Today started at 5:30 am, but it took me until 6:15 to get on the trail. It usually only takes me 30 minutes to pack and eat and, yes, the 15 minutes don’t matter, but it bothers me.
Killington Mountain stood in my way, but my first priority was Stone’s Throw Farmstead, three miles away. It’s a 0.4 mile side quest. As I reach the farm road junction I find a sign indicating a high water diversion. Given yesterday’s incomplete crossings, I opt for my first detour of this entire walk. The first dressing on the farm for food, of course.
I literally had to duck under these cables.
After the bypass, Killington is a long, slow climb with few to no steep sections. I don’t remember any, but I also know my perspective is skewed. Your mileage may vary. The AT doesn’t actually go to the top, requiring a steep 0.2 mile side road. Luckily, two Long Trail hikers shared that the lodge was closed and the view wasn’t worth it.
Coming down Killington I began to seriously consider going to Gifford Woods State Park. Two extra miles gets me a hot shower and running water. You can see where my priorities are these days. A view? I have a lot of those, no thanks. Running water or extra food? I’m on it! So I arrived at the park. There was no extra food, but the hot shower was amazing.
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with flax, walnuts, cherries.
- Dinner: Dal, bean floss paste
- Snacks: Figbar x2, cereal bar x2, m&ms, nut butters, tuna and pretzels, Nature Valley protein bar
- Bonus: chocolate milk
- Days without a ramen bomb: 104
- Today I give thanks for: hot shower
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