Date: 2003-07-08
From: VT11/30, Manchester Center (1870') 

To: Lost Pond Shelter (2230') 
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: scattered clouds

A hikin' we shall go... a hikin' we shall go... hi ho the dairy o'... a hikin' we shall go...!   Aloha! I'm a hikin' fool. I'm a happy hikin' fool at that. I have new boots! Yeehawwww! I love Montrail and their Sandia Peaks! Yippeee! I wasn't expecting my feet to feel like new overnight nor was I expecting them to feel as good as they do. All because of arch support. The boots are great. I could feel the immediate relief the moment I slipped into them. The right foot is just as happy as it can be while the left one is much happier but will take a few days to get it totally together. My arches had fallen but now they have crutches! Ahhh...   Oops, I'm sorry; I seem to have jumped ahead of the game. Let's back up and I'll bring you up to date on the day's events. As expected, it's been another great day. Life is good!   After spending more time than expected transmitting some of my journal entries, ANOTHER hot shower and breakfast, Short Job and I were out and heading back to Manchester Center and the trail. I was going hikin' and Short Job was going with me. For an hour anyway. Not nearly long enough for me but certainly better than nothing. I was able to ramble on for another 35 minutes keeping her there but finally I had to let her go. It was fantastic to have gotten to spend time with her again. I certainly appreciate all of her hospitality. It's such a blessing to have my very own trail angels. Short Job - mahalo nui loa for all.   With Short Job returning south I turned north. I figured out immediately why she stopped where she did. Right around the hidden corner was the next big UP. From 1870' to 3260' I went. Strangely enough, with my new boots and high energy it wasn't nearly the huffer and puffer I thought it would be. Yippee!   Bromley Mountain turned out to be the top of a ski resort. What I originally took as the trail crossing a bald of sorts actually turned out to be one of the ski runs. Cool! At the summit there is an observation tower, picnic table, warming hut and lift. Never having even been near a ski lift before, and being totally alone at the top, I got to play on the platform pretending I was someone who knew how to ski "practiced" exiting the lift and scooting to the tops of the runs. Quite the imagination I have! It was then off to the observation tower for lunch and a five-state view. Double cool! At the base of the mountain, which I wasn't about to go since the lift wasn't running, is Bromley Fun Park and further down Bromley Base Lodge. Not this trip. Too far out of my .03-mile off trail limit.   After 3 miles of mostly downs, it was UP to Styles Peak where I had hoped to take a leisurely break with a view but that wasn't to be. You know, I could absolutely fall in love with Vermont if it wasn't for the... nasty, vicious, eye-diving, ear-buzzing, skin-biting bugs/flys/gnats/whatevers! Argh!!! They're enough to drive a person buggy! (Poor pun, I know.) They were not going to allow me a moment's rest even bathed in Deet. My break lasted a total of about 4 minutes. Long enough to take the pack off and put it back on again. Grrr...   With a small roller coaster ride I found myself at my predetermined destination way to early to stop walking. It was early, my feet felt good and I felt like walking so off I went again. Had I had more time or it had been warmer I would have been in Griffith Lake so fast that it would have made your head spin. Another gorgeous lake begging you to take a swim. As it was though I needed to continue on in order to arrive at the next camping area before dark. Why I didn't camp there I'll never know. Pity. Sure looked nice. I love Vermont ponds and lakes.    Enroute to this shelter I was given a surprise small peak - Baker Peak. I turned that corner and came face to rock with a rocky UP. More PA big sharp rock stuff. It was great! Craggy big rocks with wonderful views every time I stopped and turned around. This was one of the fun climbs. These I enjoy even when tired.   It was but a hop, skip and a jump after Baker that I found my way to here. Momentarily I did consider moving on another 1.5 miles to the next shelter but only momentarily. My left foot was telling me no. I'm learning to listen to my head, feet and body... most of the time.   Much to my surprise, Shooting Star (whom I thought would be 20 to 30 miles further north) is here along with a new-to-me Long Trail hiker named Early Bird. If I heard correctly, this is Early Bird's second thru-hike of the Long Trail and she was also involved in the rebuilding of this shelter last year after the original burned down. Energetic gal. Both women have chosen to set up their hammock and bevy respectively in the shelter. They're stronger women than I. I'm contently sitting inside my bug free tent and quite happy bout it. All buzzing is on the outside thank you very much.   So that was my day. A good beginning, a good middle and a good ending. I'd say it was all around good. Getting to spend time with Short Job was icing on the cake if not the foundation layer to begin with. Today was good. Just as I suspect tomorrow will be. Yeah!   Speaking of tomorrow, I should get to bed now. I'm not thinking that tomorrow will be all that hard of a day but there does look to be an UP or two planned in there. Time to rest up for it. So you go dream the good dreams and I'll do the same. See ya tomorrow.BSandTs: some sweat but not horrible. Bearable.AandPs: feet feel so much better. Still pain on the topside of the left arch that can make me cringe when mis-stepped but livable.MandGs: BUGS, BITING BUGS!!!...waah!Critter count: 1x Red Eft, 2x chipmunks, 1x scrawny squirrel, 1x deer (crossing the road in front of the car but it counts!)