Date: 2005-08-02
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: clear sky

Hopeful:   Happy Birthday, Brian Matchett (our "big" little brother)! We thought of this AM...   We got a late start again. The tent was pretty wet due to intermittent rain throughout the night. It did really clear by morning and the sun came right up, making us hopeful for good views, unlike the fog of the past couple of days. It was about time for another unexpected change of plans I guess. We discovered this when Red Wing's Platypus water bladder (that goes in his pack with a hose that he attaches near his mouth) was leaking. Thankfully, he caught it before it soaked his clothes and sleeping bag, and thankfully we were only 3 miles from the road crossing near Manchester. We really didn't want to got back to town again after spending all weekend off the Trail, but the EMS store there would be the best, quickest placed for a replacement. At the parking area we met High Mountain (a southbounder) and his girlfriend, Ruth, who was visiting him. They offered to give us a ride to town and as we pulled into EMS she realized what we needed and offered her "extra" water bladder that she just happened to have in the trunk! It was perfect. God continually provides for us in creative ways. He is "Jehovah Jirah", which is the Hebrew way to say "The Lord who Provides". We didn't fail to take advantage of the trip to town anyway, by buying lunch at the grocery store and adding a few extra snacks to our bags. All in all it was a good stop, but by the time we hitched back to the Trail, it was after noon.    The first climb was up to the top of Bromley Mountain, where there was an observation tower, ski patrol warming hut where hikers can stay if they want to, and a chair lift waiting for the snow to come back. Today was a great day for views. We left there and went over Styles Peak and Peru Peak, all over 3,000 feet. Since we were running late, we stopped for dinner at Peru Peak Shelter. There were a bunch of teenage girl campers, with whom we enjoyed talking. It makes me miss talking with our youth kids and my students back in Traverse City.   The dinner fueled us for a fast 4.5 miles to the shelter here. It's an awesome spot! We can hear the stream below from where our tent is set up. We met Matt and Andy, two guys out here for a week or so. Today's their first day. Really, we haven't seen any thru hikers who began in Georgia all day long! We did meet day hikers, a SOBO named Hawkeye, a couple hiking the AT in two sections over two years named the Pokie Puppies, and the others previously mentioned. We'd like to get an earlier start tomorrow, and we've even set the alarm. It's still not 20 miles, but almost. We've kind of decided that unelss we really neet to, we'd prefer not to hike any more days over 20 miles. We enjoy the days much more when they are a little shorter. We linger more in cool spots along the way, without so much pressure to keep moving so we can get the miles done.   Tonight was cool to walk as the sun was setting (we didn't get to camp until 8 PM). The forest is very quiet and peaceful. It almost seems like it's not right to talk and interrupt it! The sun casts odd shadows at the evening angles. The early morning has a similar feel.