Date: 2008-07-10
From: Lost Pond Shelter, VT

To: Stealth site 1 mile before VT 140, VT
Miles today: 10.3

Oh man, what a great day. I slept well last nite, and woke to the birds just before my alarm. Hiker Dude was up already, and he said bye as I was sitting there eating breakfast. Probably the last time I'll see him.I stepped off @ 7:42 a.m. to a very cool 53 degrees. I almost had to get my long sleeved shirt out, but decided to move faster and build up heat.Today was one of those amazing days full of beautiful sites and unexpected surprises. Everyone says they love VT, NH, and ME the best because they are beautiful. I'd say it's because VT gets you into higher altitudes, there are a lot of really beautiful mountain streams and brooks, and the scenery has changed (not 100% though), from what you've been seeing since Damascus, VA.Today, shortly after starting, I met my 3rd and 4th SOBO's, and you won't believe this. They are both from VA and 1 lives in MY town, Charlottesville! How weird huh? His name is Neptune and the other guy, from a nearby town is named Classy. Neptune and I exchanged #'s so we can hook up sometime. He said there's another guy about 3 weeks ahead of me also from C'ville. Didn't realize so many people from my town do this.I have to admit, I love the fact that I can say (as of tomorrow) I only have 500 miles left, and I think about what lies ahead for the SOBO'S and wonder how many will atually make it. When I get home, I do intend to get my name up @ Rockfish Gap, so hikers can call me and I can either put them up or take them into Waynesboro.So I headed on and crossed the beautiful Big Branch river. There was a huge spider web on the bridge, pretty cool. There's a shelter there, and it would be one of the more beautiful settings for sure.The terrain today ws really nice. Hardly any taxing climbs, gradual ups, but there was 1 steep descent..killing my knees too.About a mile later, I was @ Danby-Landgrove Rd., and I had cell service, so I called Karen to see how her lecture went last nite. She was really pleased with it, and said she spoke in front of about 100 people. Wish I could have seen it.A little over 2 miles later, I came upon a BEAUTIFUL site, Little Rock Pond. Oh man, this place is amazing. When I came upon it, there are tentsite, and a guy was sitting there. I thought it was the caretaker, but it was the German guy Padre has been hiking with, Rhino. He has a fantastic dog, Ronja (pronounced Row-nya). Rhino and Ronja thru-hiked in 2003 and they're back again. He lives in the Black Forest ara of Germany, and was a very cool guy. He was zeroing there, and I can't blame him. I actually considered stopping too, but that would make the next 2 days 17 mile days, and I didn't want to do that.I did sit and enjoy the view for a while though. It's a crystal clear pond, surrounded by mountains and some rocks on the other side. I took 2 pics of pollywogs, and the water is so clear, they came out.Rhino and I talked and he had actually just finished burning his shoes, which had completely fallen apart, so his hiking shoes are now his flip-flops until he gets his next maildrop soon!! He didn't seem to care though. He was waiting for Padre to catch up anyway.Ronja was passed out relaxing in the warm sun and I loved on her and petted her. She was a great dog. Got my animal therapy for the week.I finally tore myself away around 10:30 a.m., and Rhino had just jumped in for a swim. I WILL come back to this place and camp. It's amazing.I headed on and around noon was at Homer Stone Brook, so I decided to stop for lunch. It was sunny\cloudy\sunny all day today, and my shoes were still a bit wet, so I took them off and pulled out the insoles ato give them some air drying time while I ate. Today was a granola bar, 1\2 big bag of combos, and a oatmeal creme pie. Yummy.Something weird has happeed this year with chocolate, like with snickers. I love them, but wen I eat too much, I get blisters in my mouth, as if the stuff is acidic or something, so I've been staying away from candybars. Don't ask me, I stil love the things, and sort of want to try them again to test my theory.After lunch it was a 2 mile pretty easy climb up to White Rock Mtn. Altitude changed so it was alpiney feeling again, with the swooshing wid and lack of human noise.I was totally taken by surprise on top of this mountain. There was an area with what looked like tons of rocks piled, but when I got closer, I saw these were all cairns or stacks of rocks that people had made. It was THE coolest damn thing. Some were balancing in crazy ways on top of boulders, others were small, and then I placed 1 small rock and balanced it on a boulder. Man, what a site...I got lots of pics but don't know how much detail will show. It was quite awesome.I moved ahead and this mountain sort of has 2 summits, so the next mile you dip down then back up, and just as you start the descent down for good, there's a trail junction with the White Rocks Cliff trail. Again, ANOTHER rock artwork area was in the making here too, with some of the rocks stacked deliberately between tree trunks. Man...it is so cool, so this time I built a multi-layered cairn with rocks balancing.I wonder how long this has all been here, how many hikers have built something here, and when did it start? It's so freakin cool!I knew I had about 6 more miles to go, which would get me to the shelter around 5'ish...perfect. I started down White Rock Mtn., which was a painful knee-pounding descent. My knees are starting to hurt, but mainly just on downhills. Hope they can hang in there.About a mile before Vt 140, I hear the roar of a river. The trail comes down, parallels and then crosses the river just to switchback ad parallel it again. I got to one point and saw a water slide of sorts with 2 small waterfalls emptying into a crystal cleat pool of water before it continued down. Oh man..this spot was gorgeous, and there were stealthsites and it would be perfect for camping tonight. Argh..what to do?I got my guidebook out and figured what it would take to get into Killington by Saturday (I told Bad Influence I'd be there then). Well, tomorrow would be a 14 miler, then Saturday, 13 into town...um..OK! I'M STOPPING HERE!See, I don't mind modifying my POD (Plan of the Day as wecalled it in the Marine Corps), as long as my hiking mileage can stay where I like it for the remaining days. Otherwise, the joy is taken away for me.People, it was only 2:51 p.m.! How awesome is that!? So I set up camp, and walked as far downstream as I could before it drops off into another waterfall, and took a bandana bath...brrrrr. It never got out of the low 60's today, so it was chilly.Of course, I'm "thinking" I'm hidden from the trail, and as I turn around (totally naked from the waist down), there's a guy hiking above me. Oh well...LOL!I got into my camp clothes and hung my bearbag rope as a clothesline to get some damp stuff dry. Then I THOUGHT I'd try to make a fire, there was a firering already.Well, try try I did. I hadit going good a few times, but the wood was still a little too damp to be able to dry and then burn without a ton of brich bark, so I finally decided it was a lost cause. That's something I'd like to learn though, how to make a fire with wet wood.I made dinner and havr discovered what will be a new staple in my foodbag. Those miniature wax-wrapped round things of semi-soft cheese (Babel I think is the name). Oh man, I broke 2 of them up in my rice\carrots\peas\corn medley (veggies came in the rice mix!) and had some melted cheesy goodness. Oh it was good. I also had 1\2 thing of peanut butter (the individual Jif cup) ad ahandful of yogurt covered cranberries.I love food!! I love food!! I love food!! (Oh gosh..someone snap me out of this!)I hung my food, deployed my tarp, and am laying in my hammock looking @ a waterfall thru the bug netting, listening to the constant roar of the water in motion, and just know I'll sleep great tonight.It is 6:56 p.m., my thermometer says it's 70 degrees, but I know it's cooler outside. Oh, I was nerdy in town and decided to see how accurate a digital pedometer is mileage wise. I got one for $8.00 @ the grocery store and have been using it (tick tock tick tock...with every step), for 2 days.To my surprise, it said 10.2 miles today, and I am close to that (I may have gone 10.4, but close enough). I'm impressed. Granted the calories burned is completely wrong 'm sure..I think it figures that more for non-strenuous walking\hiking..not hiking up mountains wit a pack. Still though, it's a cool toy.Anyway..a great day. I'm preparing psychologically for the Whites. I'm ready to face them, to enjoy their beauty, and hopefully exit them in one piece, not broke, and having not slept on the ground (I realize that last one might be wishful thinking). Well, goodnite all. I'm going to call Karen and hit the sack.~Certain