Rain, Rain, Go Away...

The April showers I was okay with. May and June's I tried to brush off, but now we're in July, and it seems to rain everyday. Yes, we are in a state of lustrous Green Mountain beauty, but the saturated ground is slowing to absorb excess water; trails are muddy; roads are being damaged ubiquitously. How much more can we take?

Vermont Department of Transportation and the 511 Travel Info Hotline have put together a live map that details road closures of which they're aware. It can be accessed here.

http://vtransmaps.vermont.gov/VTrans511/511live.htm

If you hear thunder on the trail, immediately head away from mountain peaks and for shelter. On Hunger Mountain last week, I was hiking with a friend -- ignoring the thunder -- and then lightning struck right next to us. We were lucky to not have been struck, and we learned a valuable lesson -- show much respect to the forces of nature.

I heard that a few days ago two and three quarters inches of rain fell in a period of just two hours. That's ridiculous.

Maybe the best thing to come out of all of this rain: 

some really pretty rainbows.   

:-)

Anyways, be safe, plan ahead and see you at CC.