Date: 2018-07-18
From: Bromley Summit

To: Campsite Past Little Rock Pond
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: clear sky

Day 106- I was groggy when I finally woke up on the floor of the warming hut. The rubber flooring they have for ski boots was surprisingly comfortable to lay on. The sun was high and the air was warm even with a steady breeze at the top. Since we had hiked in late, I had not noticed the extent of our 360° view from the summit. We were feeling pretty good this morning; shots of Vermont maple syrup helped Broken Seal especially.We were the last people to leave the ski warming hut and hike down one of the ski slopes to continue along the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail yet today was full of friends. I had only brief moments of walking alone since there was always a hiker at every break. The trail has been in great condition and I¢m getting more used to the roots across the trail. We got to have lunch at another scenic lake today. This time, our food bags were filled with yummy snacks that we would¢ve missed out on had we not gone into Manchester Center the night before (I¢m citing the chocolate chip cookies specifically but it was all good).I kept changing up who I was hiking until I reached Big Branch creek. The cool water running down the riverbed filled with boulders and small swimming holes was too inviting to ignore. Rattler was already dunking his head in the water and I soon tiptoed in myself while everyone else was chatting and filling up their water bladders on the shore. I think more people would¢ve come in but a southbounder let us know there was trail magic that included beer just a mile or two further north. Suddenly I was alone at the creek; it¢s amazing how fast it for hiker can move when motivated by magic. When I came around the bend, I was surprised at how many thruhikers were sitting alongside the road at the trail magic spot; there was a group of five or six people I¢d never met before. By the time I left an hour and a half later they are even more new faces. The folks putting on the trail magic were extremely kind and generous; they had cold beer, hotdogs, chips, and more. It was a good, inviting  atmosphere and they were well stocked to stay for a couple days I headed out with Running Griz since I wanted to be done hiking before dark. The guys can be turbo speed hikers when they want to so it wasn't shocking to see them come running into the little campsite I had set up on the side of the trail while later, feeling a little more than tipsy yet with big smiles on their faces. Today had been awesome except for one thing. Right before we reached our campsite, we passed a group of young hikers with one individual sawing off thick branches from a dead tree in revegetation zone for a campfire. I fought this urge to be the one to reprimand him and talked with Griz about returning to a nearby, official shelter with a caretaker and letting him approach the group. As we were discussing what to do, the man with the saw acknowledged us in a way that makes me think he was genuinely aware of how non-LNT his actions were. Griz clued him in and he quickly walked back to his group and campsite. Broken Seal told me later that the caretaker was pretty low from his interactions with that group. Not only were they camping in a prohibited area but campfires also were not allowed. These stories irk me since the trail is a special place that we have to respect and protect for all who come behind us. As trail ambassadors, us thruhikers have to do our best about being considerate to others!!