Aug 2: today was the first day of my forth month on the trail! I celebrated with a great day of hiking. We were up and out by 6 am, after our early end yesterday. Early morning fog and wet leaves- we left our pack covers on as we negotiated through the brush.
First order of business, climb Bromley Mountain. The last half mile or so we were hiking up a ski run ( green circle, not so bad) to the warming hut at the top. We stopped there for a snack, talked to a guy who had spent the night there- it's available as a shelter for hikers.
First order of business, climb Bromley Mountain. The last half mile or so we were hiking up a ski run ( green circle, not so bad) to the warming hut at the top. We stopped there for a snack, talked to a guy who had spent the night there- it's available as a shelter for hikers.
The descent from the mountain was marked by lots of evergreen trees with that great evergreen smell! Lots of boardwalk walking over mud pits, both on the descent and over the next few miles. Pony bear and Indy passed us, Ponybear covered in mud on one side- the result of slipping on the wet boards. A few minutes later, I came up on Subaru, sporting the same mud spatters. I managed to stay dry until 5 minutes before we reached the shelter for lunch. My foot slipped off a rock and *splash* I was up to my ankle in mud. Yuck!
The shelter at lunch had a nice sunny tenting platform where we all spread out wet gear (and clothes) (and boots) to dry in the sun. New faces on the trail- SOBOs (southbounders) and Long Trail hikers. We saw Mellow Johnny, back on the trail after zeroing for injuries. And Kokopelli, an older guy who is light and quick.
More flat, mellow walking after lunch, rock hopping and boardwalks to avoid mud. We walked along a gravel road for a quarter mile or so before turning up the trail across from a parking lot. The first mile or so after the turn was a gently inclined gravel path. I could get used to this!
Good thing I didn't.
After that first mile ( with a campsite at the end) it started getting rockier and steeper. I started getting more tired, stumbling and kicking rocks. But made it to Little Rock Pond Shelter without any more wet boots.
The shelter and campsite were lovely! Nice spacious bunks, a large area for cooking and eating, and the pond was gorgeous! (The water source, a slow spring, not so gorgeous) Since we arrived shortly before sunset, it was just a touch too chilly for swimming. But nice company and a good night's sleep.
The shelter at lunch had a nice sunny tenting platform where we all spread out wet gear (and clothes) (and boots) to dry in the sun. New faces on the trail- SOBOs (southbounders) and Long Trail hikers. We saw Mellow Johnny, back on the trail after zeroing for injuries. And Kokopelli, an older guy who is light and quick.
More flat, mellow walking after lunch, rock hopping and boardwalks to avoid mud. We walked along a gravel road for a quarter mile or so before turning up the trail across from a parking lot. The first mile or so after the turn was a gently inclined gravel path. I could get used to this!
Good thing I didn't.
After that first mile ( with a campsite at the end) it started getting rockier and steeper. I started getting more tired, stumbling and kicking rocks. But made it to Little Rock Pond Shelter without any more wet boots.
The shelter and campsite were lovely! Nice spacious bunks, a large area for cooking and eating, and the pond was gorgeous! (The water source, a slow spring, not so gorgeous) Since we arrived shortly before sunset, it was just a touch too chilly for swimming. But nice company and a good night's sleep.
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