This is one of the oldest shelters on the trail, built in 1928. And unfortunately it shows. There's bunk space for eight, but half the bunks are unusable due to deterioration. Supposedly the roof leaks on that side. There isn't actually a floor, they built the shelter on the raw mountain rocks. Gotta watch your step in here. But it's more or less out of the weather and there's a possibility of another shower tonight so I'm glad I'm indoors. There's plenty of people tenting around the area but only me and Coldfoot indoors. Beerman didn't make it up here today. And it was his idea to try and do 19.3 miles!
It was hot and humid today, I sweated buckets all day. I met a group of Cornell college students out on a freshman orientation hike. Plus One is up here tonight, and Gus the Long Trail section hiker from last night.
8/19/15 - Rutland, VT
I slept fairly hard last night, the 19.3 miles yesterday was harder than I expected. I woke up as usual around four and fell back asleep but then didn't wake until nearly five thirty. No one around camp was stirring so I read on Kindle and finally got up after six. I piddled around at breakfast and finally got hiking for town around seven thirty. My feet didn't feel quite normal; they've been fine since leaving Williamstown, so I guess it's due to high mileage days. Despite the lingering fatigue, I made the road by ten thirty. Coldfeet was somewhere just behind me and going home as her Long Trail vacation is over, but as I was changing into my town shirt a local man offered me a ride into town and dropped me off at my hotel! Trail Angels, gotta love 'me!
I couldn't quite figure the bus schedule so I walked the "quarter mile" to the laundromat as told to me by the desk clerk. It's actually closer to a mile. But on the way back I was able to figure the bus out and resupply at WalMart. Miss Janet was at the WalMart, was fun running into her again. The bus dropped me off a block from my hotel.
The hotel is under renovation this summer but they put me in a renovated room that is quite nice. Looks like rain tomorrow evening into maybe all day Friday, I might have to burn another zero day here. Sigh.
8/20/15 - Rutland Zero One
Last night I looked up the tracking numbers of the packages my mom sent to Hanover for me. They have my winter gear, which I will need. The temperature on Mt Washington yesterday hit a high of 59 degrees, here in Rutland it was 89. The Post Office computer said the packages "Could not be delivered as addressed, will be returned". Ack! My Gear!
This morning I called the Hanover PO and was told all my packages were physically there, it was an annoying computer glitch that is vexing all the trail town POs. Seems national USPS computer programmers changed the General Delivery message from "package held per customer request" to the crap I got. Everything is okay.
Except the weather. The front is rolling in and it will rain overnight and through most of tomorrow. So I'm taking a second zero. Gives me time to rest up more and explore town a bit. Rutland has a restored Old Town section. I'll eat lunch at the Yellow Deli and Hostel. Probably grab some more stuff from WalMart for supper.
I ran into Leviticus, Giggly Goose and (Busy Bee?) today, they're leaving town this afternoon.
8/21/15 - Rutland Zero Two (Rain Day)
I woke up to a very dreary, rainy mess outside. I'm so glad I zeroed. Wilson finished Katahdin yesterday, he's completed the Trail. I've still got six weeks.
The skies cleared around noon; I expect the trail will be muddy all day. I spent the morning packing and arranging my next stop in Hanover and making inquiries of the hostels further north in the Whites. I'm very nervous about the Whites and accommodations, I'm again hiking solo and don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of.
I ate lunch over at the Yellow Deli and Hostel. It's a very nice, hippyish little place run by a Twelve Tribes group. If you ignore the slightly weird vibe it's got great food. Shades, Fuego and Fancypants were staying at the hostel upstairs.
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