The off season had not been so good to me; after having COVID and moving out of a terrible living situation weeks before, I was back up in Vermont for my grandfather’s funeral. It’d been a long haul with my mother as his caretaker while he suffered from dementia - a lot of uncertainty remained moving forward, so mom and I took to the hills to get away and rest our minds for a while. I wanted to ease my way in after being sick so we chose Pico; it’s close and on the New England Hundred Highest list at just under four thousand feet.

We ascended via the Sherburne Pass which meandered up from VT Rt. 4 and used to be a part of the Long Trail before it was re-routed, sharing stories of my grandfather and his love for animals and the outdoors, pondering on what the future might hold. About 2 miles in, the trail joined with a ski slope allowing for some nice views and wildflower patches. It was somber, yet serene as we basked in the quietness; I suppose life sort of is just that way, always bouncing back and forth between sunshine and hurricanes. We can’t control the weather, but I was thankful for this clear day for a change.

The last 1/2 mile up was the more traditional high peak terrain; lots of steeper climbing, rock scrambles, and even an immaculately maintained shelter (the Green Mountain Club chapters do such a fantastic job keeping up with trails through the state - so very thankful for all they do!) Another summit atop a ski slope that overlooked some familiar landmarks including the city of Rutland; Chittenden Reservoir, which I hiked around as a child with my mom and grandparents - quite full circle, if you ask me; and just behind the trees near the ski patrol lodge stood Killington. Had a nice conversation with an older couple with their daughter and dog from Windsor and enjoyed a snack before climbing down. Today was a peaceful day, despite it all. It got me thinking about a common saying among hikers and backpackers:

If you can’t carry it in your pack or in your soul, you probably don’t need it.

NH 0/48
New England 4/67
New England 5/100 Highest
Northeast 5/115