I absolutely make doing laundry my first order of business. Then I can return to the hotel, affording me a couple hours to organize and pack before leaving to meet the shuttle driver in Hanover, New Hampshire.
I grab my dirty clothes and some laundry soap out of the truck and drive across the street to the laundromat under the bar, called the Scrub-a-Dub Pub, but it's locked. All right; on to plan B. I guess I will have to drive to Rutland 20 minutes away to do laundry.
The first thing I do when I get to Rutland is to throw my clothes in the washer. The laundromat is fully automated, and I first have to purchase a special card that can be loaded to operate the machines. The kiosk refuses to take my credit cards so I am forced to use cash, but the smallest I have is a twenty dollar bill. This is going to be one very expensive load of laundry.
With the washer started, I need breakfast and hit a local Dunkin Donuts, then run over to the grocery store. When I return to the laundromat, I dry my clothes and return to the hotel, much later than I planned.
I pack methodically for the next hour, making sure to refill my sanitizer and toilet paper. I'm on the road 5 minutes later than I hoped for the hour drive to Hanover, NH.
I park in the Dartmouth College parking lot, where they allow hiker parking. I already called the parking office to register my vehicle.
Eleven comes and goes, with no sign of my shuttle. I call but there is no answer, so I text him. Fifteen minutes later I receive a response. He was uncertain if I wanted the shuttle, based on my response to his text last night. I refrain from saying anything snarky, but just respond that I had said "Okay," and he says he will be on his way shortly.
He ends up arriving close to noon. I spend the time trying to line up a different shuttle for the next section, but I may have to use this guy again, so I try to get my attitude adjusted before he arrives. I'm already seething over the exorbitant price he is charging, totally a First World problem, I know. At least he apologizes for not confirming with me earlier.
We arrive at the trailhead and he doesn't have service to run my credit card, so we have to drive back up the hill to complete the transaction.
I shoulder my pack and I'm on the trail at 1:30 PM. I don't make it 20 feet before a hiker comes up the trail towards me. I realize it's EZ. We stop and chat a few minutes. His wife is picking him up here, and they are staying in town tonight before she joins him for this next section to Hanover. He asks me for the shuttle info, and I give it to him, but warn him it's ridiculously expensive. We say goodbye and I continue on the trail.
As soon as I get on the trail I have to go uphill for 600 feet. It's not a lot of elevation at one time, but it is hot! I am winded because I am still tired from the last 3 days of hiking, so I have to stop a couple of times to let my heart rate recover.
The trail then drops 1,400 feet to Gifford State Park. The park offers hikers reduced rates on camping, and a hiker can get a hot shower for 50 cents. People are already starting to pile into the park in RVs for their extended weekend fun.
The trail meanders briefly through the park and crosses Vermont Route 100, where cars whiz by. After crossing the road I walk across the bridge over Kent Brook which features a small waterfall. The brook feeds Kent Pond, which is one of the largest I have seen on the trail.
The trail is delightfully level for the next two miles until I arrive at Thundering Falls, the highest waterfall on the AT in Vermont. The water cascades down a steep hill to the creek below.
Leaving the waterfall, the trail goes uphill for what seems forever. During the long, hot climb, I gain over 1,700 feet in elevation. I am sucking down water so fast that I have to conserve what I have left, as there is not another water source until the next shelter, five miles away.
During my hike I encounter several large birds that make a crazy racket when they see me and take off into the trees. One is a turkey, and they are so close to the trail that I jump, scared out of my gourd.
The trail has no rewarding views at the top, save for a power line. I can see a sliver of mountains through the gap in the trees, but it's really hazy.
A short time later I make it to Stony Brook Shelter, which is thankfully just off the trail. I started so late that it's getting dark when I arrive. A man and woman are in the shelter talking, and I say hello as I walk by. There is space for my hammock just pass the shelter, near a woman who is set up in a tent.
I love it when I'm not the only one in the shelter areas, because it can be a little creepy when you don't know who's going to come in late. Thankfully most of the shelters are away from roads, so most of the hikers are long distance and not here to party.
I get set up and then walk back to the AT together water at a stream. I take my rag with me so I can wash some of the grime off. I do this every night before bed because I don't want to get a bunch of dirt in my hammock and on my down quilt. Plus, it just feels gross to go to bed covered in grime. It's bad enough when I have to put my wet and smelly clothes back on in the morning.
By 8:30 I think I'm the only one left awake. I climb in my hammock and I'm out almost immediately.
Today's Stats: 10 miles, 2,487 feet gain
Trail Stats: 1,719 miles, 335K feet gain
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