Date: 2016-07-30
From: Near Lost Pond Shelter

To: Qu's Whistle Stop Restaurant
Miles today: 17.6

"Things do not change; we change." - Henry David ThoreauDay 141I'm starting to see now why it is so difficult for thru hikers to award AT superlatives. How can one possibly settle on a best section, view, trail magic, or anything else? Much of what makes something extra special depends on other factors such as weather, my attitude, location and intensity of body pain and/or numbness, who I'm with, etc.That being said, Vermont's Green Mountains are among the greenest, healthiest looking, and best smelling forests I've ever been in. It's a special place even though it lacks the grand views you find in the Smokies and elsewhere. Throughout today's hike, the alpine smells reminded me of the many Christmas tree shopping trips I've been on in my life. I grew up in a live Christmas tree family, unlike Janet and her artificial tree family. I enjoyed our family's tradition of picking, transporting, trimming, setting up, watering, and smelling the tree.My dad and I always ended up with sticky sap on our hands and a line of scattered needles running from the car to the living room. I remember my dad under the tree with his butt up in the air, turning the screws that held the tree in place. From my vantage point, he looked more like a plumber than an Air Force officer. Then we'd spin it to hide the bad side and then we'd hang the lights. Once the lights were operational and the tree watered, we'd turn it over to my mom and sisters to decorate it. Invariably, one of the ladies would say the tree was leaning, and Dad would go back under, with his butt up in the air, and strategically place pieces of cardboard under the appropriate tree stand legs to fix the problem. It was a sticky, time-consuming and wonderfully messy process, one that artificial tree families sadly miss out on. Those were good times and I'm happy that Janet agreed on us being a live Christmas tree family and continuing that tradition.Vermont's Green Mountains are full of perfectly looking and smelling Christmas trees. On today's hike, they were complemented by a series of rock cairn gardens that have been accurately described as a scene from the Candyland game. Over the years, hikers have added their own cairns, sometimes with a purpose in mind and sometimes not. I decided to build a small cairn in honor of Harrison and Hayley Waldron. Harrison sustained a serious traumatic brain injury in a 4-wheeling accident and has spent more than a year courageously recovering from it. Hayley has been by his side throughout the process, supporting him and keeping the faith. I have been greatly encouraged and inspired by their example as I deal with my own, much lesser challenges on the trail. So I built a rock cairn in their honor and prayed for them before hiking on.At mile 1676.8, VT 140, I arrived at some Trail Magic courtesy of the Green Mountain Club! These trail maintainers had an assortment of things to choose from, and I helped myself to two hot dogs, two brownies, and two Gatorades. After resting for 30 minutes and thanking them, I hiked up another Bear Mountain. On the way, I stopped and talked to a group of Philly teens and chaperones out on a section hike. They, like many others, are now aware that my son once pooped on the trail.The last mile of the day offered great views of the Rutland Airport and the Clarendon Gorge. The suspension bridge over the Gorge was just high and wobbly enough to make my privates tingle. Just beyond the bridge I headed half a mile down VT 103 to Qu's Whistle Stop Restaurant. In addition to great food and breakfast served all day, Qu's allows hikers to camp in the backyard of the restaurant. I met and sat with another AT hiker named Tough Love from North Carolina. He got his trail name while hiking with an M.I.T. graduate and another guy. The M.I.T. graduate was complaining about how tough it is being as smart as he is. Tough Love responded that rather than worrying about being too smart, he should focus on using his brains to better society. The third hiker, just behind them, commented, "That's some tough love right there," and the name stuck.Sitting at the table next to us was Hollis Squier, the Official Town Hugger of Tinmouth, Vermont. Yes, this man's primary purpose is to give hugs to people who need them. He even has business cards. Some time ago a newspaper ran a story on him and it was read by a woman who was seriously ill and in need of a hug. Mr. Squier drove 90 minutes to meet her and her husband and give the lady a hug. After 1683 miles of hiking, Tough Love and I decided that we too could use a hug, and Mr. Squier obliged and also gave us his business card. If you're ever in Vermont and need a hug, give this guy a call.I tented that night with Tough Love and a few others in the soft lawn behind Qu's restaurant. I was warm, dry, full and had been recently hugged. At this stage of my long journey, that's about all a hiker can ask for.Fob