If you do not the expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail.
~Heraclitus
Hike from Thistle Hill Shelter to the cabin at The Lookout
AT miles: 14.9
Ascent: 4376’
Descent: 3615’
Weather: rainy in the morning with a brief sun-sighting in the afternoon
Sightings: a red eft
High points: seeing a red eft
We got up at 6:00, expecting to have to be very quiet packing up so we didn’t disturb anyone. The rain was pouring down on the metal roof so loudly that we could have yelled and not woken anyone!
We left at 7:00, and due to the pouring rain it was really dark. Eventually the world lightened up. We were walking through a dripping dark forest.
For most of the day the trail wandered through woods alternating with beautiful meadows. The meadows provided both cloudy views and gorgeous wildflowers.
At one point we walked by some very wet honeysuckle berries that had drops of water hanging off them.
We walked by many stone walls. In earlier days the people of Vermont spent a lot of time building these! The startlingly white stones in the wall are marble.
Crossing Pomfret Creek was a surprisingly wet business. Because of all the rain the water level was much higher than normal. Thankfully there was a guide wire that we could hold onto while crossing.
One of the highlights of today was seeing a red eft. Red efts are a bit like newts, but they are very red. They are found up and down the AT, but they only come out when it rains — one advantage of having such a rainy day!
Due to the two weeks of pretty much non-stop rain, the trail was really wet and muddy. Despite my best efforts, sometimes my trail runners just sunk in the morass.
Another reason my trail shoes were so impressively wet was that small rivers occasionally ran down the trail.
We ended our day at a private cabin very close to the trail called The Lookout. Its owners let hikers stay at it. The cabin is very civilized, with windows and a door and a fireplace! It is supposed to rain some more, so I’m happy to be inside. There are nine of us sharing the space, including two southbounders!
The cabin has a lookout on the top of the roof that has great views of the Green Mountains!
Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods!
Pretty pictures!
With all the rain, I hope you’re still enjoying your hike! (I wouldn’t be!!) Good thing you brought good rain gear! We could use some of that rain here to wash away the smoke in the air coming from the fires out west.
We’re having lows in the 50s and highs in the upper 70s. Chilly for this time of year here. Wondering if we’ll get an early fall.
Enjoy your day!!