Date: 2010-07-07
From: Clements Shelter

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 9.6

Today is the big day! I woke up around 4:30am as the sun was just peaking through (yes, the sun really rises that early up here). I made the coffee and oatmeal and started packing things up while Hobo slept in. We were on the trail before 7am today anticipating an all day climb. Mount Killington is a 4000+ foot ski mountain. We were told that it is the most popular ski destination in the state of Vermont. We had over 3000 feet to climb on the non-ski side to get from our starting point to the mountains peak. We literally ascended 4 miles which took all of 4 hours. It was a beautiful hike but the continuous climb got a little tough at times.We were the first hikers of the day to get to the mountain although while we were looking around at the shelter, another through-hiker climbed up the summit trail before us. That's OK, he got to get all the spider-webs that were created the night before.The 0.2 mile summit trail is not part of the 'official' AT hike but it didn't seem right to get that far and not go to the top. Hobo told me to stash my pack in the woods and not carry it up to the summit but I told him I needed to be able to do this or I probably wouldn't be able to make it through the White Moutnains in New Hampshire. So, off we went climbing hand-over-hand up the mountain's summit trail. What a view we were blessed with when we got to the top!!! We heard noises at the top of the mountain so we followed some trails to the other side of the summit to find a gondola running. We were greeted by the attendant and told that hikers ride free. COOL! We jumped in and enjoyed the ride down.At the bottom we found out that the local shuttle bus ran from the moutain into the town of Killington. We hopped on and found a deli to eat at. Back to the gondola, up to the top and back down the summit trail to the AT. What a glorious day.We filled our water bottles with really cold, spring water from the top of the mountain (after we drank all we could) and started the 2000+ foot descent to Inn at the Long Trail.This Inn is actually located on the original Long Trail route. This is where the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail split. We will head east and the LT friends we have met along this journey will be heading north to Canada.The trail has been rerouted so we had a mile hike on the highway to get there. Again, we were given a ride by a local gentleman who had hiked part of the trail with his son. It was 8:30pm when we arrived and the grill closed at 9. We got our key, went up the 3 flights of stairs to our room and got a quick shower. The owner kept the grill open a little late for us and we enjoyed a good hamburger and some "Long Trail Ale". The Inn at the Long Trail is famil owned and has been around for a long time. The family is from Ireland (2 generations back) so they have an Irish pub and resturant in the Inn. We will get to be entertained on Friday night with live Irish music in the pub. It is a really cute building and will be a great place to rest up for a couple of days and resupply for our final stretch of Vermont. We will be in our 3rd state (New Hampshire) by the end of next week.Next updates will be from Hanover, NH so be looking for them. Please sign our guest book so we know who is following our adventure.Another night in paradise...(in a hotel without an air conditioner?)Happy Trails,ATeam