Date: 2003-07-23
From: Story Spring Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT.
Miles today: 21.1
Weather: light rain

Well, I don¢t really remember what I did today (I¢m journaling 48 hours later), but I remember pain and fatigue. We had an 8:30 start from the shelter in mud, wet rocks, roots and dripping trees. Yes, there was rain again over night¢¦ Part of the day we spent slipping, sliding, tripping, and stumbling through mud. It really takes a lot out of you, muscles get strained and tired faster. Next we climbed Stratton mountain. I wish all the mountains were like this, a good workout, but not as hard as we expected. But the day was young, I¢d be tired later. Today was the first time, that I was both soaking wet, and cold. The climb up Stratton mountain really worked up a sweat, and the top was very overcast and windy. Bree, Wench & I stopped on top and ate a quick lunch, then started hiking again to get warm. On our way down, we met an AT southbounder, jogging up the mountain (¢the creature¢ ws his trail name). We talked to him for a minute, then he took off up the mountain at a run (with a full pack on). We all just stared (he stopped running when he thought he was out of sight¢¦ he wasn¢t), then continued on to Stratton Pond. Even though it was an overcast day, the pond was beautiful and we just had to take a break & relax next to it. As we did, a guy paddled up in an inflatable kayak. He was out for the day and carried it here in his pack. Nice way to spend a day, paddling around the pond. Our original plan for the day was the William B Douglas shelter, but it is 12 mile off the trail, so we decided to go to the Spruce Peak shelter (around a 19 mile day). Fatigue was really hitting me early today, because of the climbs and the mud, so I had to take breaks as often as possible (and eat lots of snacks). One hour after a snack, I would start to stumble, so I had to be careful (it only takes one fall to end a trip). As we were getting close to our shelter, we saw a group of young kids resting on the trail. We asked where they were headed and they said they were going to the same shelter that we were. Hmmmmmm¢¦. Suddenly our little group of 3 had a meeting. On to the shelter, or on to route 11/30 and Manchester Center. Hmm¢¦. Town it was, with the stipulation that I was mentally willing, but my body may not be able to deliver, I felt especially fatigued today. Looking back, I may not have made the same decision, the days hike really pushed me too far and effected my coordination and decision making. I fell twice in the last mile (an over 20 mile day). The first fall was a slide on mud and roots, and I fell back on my pack and my butt. The second fall, could have been really bad, I walked right into a potentially dangerous situation with no thought what so ever. My mind had stopped evaluating the terrain me, I was just walking blindly into things (fatigue is dangerous). I walked up to a stream crossing with wet, mossy, slanted rocks and never slowed or broke my stride, I just stepped, slid, and fell on the rocks. I was lucky, the pack and my hip took the brunt of the fall (the pack is fine, but my hip is bruised). It was a scary fall, I was very lucky (no bones broken). The rest of the hike to the road was uneventful (my brain was so fried, all I remember is a lot of stumbling, and tripping, but no falls). We got to the road and we saw ¢Tubaman¢ and his dog there and said hi (he hiked the AT with a Tuba a couple years back), then we hitched towards Manchester Center for a hotel & food. My ¢Hiker to town¢ sign worked flawlessly, but our luck ended there. All hotels were full, because of a horse show in town. We got dropped off outside of town by the Avalanche Hotel (and a few others), but no rooms there (and we called all the others in the guide books), so we hitched all the way into town to eat (we were starved). We found more hikers in town, looking for a place to stay (Bree went with them), we talked a bit, then Wench & I went to the local ¢Friendly¢s Restaurant¢ to eat (I really needed a burger, fries and an ice cream to think). It¢s amazing that restaurants serve us without batting an eye (or a nose), as bad as we smell. I must have missed this, while I was in the restroom, Wench met some people in the restaurant. Their grandson had dropped a crayon & Wench picked it up & started talking to them. Later, after we finished our dinner and were waiting for our ice cream, Wench went over to talk with them. We had called all the hotels we knew about, and were hoping that they would know about more we could try to get a room at. They knew of another one we could try, and said they would drive us by there to check it out. Then they said, that if there were no rooms available, we cold stay with them that night. Wow! The people we meet along the trail, never cease to amaze me. Trail angels are all around us. After another minute of talking, they said forget the hotel, why don¢t we just come to their house & stay. Lynn and Dave, you don¢t know how much that meant to us. It had been a long, tiring, painful, disappointing day, and you turned it around in a moment, Thank You! After polishing off every drop of our ice cream, we went outside & got in their van. They introduced themselves, and made us feel at home, talking to us all the way to their house. They explained that their son and daughter in law were also at the house, but they had plenty of room (all we need is a piece of floor). But they said the kids were going to wonder who we brought home (and why¢¦). It was pretty funny, the puzzled looks David and Sundi had on their faces when Wench and I got out of the van. They were very nice, and we were soon showered and our laundry was being done and I was sitting with a drink to relax me (wearing a nice robe). What a long day, and what a great end to it. When we are done with the trail, we will have fun passing on all the kindness people showed to us while we were hiking (but why wait? Start now!). The rest of the night was conversation and relaxing. Laundry done, and off to sleep. Tomorrow was aa zero day, we planned to call around for a hotel, then run errands in town (fix my hiking pole tips, Wench needs a new shirt & boots, and we need lots of food and ice cream in us. Life is good!