Date: 2014-08-02
From: Clarendon shelter

To: The Inn at Long Trail
Miles today: 16.4

In which I got an unexpected shower and great meal.My mattress actually stayed inflated last! It's a miracle. That's a first in a long time and I enjoyed! I did not enjoy the fact that the mice feasted on my food bag again. Those little buggers now ate my oreos. That means war! Don't mess with my chocolate! Add insult to injury and now I have to pack them out and carry them to the next garbage can. I was really looking forward to eating them too.Today was the big climb up and over Killington then Pico mountains. It started great with trail magic of sodas in a stream right after the shelter. It's never too early to have a grape Fanta soda! I haven't had one of them since I was a kid. It was delicious and I sucked it down. Then I grabbed a few smarties to keep me powered up climbing Killington. Just before the real climb after a road walk detour there was another cooler with trail magic. This time I was treated to a pepsi, caffeine to likewise assist my climb.I was really looking forward to a view or two today but that was not to be. It was another long climb up, not difficult just long. The mountain side was beautiful at the top, coniferous forest with beautiful streams and pine needle floors and lovely aromas. Once again it was deafeningly quiet. I didn't see anyone during the climb up the mountain, just me and an occasional bird. I got a peek-a-view of Killington's summit at a few points although I didn't know that was it at the time. I made it to Cooper Lodge shelter for a snack and feet break and didn't realize I breezed right by the 0.2 mile side trail to the summit of Killington. Then I continued down Killington to Pico which also offered no view. The Viking and Mechanic passed by at one point. They were headed to The Inn at Long Trail when they finished their slack pack. I wasn't planning on staying there but briefly considered it when I came to Sherburne pass and a side trail down. It was early still, around 1630, and I planned on hiking on a little further near RT. 4. I made it to the next shelter just behind Stone who's hiking the LT. The shelter was a few tenths of a mile down a path (I went to check it out). No one was there, it was a little creepy and dark. My gut was telling "no don't stay here". So I made the decision to hike on. Onward to stealth somewhere before the road. Stone was going to hammock somewhere.On a whim I checked my phone and actually had a signal. I called the Inn at Long trail to see if they had any rooms seeing how it was the weekend. They had one left. If I hurried and hiked in I could get the hiker rate. So I put the after burners and practically ran again. My back up plan was to camp across the street if they booked the room. So it was a win-win situation. I told Stone that's where I was headed and passed him by. I came to the road and began the 0.8 mile hike up the road. I didn't even think to hitch. Meanwhile, Stone came out of the woods and got a hitch to the Inn. I saw a person with an orange shirt headed in to the lodge. Oh no, they're getting the last room. It was Stone. He beat me there after hitching. We ended up splitting the room and life is all good tonight.Irish music was playing in the pub and the food was fantastic! I even did laundry and took a great shower. Never did I expect any of this from the start of this day. What a delightful treat. The unfortunate thing however is that my toe is blown up like a sausage again, terribly sore and red. This is NOT good. I'm not liking this one single bit. Time to go put the foot up and pray for rapid, over night healing.