Date: 2004-05-13
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: clear sky

Log entry: 103Start time: 0650 (I think that is an official record, maybe about the same as my 42 miler)End time: 1830Morning weather: Sunny, muggy, and hot. 70 deg at 0800Afternoon weather: Sunny and hazyEvening weather: Clouds rolled in and rain it is afallin'. Thunder and lightning too. Very nice.Breakfast: Chocolate CIB and Star CrunchesLunch: "Hungry hiker" at Up for Breakfast in Manchester Center. Pancakes, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, toast, 2 eggs and those were all huge portions.Dinner: Instant brown rice with brown gravy. Bland and not very filling but 2 cups of rice and 2 cups of gravy sure takes a long time to eat.Trail description: The big climb of the day was up Bromley Mt which was gentle until the last 0.3 which was up a ski hill. Styles peak was the worst climb I thought but the maps don't really do it justice. Baker peak was excellent, one of the best. But the thunder and lightning in the sky kept me pushing through without stopping for photos or vista viewing.People: The couple from Raleigh again, the many nice people in Manchester Center, and Bearmeat again.Animals: Nary a chipmunk. Lots of moose pooey though.Money spent: $3 for laundry, $3 for Gatorade and doughnuts, arm and leg for lunch at Up for Breakfast ($14.45 )Complaints: I am super tired now but I can't think of anything to complain about. Give me a few minutes though. Thoughts: Things really went together smoothly this morning and I was out the door in half an hour. On the 2.7 miles down to the road I slipped crossing a stream and I busted hard. I caught some weight on my right arm but the brunt landed on my right shin on a rock. If I have ever been sure that I broke my tibia/fibia, this was it. But it walked out eventually and is throbbing right now but the bleeding was short lived. I made it to the road crossing at about 0745 and about 10 minutes later a guydrove me into town. I always feel bad when I don't get people names.I stopped in at the post office at 0805 and the window didn't open until 0815 so I sent some emails home via the payphone and then picked up my food. Thanks for the brownies Mom.After the PO I headed to the laundromat where I cleaned the clothes I had on. Iplanned to spend Saturday night at the Inn at the Long Trail but I called thereand they are closed until mid-June. Looks like it may be a while before ashower.While the laundry spun I grabbed a doughnut, sorted my food drop, called Dad,and also called Osprey about my busted pack.The dude was super cool and wanted to overnight a new one to me but I had nointentions to stay in town so they are mailing me one in Hanover. I am going to miss "Ole Blue" but I think the new one and I will get along just fine. When laundry was done I headed up the road to the outfitter to check in and theguy there, Brenden I think, advised me to hit up the Breakfast place. Goodeating there, filed me up right.By noon I was headed back out of town and spent 40 minutes trying to hitch backto the trail. Finally a sweet young lady pulled off the road I jumped in. Shewas a parts runner for an auto parts store in town. So that was nice.The climb up Bromley was a mild 3 miles but the one o'clock sun wasn't verykind. The summit was great but the views a little hazy. The cabin on top is mint and I wish I could have worked it into my stay. No water up there though.So I enjoyed the views for half an hour and then moved on down the mountain. The afternoon went by fast and by quarter to five I was at Peru Peak shelter.There I saw Bearmeat again. He found another shortcut and spent yesterdayevening in Manchester Center. I pumped some water and decided to move on thenext 4.8 to Lost Pond or another 1.7 past to Big Branch. I moved along as quick as I could, which hurt my feet a bit. The thunder started on my way up Baker peak. Clouds had rolled in but they didn't look very threatening. Baker peak is of course very cool, open, and rocky. So I didn't linger atop and quickly moved down.About 10 minutes before I got to the shelter the rain started. I stopped to put my rain cover on and made it to the shelter just as the downpour started. I put raingear on and quickly pumped water. I have been using Aquamira all week and I got a new filter for my Pur guide and decided that I could probably gather water just as quick with the new filter. I really liked using aquamira drops and eventually I think it saves time, but I am still a little leary of using chemical treatments. I have had cryptosporidia in the past and don't like to mess around with my water.After water was gathered I cooked and journaled and I think I will be asleep by21:30. Its 21:26.