Date: 2016-07-20
From: Bromley Shelter

To: Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

Woke up and got going pretty early again (I'm likin' this!)Finished hiking up Bromley Mountain, and the top was beautiful! There was even a neat chairlift to hang out in! Again, the scenery and weather were out of this world amazing, and I can't handle how good everything smells! I think it's hemlock? Some kind of coniferous-ish tree (specific, right?) It smells like pine and honey and home and christmas. I love it.I hiked for a while with Mountain Goat until we got to a very steep hill where he proceeded to show me (unintentionally) how he got his trail name. He hopped right up that WALL of a hill like it was nothing! Here I am, huffing and puffing and my legs are burning, and I'm going at a pretty decent speed, but he was GONE! I eventually caught up with him at the top, where there was a nice look out spot and place for a snack. He shared one of his last beers with me, and Peach joined us with oreos and a beer of his own, so we sat in the sunshine on a mountain top in Vermont, drinking a beer and eating a couple oreos as the wind blew away our sweat and hiker stink--BLISS.A few miles later, Verge, Peach, Mountain Goat, and I came across Griffith Lake, and it was too picturesque to pass up! We all had some lunch and took a refreshing dip. We also met Starbrother and Spooney, who knew Bombadil and apparently ask any two girls they saw if they were Bombadil's daughters. They were so happy to have actually found them! Great P caught up with us at the lake as well.After my dip in the lake, I felt so refreshed and ready to hike! It was really fun to put my music on and push myself as fast as I could go! I had the energy, why not use it?! About 5 miles later, I ran out of that wonderful energy, but still had 3ish miles to go. Some babbling brooks and beaver ponds later, I passed a couple cute families out for days hikes with curious little kids bombarding me with questions about my hike. It was really sweet, and I hope maybe a couple of them will become future AT hikers!I continued on my way, turned a corner, and saw a naked backpacker. Well that was a surprise. I averted my gaze, said hello, and continued walking, but after he left, I realized that there was that family I had just passed! Questionable location and timing, naked man. Did you get the wrong date for hike naked day? Or are you just a friendly nudist? Or are you attempting to thru-hike the whole AT naked? Hmm..I arrived at Little Rock Pond to find Mountain Goat and Long Cloud relaxing by the water and a loon making its goofy call. Bliss.When Great P, Peach, and Verge arrived, we all set up and went swimming! There was this big cool boulder across the pond that looked fun to jump off of, so we went to go check it out. It turns out, we're a little rusty on the upper body strength side of things, but it was still super fun (and pretty comical). The big boulder didn't look quite safe enough to jump off of, but we found other rocks to jump from. Then we all raced back across the pond, and Great P showed us his butterfly-stroke. 18 miles of hiking and an hour or so of swimming really burned us out. After a yummy dinner, some hanging out by the fire (Slim Rims and Mouse joined us), and entertaining bear-bagging shenanigans, we all turned in for an early bedtime. The bugs were a little worse than the previous two nights in the shelter, but it was still okay. WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY. Vermont is the best. Also, can this hike never end? Also, everyone I meet on the trail is awesome.