What made me think of this is the next day I checked my Facebook messages and noticed my running buddy David had sent me a message about the time I felt the "lift." The Bible says to encourage one another with words to each other and up lift others in prayers. Usually you can't see it happening but just keep praying and encouraging each other and believe it makes a difference.By way of gear, I had bounced my stove, cooking pot, and bag liner ahead to Killington. This gave me time to think about it and I sent the stove home and kept the bag liner (5 degree) with me. I had a small utility knife I had used once to open a bottle and once to cut a saw-briar stem out from under my tent. I thought the pliers would be useful, but I have never needed them. I have an even smaller Swiss Army knife I keep on a string around my neck. I use it all the time.Tonight at the shelter are two MBA students from Dartmouth college doing a section hike and Twirls whom I first met today when she passed me NOBO.