Date: 2014-09-14
From: Danby-Landgrove Road

To: Spruce Peak Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: few clouds

We got up and I packed/resupplied before breakfast. I didn't start hiking until 11:15, but made good progress nonetheless. I spent all day looking forward to a restaurant called "Scoopies" which my guidebook said was 0.5 miles off the trail and served burgers and ice cream. I ran into some hikers that told me about one of the upcoming shelters, Spruce Peak, which was an enclosed cabin with a wood-burning stove. They also mentioned it was supposed to be quite cold tonight - possibly in the upper 20's. As I got closer to the end of the day, I realized I could make Spruce Peak shelter, but only if I skipped "Scoopies". Tough decision. Near the road to the restaurant, I asked local day-hikers if they knew if it was open. I certainly didn't want to walk a half a mile to find it was a summer ice cream stand and it was closed for the season. Unfortunately, no one had heard of it. One lady was sure it wasn't there, but said there was an odd burrito stand nearby. I didn't want to give up on the idea too easily, so I asked one more guy who was out walking with his two young kids. He wasn't sure if it was open, but offered to give me a ride. We were right near the parking lot, so I accepted. As we entered the parking lot, I say some other hikers I recognized and they invited me to hang out and have a beer. I said I was trying to get to the restaurant and they also offered me a ride. I thanked the guy and his kids and elected to stay with the other hikers. It was the same hiking couple I had met in Gorham, on the Kinsmans and in Glencliff. Their parents were visiting and they dropped me off at what used to be "Scoopies" which was now a burrito stand. I got my burrito and ate it as I walked back to the trail. Since I only had to walk one way, I was able to make it to Spruce Peak shelter though I had to hurry and used up every last minute of daylight.It was worthwhile though - I had the place to myself and it was certainly warmer than sleeping outside. I didn't make a fire as it was late already - I arrived at 7:20pm, made dinner, and went to bed. Then I woke up to a very loud noise....Some animal was on the porch, and this wasn't a little mouse or squirrel. It was very loud and I immediately assumed it was big as well. I had hung my food bag in the cabin to keep it from the mice rather than in a tree because the cabin had a heavy wooden sliding door. As I listened to the creature outside however, I realized a bear could claw at the door and get it to slide open. I got up to look out the window and contemplated how I would tie the door shut if need be. When I peeked outside, I saw a porcupine and the noise I was hearing wasn't his footsteps, but him gnawing on the porch. Apparently they like to chew the wood and the sound echoed through the whole building.I got the metal dustpan and broom and opened the door. The porcupine didn't blink. I knocked on the walls with the broom, and he looked at me, then went back to eating. Finally, I threw the metal dustpan down on the porch next to him and banged the broomstick some more and he reluctantly trotted off into the woods. I placed the dustpan over the section he had been chewing and went back to bed.About ten minutes later, I woke up to the sound of the dustpan being knocked off the porch and the chewing started again. Oh well. That's another reason it has been nice to carry earplugs on this trip. They certainly helped me get a good night's rest despite the critters.