Date: 2007-09-04
From: Big Branch Shelter, VT

To: Beacon Hill, VT
Miles today: 17.6

I froze my butt off last night and I have a 20 degree bag; henceforth, I will be staying in my tent. I got going late as usual and left a note in the register to "Chef"(he wrote derogatory comments about "SnackBreak" & "Rebel") defending Snackbreak and reminding him that a shelter is a public place and he can move on or say something, if he does not like what is going on. I got going along a fairly easy trail to USFS 10. As I was going there, SOBO named Betsy took a big fall right in front of me. She was with another female SOBO and was very embarrassed about falling right in front of me. I did not prolong the embarrassment and asked if she was OK and just kept going. I tell you today that I was just about over my soreness and my food supply was getting smaller; but, still bountiful and I could feel a new sense of power in my stride, also emotionally, I was in my best spirits sense I hiked with "Mo Lassus, The Jersy Diamond" in mid April. I do not think that pride is so bad for a male hiker that is just about out of his prime(the "pride comes before a fall" comment); it is doubt, whenever, I would think, "can I do it": that's when I could not; so, it's only bravado for me, for now on! I moved really well about 7 miles to the trail to The White Rocks Cliff Vista where there were hundreds of rock art structures. All kinds of rocks stacked one on top of another. I took pictures and by the way; last night at the shelter; I deleted all my pics from Bennington to Big Branch. I am still learing this camera thing. I kept going down to a nice brook where I ate dinner with "CookerHiker" (AT in Sections). He is out doing the Long Trail. He gave me an update on the NOBO's ahead of me. I bid him farewell and went down over VT 140 and climbed up and over Bear Mtn like a man possessed. I did not stop all the way to THe Minerva Hinchey Shelter where I met Flip Flopper Roy; SOBO "Coffee"(now that is my kind of name!); section hikers from ATlanta JErrI and her husband(who gave me alot of snacks). Coffee and I agreed that coffee was king and we will never run out of the elixir ever again. I also told the folks that "T was for TX & TN and my name was Terry". I also said that I knew about every old country song and headed out into the night. I mean I was moving. It was kind of slowed by the descent down into the Clarendon Gorge. I passed several people in their tents while I was singing The Statler Bros, "OHHH, let's get started: if were gonna break my heart". When I got to the suspension bridge across the gorge; I nearly fell right off the side. The fence railing only came up to my waist; I came at the bridge with a 3 mph pace; I could not see the full bridge; and it was extremely unstable and wavering right to left. I stopped and gathered my wits and went across slowly and understood every Tarzan and Indiana Jones movie where the Suspension Bridge breaks and they have to save the day to get across. I then read a plaque where Robert Burgman died while crossing the river below I then began the incredibly steep climb out of the gorge. Im telling you that this was one of the more difficult climbs of the trip. Hand and foot up while bats are flying by eating the bugs feasting on me. When I got to the top; I was going "S.O.B.!" I chugged a whole quart of water and was completly soaked from sweat again. I crossed The Old Crown Point Military Rd that was built in the French and Indian War. I went down to THe Clarendon SHelter and two folks were asleep; so I kept going. And the damn, the climb up Beacon Hill was not as steep as the gorge; but still tough. I took a picture of the Beacon and set up my tent when I lost the white blazes. I set my tent up yelling at a pair of eyes watching me in the distance. It looked like a bears; low and far apart. I still used my food as a pillow; he would have to fight me for it!