Date: 2014-09-14
From: Speck Pond Shelter

To: Frye Notch Lean To
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

We had the shelter almost crammed full, but could have worked in one more person. It was cold, windy, rainy and foggy so hikers that may have tented opted for the shelter. It reminded me of Brown Mountain Shelter in NC that had 9 on a snowy night. I waited until most people had left and ate my breakfast from bed. (Blueberry bagel with peanut butter and honey, oatmeal, carnation essentials--used to call it instant breakfast and iced coffee) Then I got stated at 9 am--a little late. I was hoping the sun would burn the fog off but it never did. We were at 3,400 feet.I climbed to over 4,000 feet to get to the top of Old Speck. Within a half hour of climbing I warmed up pretty good. Close to the top, the trail went up a sloping bare rock ledge and the wind was pushing me a bit. Sometimes there is a pause in the wind and then another blast hits you. I imagine the Old Man north wind is getting a breath to puff again and maybe knock an unsuspecting hiker over the ledge.I thought I might need to put my rain coat on for a wind breaker but once again the puffy jacket did the job.But it was tiring fighting the constant wind and climbing. I was feeling a bit glum about not getting the distance covered I was hoping for. It was pretty near the top, because the fog had frozen on the spruce and pine needles. After I got over the top and got started hiking on pretty good trail I started perking up a little.Half way down the hill, one of the day hikers I met on their way up gave me a peanut butter fudge brownie and words of encouragement. That was enough to tip me back the other way emotionally. I even picked up my pace. Finally the sun appeared and I sang to first words ofHere comes the sun.I ate lunch at a picnic table at the trail head parking lot at the base of the mountain. I looked back at the mountain I came from and one side of it was solid rock. I felt lucky to have such a good trail off that mountain. I suspect the rock was the area a side trail that went to a place called the Eyebrow.The Bald Pate mountains were next with about 2,000 feet to climb. I settled in for the long haul knowing it would just take a while to gain that much altitude. I was able to make good time in places because it leveled off and went around the ridge. The climbs were well engineered with short switchbacks. Most of the way rock steps were provided.Once on Bald Pate East Peak I could see West Peak ahead. There was a dip between the two which I was to cross. When I first got on East peak, I had to put the coat and gloves back on because I was the wind and fog again.I could see that West peak was solid rock, so I was hoping I would not have to go over that. But the trail went right over it. There were rock cairns to guide the way up the sloping rock face. I noticed I wasn't feeling tired with this climb so reasoned that I may be running on adrenaline as I crossed the ridge.It was beautiful and scary. At first, a section seemed to have no way get by, but when I got closer the way marked and quite doable. Except, had the watch the wind for gusts.By the time I got down the ridge to the shelter it was getting dark. so I decided to stay here and go into town in the morning with a 5 mile hike.