I’m headed into Manchester Center, VT today. Here’s the updated post for today.

Yesterday was undoubtedly the best day on the trail that I’ve had all summer.  I started out at Little Rock Pond shelter and hiked about 10 miles to the Peru Peak shelter, where I spent the night.  Griffith Lake is just north of the shelter; I stopped and swam in the lake with several other hikers.  The lake was pristine and fresh.  The only thing I can compare it to is swimming in lakes in Upstate NY as a child.

Peru Peak shelter was an absolute joy.  There were NOBO’s, SOBS’s, Flip-Floppers, Long Trail hikers, and weekenders.  We all had a blast sitting around a campfire in the evening.  “Zoom” took at nap and “Secret Agent” showed me how to make a Ramen Bomb.

There was lots of time to rest and relax yesterday.  Today, I hiked 10 miles to the highway and got a ride into Manchester Center from two of my buddies from the shelter.  Here they are along with me on top of Bromley Mountain, one of 3 peaks that we climbed today.

I’m holed up at the Green Mountain House tonight and plan to take a “zero” here tomorrow.  The weather looks really iffy for the day after tomorrow, so plan will be flexible.

Hike Statistics:
Day #9 section 2 (#37 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 538.1
Miles from Hanover, NH – 95.9
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 130.1
Total miles on A.T. – 389.7
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.7
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.5

A good story can take you on a fantastic journey. – Walt Disney

I continue to meet tons and tons of people on the trail. Yesterday in the late afternoon I ran into a northbound hiker who looked at me and said, “Puffin, is that you?” It turned out to be Pick-Me-Up, my friend from the Terrapin Station Hostel just north of Shenandoah National Park.

  
Here’s Rockfish.  He’s a Triple Crowner; hiked the AT, PCT, and CDT.  He’s now hiking the AT southbound.  He’s hard core and old school.

 
Here’s Bull, he’s NOBO.

  
And get a load of this.  Here I am in late June when I started my hike and today.

A light heart lives long. – William Shakespeare

Adults are only kids grown up. – Walt Disney

I’m definitely in the Green Mountains now.  It’s 8 am and I’ve done 2 ascents and one big rocky descent.  Crossed a gorge at the bottom.

   
 
Still meeting lots of hikers.  Here’s Wishbone, she’s continuing the trail after getting knocked off by Lyme disease in the past.

  
This group was taking a break at 500 miles from Katahdin.

   
 
Looking to do 13.6 miles today if the stars align.

Update:  I made it!  Stayed at Little Rock Pond.

 Hike Statistics:
Day #7 section 2 (#35 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 518.3
Miles from Hanover, NH – 76.1
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 149.9
Total miles on A.T. – 370.9
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.9
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.6

Time is very slow for those who wait,
  Very fast for those who are scared,
  Very long for those who lament,
  Very short for those who celebrate,
  But for those who love, time is eternal.

William Shakespeare 

The Yellow Deli hostel was fantastic.  It’s run by the Twelve Tribes, a free spirited religious group.  All the food was fresh and organic.  Dinner last night was preceded by singing, dancing, and testimonials.  It was a nice treat after spending several days on the trail.

  
On the A.T. there are terms for the route you take.  Following the white blazes on the trail is “white-blazing.”  Taking the Shenandoah River from Waynesboro to Harpers Ferry is “aqua-blazing.”  A shortcut on the road is a “yellow-blaze.”  There are lots more, but today I’m “Aero-blazing” from Rutland to Killington Peak where I’ll start hiking.  I’ll be hiking down hill and will hopefully have an easy day.

Hike Statistics:
Day #6 section 2 (#34 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 504.7
Miles from Hanover, NH – 62.5
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 163.5
Total miles on A.T. – 357.3
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 10.4
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.5

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. – Will Rogers

I stayed at Stoney Brook shelter last night.  Yesterday’s hike ended in a steep climb after crossing the brook.  I even had to climb a ladder.  😓

 
The shelter was fine except it rained at night (no problem) and then another storm hit as I was packing this morning (big problem).  Everything was laid out and it all got drenched.  It rained even more than the first day out of Bear’s Den, with Jeff Wingard.

I hiked into Killington, VT in the rain and then took the bus into Rutland as the weather cleared.

I ran into “Mag” at the outfitter.  He was very excited about picking up a new set of shoes.  He got 1,700+ miles on his first pair.

 I’m at the Yellow Deli Hostel in Rutland tonight.  I got here early enough to dry everything and do laundry before the evening storm hit.  Yeah! 

If I hit the trail tomorrow, I think I’ll take the bus to Killington and go up the gondola to the top of the mountain to start hiking.  I guess that’s “aero-blazing”.

Hike Statistics:
Day #5 section 2 (#33 total)
Miles from Katahdin, ME – 488.3
Miles from Hanover, NH – 46.1
Miles to Great Barrington, MA – 179.9
Total miles on A.T. – 340.9
Avg daily miles (section 2) – 9.2
Avg daily miles (total) – 10.3

I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars: I look around for 1-foot bars that I can step over. – Warren Buffett