(Daily Mi: 17.0) Great big fun today with Stout, Woodman and Mathew. After a good day of hot fast hiking and about 15 miles rolling Vermont mountains, we hit Clarendon Gorge and a big swimming hole at about 2 p.m. The gorge is about 50 feet deep with a swimmable creek, and a suspended boardwalk bridge above.

Swam for about a half an hour (Mathew pointed out an unfortunate hole in my hiking trunks) and then hiked on another half mile to a road and about .25 off Trail to a roadside snackstand ("The Caboose" -- which is what they are probably calling me back at the swimming hole!)

Ate a gigantor cheesburger and pile of fries. This turned out to be a mistake as the last two miles to the shelter were more or less straight up hill and dinner felt like a lead balloon on the walk up.

Packed shelter. Woodman pitches his tarp nearby. Going to be in the mid 40s tonight. I am packing a true (55+) summer bag and am forced to put on everything I own including rain gear to stay even lukewarm through the coming night.