Make it count: Day #120

Friday, July 10th - Day #120 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 13.6
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 1687.3/2,193 (76.94%)

Little Rock Pond Shelter (1673.7) to Clarendon Shelter (1687.3) - tent at Clarendon Shelter

Total ascent - 3,175’
Total descent - 3,788’

Total States Completed - 11/14

**Rain. Brutal heat and humidity. Rain is coming down now as I write the blog.

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Coming to you from a hot tent once again - here at the Clarendon Shelter. You know how the weather feels sometimes right before a rain event - it gets really humid & muggy. That’s how the day felt for me today. I just kept getting overheated and had to stop and rest frequently. There was also a brutal 700’ straight-up climb over technical boulders near the finish of my day.

Sam and I walked independently today. I like to get out early - she likes a little later start. It’s probably better for me - I can get finished quicker - allowing me more rest. It’s really nice to walk with people on occasion - but I’m comfortable hiking alone most of the time.

The mileage today was awkward - I could go 13.6 or 19.7 to a shelter. I was considering going for 19.7 - but I just wasn’t feeling the greatest out there. I got to the 13.6 shelter around 2pm. I drank a bunch of water and laid down in the shelter - taking my shoes off. I needed some rest and I was waiting to see when Sam would get in. Well - at 4pm - she still wasn’t here - I decided I’d stay here for the night. Sam came in about 4:30pm - our paces are little different.

The rain is coming in tonight and will rain most of the day tomorrow. (It’s actually starting to rain as I write the blog). Maybe it will cool things off. The temperatures themselves aren’t that bad - mid 80’s - it’s the humidity that’s currently destroying me.

I have a big 3,000’ climb of Killington Peak tomorrow. I’ve decided to push getting into the town of Killington until Sunday morning. This gives me a big vertical day tomorrow with 14.8 miles - and a nice, short 5-6 miler into town the next day. That will give me most of Sunday for recovery. It doesn’t feel the greatest to me when I add an additional day. My competitive side says: “Go more miles - get finished quicker”. But - my more rational side is telling me: “Listen to your body - don’t push it right now”. I guess the rational side won out today - that’s not always the case

There are a couple Long Trail hikers here at camp as well. I sort of just listened in the background at their stories tonight. Young guys (college age) - pretty amazing their experiences at such a young age. Sam is a big talker and always engages. I interact most nights - just wasn’t feeling it tonight. I’m in the tent early - 6:30pm. “Whatever it takes” - that’s my motto from here to the finish.

Goodnight from muggy, rainy Vermont!