Slacking off

While it may seem as slacking off because I didn't spend most of the day sorting and pitching and packing, my hike this afternoon was for spiritual and mental health, a chance to collect my thoughts now that I have signed off on the covenant between Trinity and me. It is momentous and I needed to hit the mountains of Central Vermont on a warm October day.


The Stowe Pinnacle is a super popular, short (3.2 mile RT) hike that is best done on a weekday because it is a zoo on weekends (and forget this coming one when our state population will double). I am always surprised when I get to the 'vista' which is 0.9 miles up. The trail is fairly steep with some rock stairs so I am always amused that the guidebooks tout this as a good hike for families with children. They have got to have long legs! Anyway, this shot looks west toward Camels Hump; I took it from the vista. The clouds were coming in and, as usual, I was shooting into the sun so quality isn't very good but the fall colours were still resplendent.


After another 0.6 miles around the back of the pinnacle, through a small col and then upwards on a relatively new trail, rerouted because the old one was worn down (the traffic on this hike really erodes the trail), one gets up to the top (even by two new ladders). Across the way is Mount Mansfield with the antennae for Vermont Public Radio and Television and Stowe ski resort (which may be sold soon because it is tied in with the failed AIG).


One can NEVER have too many photos of Camels Hump!


I realise I never put up photos from last week of the fall colours when they were at peak. These are a bit washed out and the trees are losing their leaves but this gives you an idea of what we've been seeing this fall.


Caminante looks wistfully out at her favourite mountains wondering when she will next get up Camels Hump, Hunger Mountain and the Pinnacle. It will take a lot more planning. So in a way, adios.