Date: 2004-06-22
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

Weather: Light rain off and on all day...started just before dawn...some decent evening downpours. Temp in the 60's...supposed to clear out tonight and tomorrow.Hike-O-Meter: 11.6 Except for getting wet wasn't a bad day...brought back memories of last year.As opposed to yesterday, I kinda liked the terrain today. There were at least 4 good climbs, but all were on good trail through old stands of pine trees or open meadows. The pines are my fovorite...spongy pine needles to walk on with wide views about the forrest on both sides.The only bad part of the Trail today was the overgrown timothy and weeds in the meadows. We must have crossed a half dozen open meadows. It's better to hike these on dry days as the wet grasses and weeds soak the gators and eventualy the socks too.Wounded Knee woke up early to the pitter patter of rain drops. I yelled over to his tent, "Are you packing up?" He replied, "Yes." (Just what I was afraid of.) We were hiking by 5 and reached VT highway route 12 (4 miles) by 7 am. We immediately hitched into Woodstock for breakfast. On days we aren't doing big miles, we like to go into town for breakfast when we can. We caught a ride with Dave in 5 minutes. After eating, WK bought a Vermont ball cap (he lost his original) and we were back hiking by 9:30 after another great local, Missy picked us up and drove us back to the Trail.One of the things I noticed along the Trail today was the 5 foot high "perfectly stacked" stone fences. I think I mentioned these in last year's journal. I am fascinated by them. Over the length of the Trail there are hundreds of miles of "fences" or boundaries made of rock piles. Some, like today, are perfectly straight...5 feet high. Some are just rows of rock piles in a straight line. We believe they were made by slaves...they sure weren't built by white people.People Met: Dave gave us a ride into Woodstock...a great guy who told us a little about the area. He has a business that publishes a magazine listing vacation rentals that is distributed throughout VT. I told him to sign my guest book and give his website. Thanks again Dave. Taking us out of town was Missy, another very nice local...a young lady familar with the Trail. Thanks Missy.Shortly after getting back on the Trail at route 12 we met 2 NOBO sectioners, Truck and Overload who are man and wife. Truck, I had met last year...we had eaten dinner together at William Penn Shelter. They were taking it easy...easier than us...doing less that 10 yesterday.Just before dusk a NOBO thru-hiker Stairmaster came in for the night. He started the day from The Inn at Long Trail where we were 2 days ago. He is moving...I believe he said he started in April. Saw no one else on the Trail today. Shortly after arriving at the shelter, around 2, a young male NOBO sectioner, Cowboy, dropped by. He was "slackpacking" SOBO...said we'd probably see him up the Trail. Around 5 in a steady rain, in walks Truck and Overload...so, it looks like just the four of us tonight.Food: I had a brownie in the tent before I packed up. In Woodstock, we had a great breakfast. I had OJ, coffee, 2 giant homemade glazed donuts, 2 eggs, hash browns, corned beef hash and toast with homemade raspberry jam. The donuts were the best glazed donuts I have ever eaten!...large...felt like they weighed a pound apiece...and fried right. For lunch just a Snickers and some Famous Amos. For dinner peanut butter & jelly and cheese whiz on crackers.Wildlife: Several small bright orange salamanders...really quite interesting and unusual.Tomorrow we should be back in Hanover NH by early afternoon. One thing I plan to do there is eat "The Big Green" breakfast at Lou's Deli & Bakery...one of my favorite eating places on the Trail.------------------------------