Date: 2003-07-09
From: Lost Pond Shelter (2230') 

To: VT140, Wallington Gulf Road (1680') 
Miles today: 11.3

Aloha! Oh my what a day this has been. I seem to have misjudged yesterday when I said it was going to be another great day today. This one pretty much sucks. It's a rather long story so I'll try to give you the abridged version if that's okay. Bear with me as I get through it.   First and foremost, believe it or not but I'm sitting back at The Walking Stomach's house in CT. Yes, you read that right, CT. A long way from VT140. Something like 5 hours worth of driving. Let me tell you about the day from the start and we'll get to my being here.   At about the 1.5-mile mark this morning it began to rain. Rain? Where the heck did that come from? Rain it did, up until about 1100a when it felt like it was raining but really was only coming off the tree branches. Rain, haven't seen/felt that in quite some time. Hate to say it but I kind of like it - limited bugs!   For the most part, I really do enjoy Vermont. I love the terrain, the pines, the rambling country walks, the big rock climbs to the vistas and peaks, and the glacial ponds and lakes. I even enjoy the green tunnel effect most of the time. I will still say that if they'd banish the biting bugs, this would be my state. It's gorgeous, exciting and serene all at the same time. It's just a pity that the winter temps drop below 70 degrees. {sigh}   Besides my initial descent starting off this morning, the trail slowly gained altitude over the next eight miles. The trail meandered alongside the Little Rock Pond with some super looking tenting areas, crossed Homer Stone Brook, climbed to the peak of White Rocks Mountain, and then dipped and climbed to White Rocks Cliff where I didn't bother to hike out for the rainy and foggy view. With a few minor downs thrown in now and then it made for a lovely walk - rain or no rain.   While at White Rocks Cliff two things happened. The first involved the trail itself. Out in the middle of nowhere, at the entrance to the Cliffs vista trail are hundreds of rock sculptures. In a very tight and compact area people (?) have created numerous Cairns, monuments, tables, and even an engineered gravity driven arch. It's fascinating; and a little eerie to walk up on in Alfred Hitchcock fog. Strange and cool.   While there several other hikers caught up to me. (Not a hard thing to do.) Rocky and Skeeter (aka the Colorado Keifers), Truck and his dog Yellow Chief, and another new-to-me Long Trail hiker named Moondog. You could see the devilish glint in their eyes - they HAD to add their own artwork to the canvas. I left all but one looking for new stones.   As I continued on it was but a moment later that I came upon a note duct taped (gotta love that stuff) to a tree addressed to me. Paraphrasing, the note asked that I continue on to VT140. It seems The Walking Stomach was there waiting for me and it was important that I see her. Huh? The CT Ridge Runner was in Vermont looking for me? I swear, I didn't steal anything and I'm not illegally camping or setting fires! Needless to say, I continued on vice turning toward a dry shelter for lunch.   Along the way I stopped at Bully Brook for water and a quick snack. All the hikers mentioned earlier joined me shortly thereafter, one of which had seen the note. Once everyone found out that there was a ridge runner waiting at the road they decided to join me. With someone waiting at a road equates to a possible car and trip to a restaurant in a hiker's mind. Or at the very minimum someone to carry out their trash. I almost felt like the Pied Piper hitting that road.   As I did, Walking was there to meet me. After the introductions all around it took her only a gentle moment to tell me that I needed to take a plane to Texas. For a moment I was confused but only a moment. My mother was not expected to live much longer. I needed to go to Texas... now.           I owe so much to Elaine (Walking) and Char that I don't even know where to begin. It seems that Char called a couple of folks she thought could help her and Elaine was one that had sent phone numbers in case she or Surefoot could help me along the way. Little did she know how much help she would be. After doing a bit of math with a map in hand, she estimated where she thought I may be, took the next day off work, drove five hours one way, hiked a couple of miles UP the trail, left the note, hiked back down, and sat for three hours beside the road. All on a thought that I MAY cross that particular point today. Way past trail angel. From that point she shuttled me to the nearest airport (Rutland, VT) which was unable to get me out, to lunch, back to the trail where I had left my poles (Shooting Star left a note saying that she had them and would leave them at The Inn of the Long Trail), to a store so that I could buy a pair of jeans and blouse for the plane ride to Texas, and finally back to CT for a place to shower, repack, and figure out what to do when. Unbelievable. There are just not enough words to thank her for her kindness. Not nearly enough.   During this time Char contacted the Green Mountain Park Rangers to add additional people on the lookout and figured out the airline portion. Reservations are made for a departure from White Plains, NY (another hour away) where Surefoot will take me in the morning. Again, unbelievable. These are two more people that I owe the world to. One way or another, I will repay each of these three people for all that they have done. One way or another. What an unbelievable group.   So here I am, quite tired but still on pins and needles. None of this really seems real right now. More like a dream than anything else. I keep thinking that at any moment I'm going to roll over, wake up to check that I'm on my pad and watch this dream quickly vanish. Too strange. Way too strange.   I'm sure there is much I'm leaving out but right now I'm too tired to figure out what it might be. So please forgive me if I've left anyone or anything needing a mahalo out. Oh yeah, such as Shooting Star. Mahalo to her for thinking to pick up my poles, leave a note, and carry the extra weight to the Inn. You're another I certainly owe. However will I repay all these folks?   There is one more thing I almost forgot. Before you think that this is the end of my Grand Adventure I want to set the record straight -- no it's not. I will return to VT140 shortly. Right back where I left off. I can't think of a better place for working through something like this than the woods of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. I will be back and soon. Stay with me if you will.   Okay, I really do have to crash now. Early morning tomorrow and I have no doubts that it's going to be a long and weird day. Thank YOU for your patience with this entry. I'll try and keep you posted on the events as they happen. No guarantees but I will try. You have a good evening and go hug and kiss those close to you. Trust me on this one.BSandTs: not yet... comingAandPs: left foot - same-sameMandGs: {sigh}Critter count: don't remember - sorry