Date: 2006-08-01
From: Clarendon Shelter

To: Tucker-Johnson Shelter (Maine Junction)
Miles today: 17.4

After going to sleep with clear skies overhead last night I had to get up at 4:30am to put my rain fly on my tent. It ended up raining until about 8:00am so everyone in our group just slept in for a while. When it slacked off we packed up and headed out with a big day of hiking ahead of us. The first couple of miles this morning were muddy and overgrown. This is from the rain earlier and the way the trail follows the edge of several fields that really need to be cut. After several miles I caught up with Low Gear and we hiked together up to Governor Clement Shelter for a break. Do to its location and condition the Green Mountain Club recommends hikers not to stay at it. I will agree with them it has seen its better days. After everyone caught up we were off for our biggest climb in days up to Killington Peak trail at 3900'. The actual peak is at 4200' another 300¢ above the trail. On the way up I ran into two south bounders that were once hiking with us in Virginia. They were camped with me the night I picked up Roxy and they asked about her. When I got up to the Lodge at Killington it was about lunchtime so several of us took the side trail up to the peak. (The Jersey Boys, Jane, Baro, H-Bomb, Shasta, and I) It was only .2 miles to the peak but that .2 of a mile was straight up. When we got to the top though the view was great even with the overcast skies. Since the summit is all rock it yields a 360-degree view of 5 surrounding states and the southern provinces of Canada. Because of the great view it is the place that Vermont was Christened Verd-mont in 1763 (French for Green Mountain). On the side of mountain that the trail crosses it is completely wooded, but the other side of the mountain is a huge ski resort. Even though it is summer the lodge was open so we stopped in to visit. In the summer it stays open for vacationers to take a lift up to the top for dinner at the restaurant. They also turn the ski slopes into mountain bike trails and allow you to carry your bike up to the top on the lifts. After lunch we started back down the mountain for the evening. On the way down we met up with Donkey and Hot Springs while they were playing a quick game of Yatzee. Donkey has been MIA from us since Kent, CT and Hot Springs since just after Great Barrington, MA. When we got to US 4 Shasta and I decided to walk up to The Inn at the Long Trail. It is an inn that was built in 1939 that served as Vermont¢s first ski lodge. It now caters to many of the hikers on the AT and the Long Trail due to its location close to the trail. We weren't headed up to stay for the night but rather visit the Irish Pub located inside for a drink and dinner. When we got there Dirt, Leprechaun, Caboose, Walkabout, Energizer Bunny, Donkey, and Hot Springs were already there so we joined. The choice for the night was Long Trail Ale and sadly I have never seen it at home. After eating and hanging out for a while we decided to night hike the remaining one-mile to the Tucker Johnson Shelter. After a few rounds at the bar and night hiking with a dim head lamp things can get a little challenging. Everything ended up working out ok because we made it to the shelter safely and met up with the rest of the crew for the night.Tonight at the Tucker-Johnson Shelter: Baro, Shasta, Jane, H-Bomb, Dirt, Leprechaun, Coach K, Several Long Trail hikers, and I.