Date: 2013-08-22
From: Little Rock Pond, VT

To: Stealth at view to Rutland Airport, VT
Miles today: 11.8

The morning was so lovely and peaceful that I decided to take the morning off to journal and read. In Psalm 18, these words stood out: "The God who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect; who makes my feet like those of a doe and causes me to stand on the heights...Thou has enlarged my steps under me, my feet have not slipped" (v 32-33, 36). Lately my feet have been slipping and fatigue is overtaking me. I am so tired, almost all the time. I seem to feel the need to eat almost constantly (okay, not quite). When I told this to another hiker I met yesterday named Blackhawk, he said, "If we told anyone that we were going to put a 30lb pack on our backs and hike a half-marathon up and over mountains everyday for months on end, they would say we're crazy! And perhaps we are." He thinks most of us are in chronic fatigue. It wouldn't surprise me. 1700 miles could do that to you. I am trying to figure out how to maintain my energy in this last, very difficult, 500+ mile section. But even in my fatigue, I am reminded that it is God who makes it possible for me to climb these mountains, to walk all these miles. I know that God has brought me this far--and that it is because of him that I am here. I left at noon and still managed to get 12 miles in, not bad! The trail was stunning in places today, especially in the red pine forests where hemlocks were growing underneath. Twice I came across the most amazing rock cairn formations. The first time was cool enough but the second time my jaw dropped! I could not believe there were SO MANY CAIRNS! I don't know, perhaps there were even 100 total? Cairns everywhere, in trees, along ledges of bigger boulders, balanced over other cairns. Big cairns. Little cairns. It was magical. As I was standing there, marveling at the sight before me, two SOBOs wearing matching cycling t-shirts came by. We stopped to exchange greetings and comment on the cairns, and at the end, one of the guys said, "Hey, when this is all over do you want to move home to Arizona with me?" (Seriously?! why are all these guys hitting on me out here but this *never* happens at home?! I'm blaming it on my tan.) I was shocked but without skipping a beat I said, "No thanks, I don't like heat--I'm from Minnesota!" which was not exactly the first thing that came to mind but was completely true! I walked past Minerva Hinchey shelter and then realized that I needed water so I went back. Good thing I did. I met a young couple who was just sitting there hanging out. They had brought homemade mac-n-cheese, made with Cabot cheddar from VT! It was still warm. I could not believe it. What wonderful trail magic! I ate a lot, but I was hungry and no one else was there, so why not? It was the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. My energy and motivation had been pretty low all day. I knew I needed to make some miles, but when I felt a few sprinkles and actually saw rain coming as I looked out over Rutland Airport, I quickly found a stealth spot and put up my tent just before it really started to rain. It was only 7pm but I was tired so I went to bed, thankful that I didn't have to worry about dinner that night!