Last nights tenting site was .2 miles down from the summit of Killington Peak. At 3900', it's the highest place you can camp in Vermont. Needless to say, much of today's hiking was downhill.

When I first started this adventure, I felt like it was going to be a game of endurance. Just keep walking and overcome every obstacle. At the time, I didn't think hiking pace was important. It seemed that speed didn't matter. Distance would be a function of the time spent walking.

Somewhere along the way, that line of thought changed. It's not how far you can hike, but how fast you can walk far. When I'm hiking, I'm trying to get the most out of every step. Doing my best to optimize stride length and cadence. It's like going to the gym…for 8-10 hours a day.

At one point today, the conditions aligned. The trail was damp, with just the right amount of cushion. The rocks and roots were at a minimum. The downward pitch at the correct angle. And my mind was focused. With those conditions, I sped down the mountain. My pace faster than ever. It felt awesome to be going that fast.

It lasted about 10 minutes before the conditions changed. Then back to normal speed. Which is still pretty fast.

I walked about 3/4 mile off trail to visit a local deli. My goal was a partial resupply. I needed some chips, cookies, and candy. Once I arrived, there was an Inn across the street. As you can see, I ended up staying.

I will be in Hanover, NH on Friday. Mrs. Growler is coming to visit!

There has to be a brewery around here somewhere.