Date: 2014-07-09
From: little rock pond

To: governor clement shelter
Miles today: 19.4
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up to survey the damage and as i said there were two trees close to my tent that had snapped off. Everything else was ok, just wet. The rain had stopped so at least i could pack my wet stuff up without getting wetter. It was a pretty good hill right from the start but not horribly steep. The trail was through a pine forest with much of the trail being covered with pine needles so it felt like walking on carpet. The trail was also like a river in most spots so my boots were again saturated. When i got over the top i took a side trail to the white rock cliffs. It was a nice view over the valley with big mts in the distance. I sat for a bit with my shoes off hoping they would dry at least a tiny bit. They didnt but it was a nice sit. Down to the valley to cross vt 140 then up bear mt. On the way up i checked another short side trail to a view. I like taking the side trails, sometimes you get a great view. I met a long trailer hanging out sunning on a rock. Then back on the trail i met big mike, he is a local that hikes in the area and likes to visit with the hikers. His son hiked the AT last year and until then he didnt really know about the AT and the community that goes along with it. We had a good talk and he told me about the trail ahead. Just one more nice person i have met along the way. Over bear mt i stopped into the minerva hinchey shelter for a lunch break. I sat by myself for a bit until the LT hiker came by, then two sobo, then a thru hiker with a section hiker. Well, gotta go folks. I headed out. From the shelter it was a long drop to vt 103. On the way down i came across a group of summer camp campers. There was about 8 kids about 10 yrs old with two guides. They must be a handful, mad eme think about the phrase, 'herding squirrels'. They asked a bunch of the normal questions which i was happy to answer. One even had some advice about mt washington. He told me there is a store on top of the mt with great snacks. I told him there was no doubt i would get me some snacks there. Thanks little buddy. At the road cross i got an apple from one of the guys with another group of hikers. They were older kids doing the whole long trail. Then it was up a rock scramblefor a short bit. I was glad it was short cuz it was steep and climby. When i got to the next shelter i heard thunder getting closer. It was too early to stop for the day and i had aboutsix more miles to go so i moved on knowing full well that it wouldnt rain on me. As i clumb up beacon hill the lights went out, thunder was directly above me, and the rains came. What the heck? It didnt rain too long but it didnt have to, it was a soaker. As the rain stopped the sun came out and i crossed a stream with soda in it, happy. I had a root beer and a pack of smarties. The sun was now out so i could make the last 2.5 miles real quick like. Well, not so much. Thats where they are making a new section of trail that is now churned up mud. Its the greasy slimy black kind of mud. Slow going for a while. Finally i got to the shelter and set up my tent as it started to sprinkle again. I hung my clothes hoping they would dry, they couldnt get any wetter. I ate in my tent which seems to be getting musty, nice ambiance. I turned in early since it was sprinkling outside. I got to sleep listening to the river rolling by and the pitter patter of raindrops on my roof. Not so bad when you have a mobile home.