The Arduous Journey 9/27/17

After yesterday’s grueling hike in the “summer” heat, today was supposed to be a bit more relaxed – a visit to some local ruins and with it, a 2 mile walk around a lake.

The start of our journey should have been our first clue as to the day we would actually have, when we rounded a bend to find a bulldozer in the middle of the road.

Both parties sat still, revving their engines in a challenging game of “Chicken”, but knowing full well that if push came to shove, the dozer would win. Fortunately, he caved and moved off the road. Probably a city worker who wanted to keep his job. (you do know this is an exaggeration of events, right?)

We saw the ruins as I mentioned in my “Special Edition”. And the trailhead for the Indian Pond Loop was very near there and took off from the same parking lot. We had no idea that the trail wouldn’t just wind around the lake. Looking at a map, Blaine suggested going on up to a Vista instead of walking the full pond loop. I agreed. So we started out. With no information about the trails. (We’ve found it’s sometimes difficult to find actual information in many places, so we just have our assumptions.)

After a very short time on the Indian Pond Loop, we discovered it wasn’t as easy as we expected, so we went back to the Jeep, changed into hiking boots and grabbed our poles – just in case. Turns out, we needed them more than ever before!

We arrived at the Pond and had our lunch. It was hot and it was a tiring hike – even as short as it was. I took my boots and socks off for lunch and that helped a lot!

Indian Pond

Lunch View

Then Blaine challenged me to hike to the top of the mountain. He kept saying we could turn back, if I wanted. Countless times I wanted to, but I just couldn’t bring myself to quit. I’m rather stubborn that way. I’m far from a feminist who thinks she can do everything a man can do, but I take pride in being able to keep up with Blaine, albeit slower and more difficultly than he’d go by himself.

View of Indian Pond as we continue to climb

Just look at this amazingly, incredible creature!
Some kind of a worm? Caterpillar? We have no idea, but what an incredible job of camouflage! We couldn’t take the picture with the leaves surrounding it because the camera wouldn’t focus on it.
How can anyone look at something like this and think there is no Creator?

The trek was so challenging, I didn’t even take pictures.

Part of the trail
Blaine actually took this, because, remember I didn’t take any this time!

Up, up, up we went, scrambling and clawing our way, gulping air, partially dehydrated because we were low on water, chests heaving with exertion, every step bring sharp pains to the knees, muscles stretched beyond normal lengths, sweat dripping from everywhere soaking our clothes . . .

But still, we persevered. We finally made it to the top and collapsed in a heap, hyperventilating, eyes closed, but laying perfectly still for several minutes.

I gradually opened one eye . . . and that’s when I saw the vultures circling overhead.

I nudged Blaine and quietly told him to look up. The predators had spotted their prey and they continued soaring ever closer to us. Until we moved to take a picture. Then off they went. But we could see the whites of their eyes, they were that close!

Ok, ok. This was a bit of an exaggeration as well, but not by a whole lot. And we did actually sit on some rocks in the shade (after checking out the great views) and the vultures did actually start circling closer and closer to us (very close!) and they actually did take off when we moved to take their picture.

The summit of Mount Wantastiquet was one of those breathtaking places. And for me, one of the scariest as Blaine always has to stand on the top of the highest rock everywhere we go. I asked him not to, but he did it anyway. I snapped a quick picture then went to look at something else. I figured if he fell, I’d hear him, but if I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have to watch.

Yeah. This is how I look over the edge. : )

Here’s how Blaine does it!
Yikes!!!!!

Part of the town of Brattleboro, Vermont

Just look at all those fallen rocks down there! Waaaay down there!

Here he is again!

I know I look a little nervous, and I was. But where I am was actually very safe – – as long as the rocks don’t fall off.

That black dot is one of the vultures, off to find lunch somewhere else

So we survived the precarious perch and the hungry vultures and headed back down.

This was when the sticks really came in handy! It was hard enough on our bodies to go up, but going back down was jarring and at times, slippery. I’ve found that my boots grip better to hoist me up than they do preventing slipping as I go down. But we made it. And when all was said and done, we were both glad we’d been to the top.

On the way down . . .

And then, seemingly appropriately, we visited a cemetery. 😊

We’d seen a sign that dubbed it The 1766 Cemetery and we thought it would be interesting to visit. It was pretty amazing the great condition the oldest ones were in! We’re pretty sure they were made of slate. The engraving on most was still like new! Sadly, many were also washed out or broken.