7/9 Long Ups and Downs

20.1 hiked today, 1686 miles N, 488 miles left
Back Home Again Hostel in Rutland, VT

This journal entry had to written after the fact due to the dropped PocketMail so the details may be weak.

When I woke in the morning the rain was still coming down and when it stopped the fog hung on all day. Since it was raining in the morning I was sure no one made an early start after me. This means if I waited for someone to catch up with me I would run out of food before I got to town so left at 9 and gave myself a more leisurely hike.
Along my hike I came to Clarendon Gorge which I remember well from my first hike through these parts. Back in 2003 when I hiked the southern portion of the Long Trail I had purchased a new digital camera for the trip. At this gorge there is a suspension bridge and when I backed up to get a shot of it my heel slipped. As a result is swung my arms wide and the camera which was attached to a lanyard on my right hand swung even wider smacking into a rock so hard the lens popped out the front. The camera lasted 4 days. :( I am happy to report the camera I bought the next year has survived has much longer.
The gorge itself is impressive being a deep channel through near vertical solid rocks to each side. Down stream from the bridge there was a deposit of quartzite which is much harder than the limestone. It was sculpted smooth by the water but rose up about 6 feet above the current water level. The slight transparency to light and it white color made it look like one of those organically shaped sculptures that often perplex me. They look cool but I just don't now what to think of them.
After that I had a lot of trail magic. First I came across a creek I remember from 2003. In it Gnome has placed a short length of fencing such that the water washes through it sufficiently to trap cans of pop which are floating in the water. The cold drink was very refreshing and I enjoyed signing his journal once again.
After that there was another cooler on the trail placed by Mad Hatter at the 500 miles left mark. I celebrated with another can of pop before pushing on.
Thank you both of you, I was in a rather down mood due to my dropped PocketMail and the drinks a bright spot on the day.
The end of my day included a long hard climb up Mount Killington, a 3100' assent if one does what I did and take a peak at the summit. The climb went very well with me pacing myself well so I didn't have to stop. The terrain was great to look at in part because the fog blocked out anything else but also due to the climb through climate zones. The bottom of the mountain looks like just about any forest but as one climbs the species that thrive drop off due to harsher weather, shorter seasons, and thinner soil. The trail went from a mix of dirt, roots, leaves, mud, and rocks to a dense mass of roots that took up most of the trail with mucky spots in between the roots. On a downhill I could imagine this would be rather treacherous but on a uphill where one moves slowly it gave numerous foot holds to ease the climb.
Near the top of Killington is the Cooper Lodge Shelter. This is one of the more impressive shelters made of thick heavy stone with a view of nearby mountains. It is the type of construction is very old and generally missing on the trail. I rather like it. To my disappointment however party-goers feel the same way and take the chairlift that is about half a mile away to get up here where they graffiti the shelter, smash bottles, and general make a mess. As a result of this this is the last year of Cooper Lodge. :( You will be missed.
I left my Pack at the lodge and climbed Killington to take in the view. The climb is quick but steep and rocky making the descent a bit rough. However on top the rain had stopped. For the first time all day I felt the heat of the sun and the ground was dry. It was remarkable as less than 200 feet below the world is shrouded in mist, wet, and cold. The view was still obstructed with clouds being right at my feet. I saw wisps of it flow above the rock and through the trees and the strong breeze cooled me off well after the hard climb.
After that is was all down hill to US 4. The trail was very long and easy taking about 6 miles to go down 2000' but finally I got to the road where I hitched a ride to the hostel/cafe in Rutland, Back Home Again. The food there is amazing if you are ever in town!