Quimby Mountain, Thundering Brook Falls, Deer Leap Mountain and Rutland, VT

Somehow it's always a little easier to get up in the morning when I know that I'll end the day in a town. It didn't hurt that it was partly sunny and a little warmer, either. We hiked past Stony Brook Shelter and climbed 1,500 feet up the northern side of Quimby Mountain. The Trail over Quimby took us across 4 peaks that each exceeded 2,500 feet, all separated by gaps, so it was up and down again for the next 4 miles before a steep 1,500 drop to the Ottauquechee River. We crossed the river, walking across boards, to Thundering Brook Falls where we took a quick break.

The Trail was harder after the Falls, back to the old familiar tree roots, mud and rock scrambles. For 6 miles we hiked, including one long climb. We passed through Gifford Woods State Park, where the last old-growth trees in Vermont are found; they have been protected from the logging industry. After a quick break there, the last of today's hike took us around Deer Leap Mountain to Willard Gap, and then descended to the US 4/Killington Trailhead, where we would pick up our shuttle to Rutland to pick up my resupply package.