Date: 2006-07-21
From: Clouland Shelter, VT

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 16.7
Weather: 0

Cell good in Hanover.I ended up being alone at the shelter last night. I'm starting to get used to camping alone, even though I am not particularly fond of it. One thing I still don't like is my clothes always being wet. You see, I sweat so much that I totally soak my shirt, and also the majority of my shorts. I'll hang them out when I'm in camp, but they never seem to dry overnight. That means putting damp clothes back on in the morning.The hiking today wasn't too bad. The terrrain wasn't particularly hard, so I was able to move pretty good. There were a few hills where I felt my pack being lifted and my speed improved. I found myself saying "Thanks Al" as I felt my brother¢s presence as that happened. I know he is with me as I take this journey. He was a always very hard worker and willing to help others - he helped me today.I had to do some Psychic navigation today. I went through the town of West Hartford, VT, having to guess where the trail might go. I was fortunate there were a few clues, and I guessed right. This was the worst marked section of trail in the 1700 miles I've hiked, and there have been some really bad sections.My hike terminated today in Hanover, NH, at Dartmouth College. I met Sue there and we are together tonight in a hotel, life is good.I'm done with Vermont, and I'm in New Hampshire now. That means 12 states are done and 2 are left. On Sunday I'll start my assault of New Hampshire. I'll be hiking in the White Mountains, which have many places above tree line. That means I'll be exposed to the weather more so than when I'm in the woods. When the wind blows, it will hit me directly, when it rains, ditto. I have to now use my cold weather equipment again. I'll send the summer stuff home with Sue.One highlight of the day was when I stopped for lunch. I reached the shelter and went down to the stream for water. I was just finishing the filtering of the water when it started to rain. Soon after I returned to the shelter, the heavy rain started. I ended up staying dry and waited out the storm. Having time to kill, I decided to cook a dinner meal instead of eating crackers and peanut butter. That ended up being a good decision, as the rain dropped the temperature, and the warm food felt good. Not to mention the extra energy I had for the final push into town.On my way into town I met a hiker I've never met before "Mountain Doer." He's about my age, and he said he was glad to have another hiker our age still out here. I'm sure there are others, but not necessarily near us. We hiked into Hanover together, but he pushed through and I stopped. Who knows if we'll meet up again.After reaching town, I stopped at the Dartmouth Outdoor Club office at the college. It ended up being closed, but we were able to use the restrooms and internet. A few of us stored our packs and went to Quisnos for subs, and Ben and Jerry's for desert. That was a real treat as I enjoy their sandwiches.The one thing the others are doing tonight is they're staying at a fraternity house on campus. There will also be a party there tonight, which means nobody will get any sleep. Had I not met Sue tonight I, too, would have pushed through town and camped rather than stay there.It's funny, we are all starting to tire of the hiking. A few months back two former thru-hikers told me a story of overhearing one of their fellow hikers when she let the air out of her air mattress. They would hear her say "That's the saddest sound I know." She was referring to the air escaping the mattress. The reason she considered it sad was that it meant she had to get up and hike again rather than lay in bed. It sounded funny then, but now I'm starting to think how sad it is. I'm looking forward to completing this journey. I've used the quote "It's the journey that counts and not the destination." Now I can't seem to get the destination out of my mind. I also need to remember to enjoy myself as I continue - some of the best hiking is yet to come.Old Goat