Date: 2014-08-01
From: Little Rock Pond

To: Clarendon shelter
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

In which I have an awesome birthday.My campsite last night was just awesome, quite the treat! The forest was so quiet again you could literally hear a pin drop. I think through the previous states there was just so much background noise I took for granted from often nearby towns and roads the forest in Vermont just seems so strangely quiet and I savor that. It's very haunting yet serene at the same time. I woke up to the wood thrush singing at 0200 this morning then dozed back off until the red squirrels began chattering at day break.Since today is my birthday I had a leisurely morning. I made myself a cup of coffee, grabbed a clif bar and sat on a log by the lake to enjoy the view and my breakfast. What a great way to start the day. The steam was rising off the lake, the waves gently lapping the shore and the newts were swimming along the shore line. Their color in the water phase was brown while still retaining their bright orange spots. This was such a peaceful place and I look forward to more lakeside camping to come.I finally packed up and hiked fast to the road crossing in Clarendon making good time. I briefly paused for a break on top of the mountain leading down into the gorge. There were two lawn chairs set up on the rocks providing a great view of the airport in Rutland. I joined Duf and we talked briefly. On the way down the mountain there was trail magic! Awesome. The grape juice hit the spot and powered me on to the gorge where I intended on soaking my feet before coming to the road.As I was approaching the suspension bridge and the gorge I see people on the brigde gazing down. I knew my parents were meeting me there with a food drop but there was my aunt and uncle also. So cool. We all greeted each other, admired the gorge, I stripped off my shoes that were killing me and we came up with a plan for lunch. How great is that! The gorge by the way is very beautiful and offers great swimming holes. Many people were taking advantage of the great weather doing just that, swimming and sunning.We ended up at Ponderosa and thoroughly enjoyed their buffet. My salad to soooo yummy topped off with a big brownie sundae. Ice cream on my birthday! It doesn't get any better than that! I ate too much and paid for it as I hiked out of the road crossing. I should have known better. There is always a climb back up after crossing any road.After lunch we found EMS and I got my air mattress exchanged for the third time. Hopefully third time is the charm. Ran into a few other hikers in there, always fun to chat. Finally, we made it back to the parking lot and I repackaged my food, fixed up my feet, put on dry socks (for the first time in a week, made some phone calls and prepared to hike back into the woods after watching the train cross the road I would cross.It's always hard heading back to the trail. It's where I want to be though. I just enter the unknown wondering if anyone will be at the shelter and if so who. My head always plays games with me and I often I let it run away with my thoughts. Not tonight. It's my birthday and I'm going to finish enjoying this day! There was quite the nice boulder scramble headed up the mountain. Only one mile to the shelter but many feet up! and straight up with a full pack and extremely full belly. Ugh. But I did it and was greeted by about 20 boys camping at the shelter with their leaders. I found a great spot to camp and soon saw Open Book rolling in. I ate a bar for dinner and hung my food. I'm tired and glad to be here so I settle into my tent to write for a bit. The boys are in the field in front of the shelter playing Frisbee and other games. Some are sitting around the fire. It's comforting to hear their happy voices enjoying the woods.