Day 115 VT103, Rutland to Churchill Scott shelter

Today's miles 15.5.  AT miles 1695.1

Another tough, tiring day on the trail, but much better weather, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining again.
We started though with a lovely breakfast at our hotel then got a taxi back out to the trailhead.  We were walking for ten past nine and no sooner than we started we hit our first major obstacle of the day - a very steep rocky ascent/rock scramble for half a mile.   Down for a bit then back up another steepish section where we came across a huge tree blocking the trail that we had to climb over and through.  It was a very recent tree fall, must have been in the last day or two in the strong winds and rain.  A bit further we reached Gould Brook which required jumping across from one large rock to another, there was a rope tied over the crossing to hold onto for assistance. 

After about five and a half miles we reached a trail relocation sign.  Due to damage by Hurricane Irene the trail was diverted a mile by gravel road.  A previous footbridge was also out across Sargent Brook.  We were told we would have to ford the river but we managed to get across just hopping stones.  Roundabout this location we passed the '500 miles to Katahdin' marker (Katahdin being the final summit and trail end). We missed the official sign, that was in the area of trail we had to detour around.  Less than 500 miles to go, it sounds so close yet it's so far still.  We saw another sign warning dog owners of porcupines.  Lots of dogs have needed de-quilling after encountering a surging population of porcupines on the trail. 

The trail continued uphill for another five miles to Cooper Lodge shelter on Killington Peak 3928ft or just short of the peak, it was another optional 0.2 miles to the summit which we didn't take. It was a nightmare of a trail again with so many tree roots and rocks to constantly step over.  We were making very slow progress today with our freshly laden resupplied packs, it took us six hours to go eleven miles.  There were a few other weekend hikers at the shelter including one guy who Nigel spotted wearing a football T-shirt.   He was the first American Nigel had asked who knew that America had a match in the World Cup on Sunday!  You'd never know the World Cup was even happening over here.

Downhill from the shelter the trail was just as rough.  We ended up stopping at Churchill Scott shelter for the night at 6pm pitching our tent on the only tent platform provided. No one else was at the shelter.  We had planned to go to the highly recommended 'Inn at Long Trail' a further four miles ahead but wouldn't have made it until very late.  We were both tired and had aching feet from constantly stepping over roots and rocks all day.  We'll stop there for lunch tomorrow instead.