Today, a beautiful day in Vermont, we hiked a small section just south of Killington Peak. This was a 5.5 mile section which had a varying number of beautiful characteristics: Evergreen forests, hardwoods, farm fields, etc. In one evergreen forest, the trees were so tall, that is completely blocked out ground foliage and there was really no trail - only needles. We had to really watch for white blazes. One forest had beds of Lady Slippers - and many, many of them. Magical. One brook crossing had some trail magic, nice and cool in the little brook. We did not take it as we are not long-distant hikers - only section hikers. We met a gentleman at Clarendon Shelter and we gave him 4 snack bars because we had many and he looked like he'd really like them.We met "The Martins" at Clarendon Shelter who volunteer for GMC too at a different shelter. Very nice couple. Had a GREAT hike on this day and all was right with he world! - Cindy
We choose a great day to hike this section. Morning temperatures when we left our house were in the high 30's. We parked one car at the parking lot on RT. 103 and drove to the LT crossing on Upper Cold River Road. There were numerous places along the trail on the where their were patches of Lady Slippers, and they were gorgeous. Bugs were minimal because it stay cool for along of the hike. Met numerous NOBO AT and LT thur hikers. Stopped at the Clarendon Shelter for a break and unload most of our snack bag to a NOBO AT hiker. Met the Martin's as we were leaving the shlter, they maintain the Minerva Hinchey Shelter. Stop for lunch at the Clarendon Lookout. Our reward at the end of the hike was a Maple Creamee. - Ira
