Fw: Journal

----------
> From: Daniel Beachy <dbeachy@yahoo.com>
> To: abeachy@csrlink.net
> Subject: Journal
> Date: Friday, August 28, 1998 8:34 PM
> 
> Journal of Daniel AKA. Outta Chocolate
> 
> Sat.  August 22
> 
> This morning I got up around 7am.  I ate the rest of my Cheerios with
> real milk.   Then I sat down and wrote in my journal.  By the time I
> was finished it was already lunchtime.  I headed over to the Ben and
> Jerry's for a pint of ice cream.  Then I stopped at the outfitters.
> 	On the way out of town, I was worried about getting a ride.  5 miles
> of road walk is a long ways!  And my thumb does not work as well as
> Mt. Roamer's.  As I was walking past the Laundromat, a lady stopped me
> and wondered if I needed a ride to the AT.  I assured her that I did
> and would be grateful for a ride!  She told me to get in her van and
> she took me to the trailhead.  On the way, she gave me a cold Sprite. 
> Great for a hot day!  My benefactor was Red Rock's wife, who was
> running support for him for a week.  I had met her twice at the road
> crossing at the end of the day while she was waiting for Red Rock to
> show up.  Both times she offered me a cold drink.  Today Red Rock was
> taking a rest day and she had been doing laundry at the Laundromat
> when she looked out and saw me walk past.
> 	Glad to be back on the trail.  I left all the other hikers in town. 
> Most had decided to take the day off.  I met a few day hikers.  It is
> the weekend again.
> 	2.8 miles of up hill got me to the top of Bromley Mountain.  From its
> observation tower I had a splendid view of Vermont.  To the south was
> Stratton Mountain 17 miles.  And Glastenbury Mountain 33 miles.  I
> think I could also see Mt. Greylock in Mass. 67miles, but I could not
> get a positive Id on it.  To the North was Killington Mountain 40 miles.
> 	At Mad Tom Notch I picked up some water that a former through hiker
> had put there for us.  Then I headed on to Peru Peak shelter.  I got
> there at 6pm. And decided to cook some supper.  2 section hikers were
> there already and planning to stay for the night.  They told me that
> it cost $5 dollars, because it is a high use area.  I decided to hike
> on after supper.  I do not like the idea of paying $5 dollars to camp
> in the woods when I have been doing it for 4 months for free.  Topsy
> Turvy and Kilo showed up and when they heard it cost $5 they decided
> to go on to the next shelter which was free.  Topsy and Kilo are North
> Bounders who I had never met before.
> 	After supper I rushed another 2.6 miles to get to Baker Peak before
> dark.  I just made it.  Wow, excellent view from the peak.  I found a
> sweet little spot under the pines to roll out my Therma rest.  No tent
> needed under blue skies.  On my way to Baker Peak, I past Griffith
> Lake and Tenting area.  The trail next to the lake was swampy so they
> had built bog bridges.  Two 2x12 planks side by side and raised off
> they ground about 6 inches.  Supported by 6x6 cross pieces or old
> railroad ties.  Makes for nice walking.  Later I thought about how
> Griffith Lake had a nice board walk and park place but the rent was to
> high.  $5 
> 	Baker Peak is 12.3 miles from Manchester Center.
> 
> Sun. August 23
> 
> 	I got up around 7 and ate my breakfast on Baker Peak.  The view was
> hindered by the fog.
> 	I started hiking at 8 and stopped in at Lost Pond Shelter to get some
> water.  Topsy and Kilo were still there.  They had made it to the
> shelter last night a little after dark.  I left the shelter before
> them, but all day we played leap frog.  When I would stop for a break,
> they would get ahead.  Then they would stop and I would get ahead.  We
> ended the day by staying at the same shelter.
> 	For lunch I stopped at Little Rock Pond.  After lunch, I walked
> around the end of the pond to some rocks.  From there I could jump
> into the pond from a height of 15 feet.  The water was clear and
> cold!!  I had a great swim.
> 	I stopped again at the Greenwall Shelter for a snicker bar break.  It
> started to rain, so I put on my pack cover.  It did not rain hard. 
> Just a drizzle.  
> 	Clarendon Gorge was great!  I was disappointed that it was already
> 6pm, cool and rainy.  The water was muddy.  So I did not go for a swim
> although it would have been a great place.  The AT crossed the gorge
> on a swinging bridge.  The bridge was about 30 feet above the water. 
> The gorge had some great rocks and wild pot holes and raging currents.
>  Very scenic and a great place to hang out on a sunny day.
> 	I met 8 south bounders who were setting up camp next to the gorge. 
> There was a beautiful camping spot there.
> 	1.3 miles yet to Clarendon Shelter!  I beat it, cause it was getting
> dark.  Good thing I had not looked at my profile map, so I did not
> know that ¾ mile was straight up the mountain side!  The trail
> maintainers had done a terrific job and made a lot of stone steps.  It
> was a great climb.  No view from the top though, too much fogs.  I
> made it to the shelter before I had to stop and get out my flash
> light.  Topsy and Kilo were already there.  So was Mark.  He is a
> North bound section hiker.  It was a nice shelter with a table inside.
>  I filtered some water from the creek and then made my supper.  
> 	When I crawled into my bag, a thunderstorm unleashed all its fury. 
> Wow.  I was glad to be in the shelter.  I wonder how the south
> bounders weathered the storm?  I had left them to their tents down by
> the gorge.
> 	Today I came 20.6 miles.
> 
> Monday August 24
> 
> 	This morning when I left the shelter it was cloudy and cool.  I hiked
> for about an hour and heard the rumble of thunder.  I picked up my
> pace and hoped to see the next shelter around the corner.  The sky
> grew darker and the thunder came closer.  Soon it began to rain!  I
> got soaked! My boots got wet and the trail became a small stream.   I
> crossed several creeks and then I met a man heading south on the AT. 
> He was carrying a fishing pole.  He remarked about the rain and said
> that he thought he would do a little fishing today. 
> 	The rain quit and the clouds broke up and left the sun shine through.
>  That is when I got to the next shelter.   The Canadian Couple were
> just getting ready to leave.  They wondered how the storm had been. 
> They had heard the thunder and decided to wait in the shelter till it
> passed.  Smart move.  I ate another snicker bar with some crunchy
> peanut butter.  Signed my name in the register and started out again,
> because I was getting cold.  
> 	From the shelter it was 4.1 miles to the top of Killington Mountain. 
> That was a long climb!  The peak is just over 4,000 feet above sea
> level.  The trail did not go over the peak, so I took a blue blaze
> trail to the top.  It had cleared enough to get a half decent view. 
> The wind sure did howl.  It was hard to keep your balance on the
> rocks.  Must have been about 50 to 60 mphs.
> 	Just down from the peak were a ski lift and a lodge with a small
> restaurant.  I stopped in for some lunch, and got a bowel of soup and
> a sandwich.  The Canadian Couple and Mark showed up and we sat at the
> same table for lunch.  After lunch I rode the gondola down the
> mountain and back up again, just for the ride.
> 	I got back to Cooper Lodge (a shelter on the AT on Killington Peak)
> just as it began to rain.  I sat there for awhile and almost decided
> to stay there for the night.  Then the rain quit and the sun shone.  I
> had a few hours of day light left, so I pushed on.
> 	It was 7pm when I got to the Inn at Long Trail.  I asked about rooms
> and they said I could have one for $44.  (Don't tell anyone, but that
> is a special hiker rate.)  I did not know if I wanted to stay or push
> on and camp for free?  I had 2 miles to the next shelter and 1 hour of
> day light left and I was hungry!  Someone said, "Wow!  Look outside!" 
> The rain was coming down in sheets and the wind was blowing hard.  I
> had made it to the inn just in time!  I decided to stay! <G>
> 	I met Woog at the inn.  He told me that Mt. Roamer, Yoyo, Truly
> Blessed and The Old Moose had just hiked out of there that morning. 
> Yes!  I was one day behind them!  There were a few other hikers there
> who had camped out in the woods across the road from the inn.  They
> were Goob, Llama, Doc, Katie, and Guided By Voices.
> 	I got my room and I took a long hot shower.  It sure felt good to get
> out of my wet clothes.  I stuffed news paper into my boots to help
> them dry out faster.  I changed the paper about 4 or 5 times and by
> the time I was ready to go again, they were almost dry.  
> 	For supper I got a garden salad and a fruit plate.  3 scoops of
> chocolate ice cream topped of the meal just right.
> 	Today I hiked 15.7 miles.
> 
> Tuesday August 25
> 
> 	I had a great sleep in a nice bed.  I got up and did got my laundry
> started.  Then I had some breakfast.  The breakfast was included with
> the price of the room.  I had a glass of orange juice and a class of
> chocolate milk and several thick slice of French Toast with yummy
> Maple syrup.  After breakfast, I retrieved my laundry from the dryer
> and took it back to my room.  I took another shower, just for the fun
> of it.  And then I packed up and left.  The day was cloudy and cool.
> 	I took a picture of myself at the Long Trail and AT junction.  Now I
> am hiking on the AT again.  For 93 miles the AT and Long Trail had
> been running together.
> 	I walked through Gifford Woods State Park.  I passed Kent pond and
> met a group of small children out for a day hike.  They were full of
> questions.  "Where are you going?  Are you staying the night?  What do
> you do when it gets dark?"  When I had answered their questions, we
> parted ways.
> 	As I was hiking, I noticed a Nalgene bottle with duct tape wrapped
> around it lying beside the trail.  It looks like someone took a break
> there and when they got their pack on again the bottle fell out.  I
> picked it up and carried it along.  I figured the owner was just ahead
> of me.
> 	I met PMS and Ante-Up and Woog taking a break along the trail.  I
> asked them if they had lost a bottle.  Nope.  Did not belong to them. 
> I sat and chatted with them till they moved on.  Then we hiked
> together to the lookout.  From the look out we could see Mt.
> Washington.  At least we think it was Mt. Washington, because it was
> the tallest mountain looming in the distance.
> 	I got to Wintturi Shelter at dusk.  I made mashed potatoes and gravy
> for supper.
> 	The shelter was full of hikers I had not seen for quite awhile.  They
> were Rooster, Cool Rabbit, Light Weight, and Mesquito.  Goob was also
> there.  Woog tented and PMS and Ante-up did too.
> 	Today I hiked 17.4 miles.
> 
> Wednesday August 26
> 
> 	26 miles to Hanover.  Sure I can do that.  I left the shelter at
> 7:20.  The first 3 miles were down hill.  Then I crossed a road and
> climbed a hill.  I looked back and could just so see another hiker on
> the AT.   I could not see who it was, but figured him to be about 45
> minutes behind me.
> 	I topped the hill and saw two nice buck cross the trail. I stood
> still and watched.  When they were out of sight, I moved down to where
> I had seen them last, dropped my pack, and snuck around the hill to
> see the deer again.  No luck.  They were gone.
> 	At the bottom of the hill I stopped for a break.  About ½ hour and
> mesquito walked up.  He was not ready for a break yet, so he kept
> walking.  A few miles down the trail I caught up with him again.  We
> came to a road crossing and there we found a cooler.  Inside were
> cookies and bananas.  Next to the cooler was a 2 liter of Kool Aid. 
> Wow, trail magic from a former through hiker.  How nice.
> 	I stopped at Thistle Hill shelter for lunch break.  Mesquito stopped
> there too.  He was not carrying a tent.  So he had to stop there or
> head on into Hanover.  He decided to hike on.  It was already 2pm and
> I had only come 11.8 miles.  Not quite halfway and I was already tired.
> 	My next stop was the White River.  I was hot and a cool swim would
> feel good.  I was disappointed to see the water a muddy brown, but I
> did not let that stop me.  I talked with some local youth who were
> there for a swim and they showed me where I could jump from the rocks.
>  I jumped in and the water was cold.  Then one of the boys got up his
> courage and jumped from the bridge.  So then I had to try it too. 
> What a thrill.  30 feet is a long way down.
> 	9.6 miles left to go.  I bought a Pepsi and ate another Snicker bar. 
> 5:30 and I was on my way.  Mesquito was ahead of me.  He did not stop
> for a swim.
> 	At 7pm I was at Happy Hill Shelter.  The sign said 4.3 miles to Elm
> Street.  Good.  I should be out of the woods by dark.  I had not gone
> far when I heard the thunder rumble.  Oh no, not another thunderstorm
> now.  I shifted into a higher gear.  I walked for a long time.  I
> finally made it to the road!  I had to use my flash light to look at
> my watch.  It was 8pm.  Great.  No rain yet.  I was almost there.  I
> headed down the road.   The white blazes where few and far between.  I
> became concerned, so I stopped for a look at my map.  Ooops.  My maps
> were not in my pack!!  Must be I lost them at the White River.  Well,
> on the bright side, I did not have to carry that extra weight those
> 9.6 miles.  I walked a little farther and found a blaze on a telephone
> pole.  Once I got to main street, I asked someone where the college
> was.  (I figured I would find Mt. Roamer and the others there.)  The
> person told me I had to follow Main street across the river to
> Hanover. I thought I was in Hanover so I asked him what town I was in.
>  He told me I was Norwich.  Oh no.  Here I thought I was almost there.
>  Now I had to go to the next town. 
> 	When I got to Main Street in Hanover, I puzzled over the fact of how
> to find the others in this town.  Well, I was hungry, so I decided Ben
> and Jerry's was in order.  I pasted a restaurant and looked in the
> window.  There was the whole group eating supper.  Wow!  It sure was
> good to see them!  Mt. Roamer, Truly Blessed, Yoyo, The Old Moose,
> Crow, Critter, Nutbar, Caretaker, Long Distance Man, Hansel and
> Gretel, and PMS and Ante'-up.  They were all there.  I had finally
> caught up with them.  I walked in took off my pack, sat down and
> ordered some beef stew.
> 	The questions flew, till we were all caught up on the latest trail
> news.  PMS and Ante Up had hiked about 4 miles that morning and came
> to a road.  Someone there offered to give them a ride to town so they
> accepted.  (That is what we call "yellow blazing")
> I did not see Mesquito, but I found out later that he had made it to
> town and found a place to stay.  I stayed with the others at a Frat
> house who allows hikers to camp in the back yard or sleep in the
> basement.
> 
> Thursday August 27
> 
> Today I got another shower.  Then Mt. Roamer and I went out to eat. 
> We did our laundry.  Then went shopping.  For lunch we went to Ben and
> Jerry's and got a Vermonster.  20 scoops of ice cream 3 cookies 4
> scoops of walnuts 1 scoop of M&Ms Piles of whipped cream and fudge
> topping.  It was mighty delicious.  Yoyo, Mt. Roamer and I ate until
> we were full!  Then the bucket was empty, so we quit.  (We have
> pictures to prove it.) 
> 	Mt. Roamer went to the food coop to get some food.  I did not need
> any, so I went back to the Frat house.  The place really needed a Mom
> to keep things tidy.  There was garbage lying around outside, so I
> picked it up and threw it in the dumpster.  Then I swept the porch and
> I swept the basement steps.  Just that little bit sure made the place
> look a lot better.  I also found a good trench coat and some sweaters
> lying in the weeds.  I asked one of the residents, and he said no one
> knew whose clothes they were.  I picked out the stuff I wanted and the
> rest I through in the dumpster.  The coat I sent home.
> 	Towards evening, everyone who wanted to went down to the river for a
> swim.  We heard that there was a good rope swing.  We were not
> disappointed.  The rope was long and you got a great ride.  The water
> was deep and cold.  You could also climb up the tree the rope was tied
> on and jump into the water.  I climbed up about 30 feet.  That was
> high enough for me.  I saw another fellow who jumped from higher up. 
> About 50 or 60 feet.   To high for me.  May be some time when I am not
> hiking the AT.
> 	For supper we went to the Jewel of India.  Everyone ordered something
> different.  When our food came, we sampled everyone else's dish to see
> who's we liked the best.  I liked mine the best.  Jumbo shrimp. <g>
> 	Then we went back to the Frat house and chatted till late.
> 	I got my maps back!!  Mesquito was at the Frat house and he said that
> he had found them in his pack.  Evidently he had picked them up by
> mistake at the White River when we shared a park bench for a resting
> spot.
> 
> Friday August 28, 1998
> 
> Last night was cool.  Great for sleeping out.  I ate a breakfast out
> of my pack.  Then I got my bump box ready to mail.  I dried some of
> the clothes that I had found, and packed them in a box to go home.  We
> dropped our boxes off at the post office.  Then we went to see Hansel
> and Gretel.  Gretel was sick, so they were staying at the Inn.  She
> was feeling better than the day before, but they were planning to stay
> another night.  
> 	After our visit, Yoyo and I were hungry, so we went to the Pizza
> place for something to eat.   My tummy now full, I headed for the
> library, looking for a computer.  I found one in the Keiwitt Building.
>  It is a building full of computers for the college students to use to
> write papers.    Well, now it is 8pm and I have been on this computer
> since 1.  I've typed 4 pages of journal in size 10 print.  I think
> I'll go get something to eat.  I'm hungry!!!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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