Date: 2007-08-29
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: The Inn at Long Trail, Rutland, VT
Miles today: 16.4

August 29, The Inn at Long TrailI started walking a few minutes before 7:30 a.m. today not really feeling it but jut going with the flow anyway. There was a ridiculous climb immediately out of the shelter. Straight up just to come straight back down. Actually, that's pretty much how the next 5.8 miles were to our next break. Ronin passed me as we tore our way through wild rose bushes with thorns yanking at my legs. We both laughed as a bull nearby yelled out and it reminded us of Melk's noises she makes when she doesn't want to do something. These miles seemed slow and tedious but at times were pretty relaxing. There were two different sets of trail magic - soda in a stream and soda in a cooler with a chair. I came to the second one with only a mile to go so I grabbed a can of Coke and stuffed it in my pack. At the stream before the shelter, I enjoyed my second Coca Cola of the entire hike. When Melk arrived, we headed to the Governor Clement Shelter where we had our snacks before the long climb up Mt. Killington or, as Sweetwater dubbed it, Mt. KillingMe. Although I was dreading the climb because I seemed to be dragging a bit, it turned out to be pretty decent. It was pretty gradual - as gradual as a 2,000 foot elevation gain can be. I reached the top with the help of some margarita flavored Clif Shot Blocks (delicious). There, I met Ronin and we waited for Melk before took the side trail to the summit. The side trail was 0.2 miles of straight up on rocks - but we decided we wanted to see the views (or at least eat lunch at the ski lodge on top). Apparently you can see five states from the summit including Maine and New Hampshire! How great. It was a nice view but I honestly had no idea what was what.We headed to the lodge for lunch and might've disregarded the "no free refills" signs posted on every open space. We headed back down around 4 p.m.The rest of the day was downhill. We met at Pico Camp Shelter and followed a blue-blazed trail to the Inn at Long Trail. Apparently it was the old AT so we retro-blazed. Melk and I hiked those miles together and complained a lot about our achy feet and knees. We arrived at our oasis aroud 7:30 p.m. and I immediately fell in love with this place. I had some Irish stew for dinner and really enjoyed it. Great setup, great prices, great times. I bet we don't hike tomorrow.- Sound of cars rushing down US4 outside.Post Trail Thoughts:This day was one in a set of days where I left camp before Melk and Ronin. Sometimes they weren't even up yet, others they were. Sometimes it was frustrating because I knew I'd have to wait for them at some point but often once I got over that, I really enjoyed hiking alone. I could stop when I felt like it and concentrate on the challenges at hand. It was a lovely morning for this.Ronin dropped his beloved iPod into the river before the Governor Clement shelter that day and he was surprisingly calm when he realized it was no longer working. I felt bad - no more stepping into the Ron Zone, as BigBy called it.I heartily enjoyed the climb up Killington and saw a couple of orientation groups from colleges in New England along the way. What a cool idea. I made it up and felt good that I had. Ronin and I sat and waited for Melk on a tent platform for a while...she was not very pleased once she arrived. Melk often got frustrated when she was the last to arrive somewhere. She felt like we were waiting for her and having so much fun. It's as if she and I traded places that day - the last ski resort we went to, I wanted to curl up and never hike again and today was Melk's turn. I felt for her but she trudged on too - just like I did. Sometimes you just have to trudge through.