Date: 2008-07-03
From: Stealth site .1 past Sherman Brook Campsite, MA

To: Stealth site 1 mile past Congdon Shelter, VT
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: few clouds

Long nite's sleep, but not without a bad dream where I was being held by some man with a box knife razor blade @ my throat. Seriously..where does this crap come from? I slept past my second alarm, so I got a late start @ 7:52 a.m. It was 71 degrees and overcast.I knew I was only a few miles from Vermont, so that was exciting. First climb of the day was up to Elph's Lookout, and it was a total boulder field all the way up. I never really saw a lookout either, or a sign for one.Today was a cool, overcast, sometimes breezy day. Almost didn't feel like July. Finally a bit past 9:00 a.m., I saw the sign welcoming me to the Green Mountains! VERMONT!! 11 DOWN, 3 TO GO!! (take note you mid-atlantic states with no sign welcoming us! LOL).I took a pic and then hiked on. I've heard Vermont referred to as Vermud and Vermuck, and both are applicable. A lot of today was spent hopping from rock to root to rock, just trying to avoid stepping in the someties 6-8" deep thick black mud. It's not like this 100% of the time, but there are patches or long stretches of it. Pretty nasty stuff.Around 11 a.m., I ran into 2 hikers who are out for a month. It's day 2 and the guy's boot is already falling apart. They were by a slowly running spring that had something I've not seen before. Spring boxes, which are just these wooden boxes with a lid, built over a portion of the water so you can try to get a cleaner sample of water..less debris. Interesting.I moved on and around noon, I met 2 more section hikers, Eldon ad his wife Lizard, from TN. They were hilarious ad pretty cool. Only been married for 2 months. We chatted for a bit, they're going from Delaware Water Gap to Mt. Washington.Shortly after I reached a point were powerlines were running, so there's always a view. I sat on some rocks and ate lunch and looked at the grey sky. It's not registering anymore that I'm this far north...in Vermont. I've never been in this state before.I finally headed on, and will admit, I ate more food today than most, and felt much more energetic. Guess that's a big hint from my body.It sprinkled lightly this afternoon, but nothing major. I got up and over Consulation Peak and then hiked down to Sucker Pond. Ever since CT, there have been a lot more ponds out here. This one was surrounded by a green field, so was just hoping to see a moose or something, but no such luck.So there are all sorts of ways we long distance hikers keep it interesting out here. Some people (like Karen) count the # of footsteps it takes to complete 1 mile, and as of the past 2 days, I've been looking for the coolest place to pee. Yup..you read that correctly..pee. See, there's always just the random trail-side tree, but what I have been enjoying is peeing over a rock ledge or cliff. I know you all must think I'm off my rocker..and that's partially true, but it mixes up the chore a bit. If this borderlines on TMI, sorry, just trying to keep it real as always. It makes me laugh, that's for sure.Ok, so the trail eventually goes past this other pond, but it's a little scary because the pond level is REALLY high and the trail is below the levy, so if that levy broke, the trail (which is actually a boardwalk here) would be overtaken in seconds. It was a little creepy and some of the boards were partially sunken, and when I went to catch my balance w\my hiking pole, the water even where I was, was deep. I got through there as fast as possible.The trail eventually follows a beautiful river, through pine forests. It was about 3:30 p.m. and it was so dark, I almost needed my headlamp. I actually thought my clock was wrong it was so dark. I soon foud out why..in moments, it started downpouring. I stopped, got my rainjacket and put my pack cover on. Man was it raining. I knew the shelter should be close, and when I came aroud the next curve, there it was. I missed getting there before the rain by like 3 minutes.I did get to the Congdon Shelter and Eldon and Lizard were there for the nite. It absolutely downpoured, so I decided to make an early dinner. I did, and a 4th guy, Greg; showed up.Finally about 5:22 p.m. the rain let up so I decided to go a bit further. I only ended up going 1 mile to the top of the next hill, because I actually had cell service there (T-Mobile sucks in New England!), and I hadn't talked to Karen for 2 days.There was also a side trail that had a good place to hang, so I set up camp in misty, foggy, wet and cold weather. 2 overnite hikers went by and asked me how far to the campground, so I told them 1 mile.I was glad to be in dry clothes and my sleeping bag. The rain and dampness really cool it off. Pretty exhausted, so I'm passing out now.~Certain