Date: 2007-07-21
From: Killington, VT - Mendon Mountain View Resort

To: Quimby Mtn
Miles today: 12.7

I had set the alarm for 7 AM. I was still very tired when it went off this morning. I turned it off and got up to pack up my gear that was spread out everywhere. I had breakfast at the restaurant and checked out. I walked across the road to another resort where the bus stops. I caught the 9:30 bus back up to the K1 lodge. Bugbite was already on the bus. She had gone back to Rutland earlier to mail some stuff forward at the PO.I got on the gondola around around 11:00, while Bugbite was still drying out her shoes and applying a waterproof spray. I hiked mostly downhill today. I passed 4 south bound thru-hikers today. Serge said he stayed at 5 of the AMC huts in the White Mountains. These are large bunk houses with staff that provide breakfast and dinner meals. People pay about $87 a night to stay at these huts. They will let some thru-hikers stay for free in exchange for work. Serge said they also got to eat dinner and breakfast. I have heard mixed reviews about these huts and wasn't planning to stay at any of them, but will try it at least once now.I passed Maine Junction today. This is where the Long Trail and Appalachian Trails split up. The LT goes north to Canada and the AT goes northeast to Maine. I passed an overlook called Ben's Balcony. I could see the ski slopes and gondola at Killington peak in the distance. It was another one of those places where you can see how far you have traveled. I was over on that mountain just four and a half hours earlier. I passed Magellan slackpacking south again today. I reached Gifford Woods State Park and took a break at the office. I had a soda and an ice cream bar. I met Rodeo Clown, Trash Bag, Ben, and Amanda. They are north bound thru-hikers. They started about 1 to 2 weeks before me. I was surprised to see them because they were a few days ahead of me in the shelter registers. They had just taken 4 days off and were staying at the state park. I moved on and hiked around Kent Pond. As I approached the Mountain Meadows Lodge I heard music playing. I must be just in time for the wedding. A few minutes later I walked out into a clearing. The pond was about 25 feet to my left and and the wedding ceremony was about 50 feet to my right. The music had stopped. The bride and groom had their backs towards me, but everyone else could see me crossing through the clearing.A little while later after a steep thousand foot climb, I caught up to Bugbite on the trail. She told me the wedding back at Kent Pond was for a guy and girl that met while thru-hiking a couple years ago. I should have crashed the wedding in search of food. It was after 7 PM and we knew we wouldn't make it to the shelter before dark, so we camped at the top of Quimby Mtn. I didn't get as far as I had hoped today, but I got a late start and it was a beautiful enjoyable day on the trail. I haven't been able to access the internet on my phone/pc all day. I have even tried from locations where I had access yesterday. I think access will not be so good through the rest of this journey. I will be in a lot of remote areas. I will keep my entries stored on the pocket pc and upload them when I find access.