Date: 2003-07-27
From: Minerva Hinchey Shelter

To: Cooper Lodge 
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: light rain

Strange weather today. Well, nothing I haven't seen before, but I guess I forgot how it was. Last night, or early this morning, I woke with a start. I thought I heard a few raindrops, and at that moment, I remembered I'd left my shoes and socks on the ground just outside the shelter, and rain, especially with wind, would soak them both. I got up (I think it was 4-ish), used the woods, and brought my shoes in as I crawled back into my sleeping bag. After that, I heard no more raindrops.There was a lot of commotion starting around 5 this morning, and continuing until I got up at 7:15. When I got up, I couldn't believe it was that late. Well, not that 7:15 is late for me to get up, but it was so dark outside, that I was sure it was before 6am.Hotdog and I packed up and were on the trail shortly after 8. We had a morning destination: breakfast at Whistle Stop; then on to a store for resupply. The 2.7mi to VT103 went quickly, but I was bothered by a slight strain in my upper calf/lower knee. I kept stretching it, just to make sure I didn't end up pulling it. At the road, we headed west the half mile to the restaurant. New Zealander and Matt were headed back to the trail after their resupply, and Nuke and Mylo were at the restaurant eating already. As we sat there, having breakfast (1 egg, 1 pancake, 1 french toast, 1 bacon, 1 sausage), other hikers showed up. We finished breakfast and walked the half mile farther to the store. It was small, and higher priced than grocery stores, but I guess I pay for convenience. The lady working there was very pleasant, and let me fill my water bottle there.We debated on trying to hitch back to the trail, but thought the guides were wrong, and we probably had less than a mile back to the trail. We walked. North of VT103, the trail was quite steep, and I was stepping over and on wet, moss-covered rocks as I climbed up. I made it, finally, and we took a break at a shelter 1mi north of the road. There was a dog at the shelter, and some hiker belongings, and the dog was quite anxious for it's owner to return. Hopefully, we were good enough temporary substitutes. As we left, the dog followed us, and we had to yell at it to stay there. It watched us from the blue-blazed trail, but didn't follow. I wondered where the owner was, and why they left their dog, sleeping bag, and shoes at the shelter. Not for me to know I guess.We took a break at a stream where someone left some Magical soda! They come out every day and put sodas in a fenced area in the stream. Thank you, Gnome! Perfect place to get some water, rest aching feet, and have a snack. Before long, there were a total of 7 of us NOBOs. But, we eventually moved on.Not long after, we passed the 500-to-go mark. Yippee! Still a long way to go, but every milestone means a great deal. I am still anxious to get to the Whites, and the awesome views they will bring. If the weather is nice anyway. At this shelter, near the top of Killington, the wind is blowing like mad, and pushing the fog around like it's smoke. It is very cool to see, and even though this shelter is enclosed, there are no windows. Well, there are windows, but no glass or shutters or anything, so the fog comes rolling in when the wind tells it to. It is really quite awesome, and hiking up here was very cool too, listening to the wind howling through the trees. It was not raining today, not more than a drop or two anyway, but the trees would rain on me when the wind blew. Combine that with all the sweating I did, and my shirt and half my shorts was soaked when I got here. Lucky for me, there were still a few bunk spaces available, as I didn't want to tent in this w! ind, and definitely didn't feel like going farther.The new shoes are doing pretty good, but I should've kept my Sof Soles for some extra cushion. I feel like there is no cushion in the shoes at all, and my left foot is quite sore. I don't have any blisters though, so that is a good thing. When I get to Hanover in a few days, I'll try to find something to protect my tender feet. I've been feeling pretty good lately, until the slight muscle strain today and the sore feet. I feel like I am getting back in shape, and have no fears or reservations about heading to the "real" mountains of NH and Maine. I am ready to take them on!Hotdog and I are facing another maildrop quandry. At our current pace, or projected pace, we will reach Glencliff, NH late on Saturday or early Sunday. We worked out a tentative schedule that would get us to the Post Office around midday Saturday, and leave us with about an hour, just in case we needed to mail stuff home or ahead from there. I don't know if we will stick to it or not. Sometimes, I don't mind pushing. I like to test myself. But other times, I want to take it easy. Times when, say... my feet hurt. I argue with myself as to what I should do. I like putting in the miles, and am constantly figuring and re-figuring my approximate Katahdin summit date. Part of me wants to be done before the wedding, Labor Day weekend, but I think the smarter part of me will just let the miles fall as they will. I won't push just to try to finish by early September, but if the terrain, and body, allow it, I wouldn't be disappointed if that happened. A NOBO I know decide! d last night that he was giving himself 6 weeks from today to finish. He said he'd be buying his plane ticket very soon. I think that's crazy, but to each his own. I guess if I were flying home, I'd want to buy a ticket as soon as possible to try to get the best fare, but I can't see putting the pressure of a deadline on my hike. I don't know how I will get home, but have plenty of time to worry about it, and depending on finish date, I might have family up there anyway, after the wedding.There are a lot of things to consider, and I know I shouldn't worry about them. Things will work out for the best. I will just do what I can to get there safely. I wish I didn't always want to push myself. I'm learning, trying to listen to my body, and my heart, and do what I want out here. It is more difficult, since I'm hiking with Hotdog, but I think we have similar philosophies about this hike so that it's not too bad. I don't feel I've compromised my desires and goals out here by hiking with him, and hope he hasn't either. After all, 'hike your own hike' is the way to do it. I am just happy that I am still on the trail, headed north. How fortunate am I?