Date: 2011-10-02
From: Manchester Center

To: Stratton Pond
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

A wet and muddy day.ODGreen had said Manchester Center was an easy town to hitch out of. Although I usually have good luck hitching into towns, I have usually paid for shuttle or taxi to trail head as I need the time on the trail. But since he said that and I had a pretty short day I decided to try hitching.Well early on a Sunday morning hitching is not very good. No one wanted to pick up the old lady with pack, umbrella, hiking poles and duct tape patched rain pants. Guess they were all on their way to church. I felt like the story of the Good Samaritan.I needed a good Samaritan.Just as I was about to phone for a taxi, after having walked close to a mile, I got a ride for part of the way. After walking a little more I accosted a nice elderly gentleman on the way to his car and got a ride the rest of the way. It took more than an hour to get to the trailhead. Oh well, it was an experience.The day was wet, not pouring, but steadily wet. It was in the low 50s but that is good hiking weather. I was just right in shorts, short sleeved shirt and rain gear with, of course, umbrella.Kathy asked me if the color was at the height of the season. Well, not really. Much of the forest is still green. There are some red maples, some yellow and the Hobble Bushes are often in color. But the rain is knocking the leaves off and into the trail. The trail is often colorful with glistening red and orange and yellow shining like somewhat bedraggled jewels on the trail.Sometimes the jewels are just trampled in the mud. MUD! Vermont lived up to its muddy reputation today. Especially the last 3 miles or so to the shelter had one mud pit after another.Everything is so wet that falling is a real threat. 3 days ago I fell near White Rocks and wondered if I broke my wrist. Colles fractures are common in the elderly. I hiked with my hand cradled in my pocket for a while and it felt better after a while.Today I fell and my new knee hit a book sized rock hard enough to dislodge rock from trail. But it seems none the worse for wear. Plastic and titanium held up. I try to be careful but with all this wet I feel like I am pushing my luck. 4 more days to hike without damaging anything.I mentally sang a lot of the day. That helps me cover the miles. Today I mentally sang a lot of hymns. Well, it is Sunday, you know.Three rain bedraggled weekend hikers passed me on their way out. They were envious of my umbrella arrangement. Others have been too. So how do I use an umbrella? I wrap the handle in a bandana for comfort and put the handle under the chest strap and under my shirt and into the top of one side of my sports bra. Works great. I have my hands free for my poles and I am covered with the umbrella. Sorry guys, I don't know what you would do for the second point of stability without a sports bra.Stratton Pond was very beautiful even on a wet and foggy day.The shelter is a nice big one. It was full last night but tonight, so far I am the only inhabitant. I arrived before 5. Tomorrow will be a long day but there is no point to go on tonight. There is no camping on Stratton Mountain and when it is this wet it is very nice to be in a shelter.I am dry and well. Dinner is ready and an early bed is waiting. Life is good.Sent on the go from my Peek