Date: 2015-08-12
From: Manchester Center

To: stealth site some where on Baker Peak
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: scattered clouds

We left our wonderful B&B in the morning. What a wonderful place and good deal too. By the way, there is no breakfast- just coffee - so it is not actually a b&b, but I hope to stay there again someday. Slider and Tank beat us out and Frank ( the owner) came out on the porch to say goodbye. He gave C.Shell an egg on an English muffin.Tedzilla was getting back on the trail today and we decided to hang out and wait for him in town. His Mom will drop us all off at the trail about 5 and a half miles out of town. We went to Rite-Aid and picked up a couple of little things, then I went to the famous donut shop while the lovebirds went for McDonalds. I had a delicious breakfast sandwich and a blueberry fritter the size of my head. While I was sitting here, a group of about a dozen 6 year olds came in for a field trip. Hearing their excited voices and seeing them all serious as they attempted "best behavior" made me miss my art studio and ice cream shop. For the first time. My staff is young but they are so impressive. They have run my busy shop like retail professionals, and actually have done a better job than I would have. It is amazing what people can accomplish if they have the opportunity. I hope they benefit from their challenge as much as I think I will from mine.Tedzilla and his Mom met us at McDs and off we went - back to the trail. What will it do today? I said hello trail. I'm back. I don't care it said.Trail started with a climb today. Bromley Mountain- 3 or so miles up, steeper near the top- about a 1500 foot elevation gain. Most was in the woods with some steep rocky areas, but part of it near the top was in a field, like a bald. It was steeper there and I think we were climbing up a ski slope. Something about seeing how much climb I have ahead of me makes it harder for me. In the woods my brain only processes what it can see, 20 feet or so- but these open climbs I can see hundreds of yards ahead so my brain knows what is coming and tells me it is hard. Debbie Downer lives in my brain and she does not like to climb.At the top, there was a ski lift and a ski warming hut. According to the AWOL, people can sleep there. We took some pictures of the breathtaking view. We looked back on Stratton Mountain- been there! done that! And looked ahead at Killington.(I think) I think we could also see the majestic mountains in New Hampshire- looking very big and tough.We hiked on. After the summit, there was a very steep and rocky descent that put a hurtin' on my knees. They are starting to wake up with these hairy down hills. After the initial steep down, the trail became a little more gentle. After a couple of miles it went up again- to Styles Peak. Just under a thousand foot gain in about 1.5 miles. It was harder for me than the first climb- but still, Vermont so far has been much easier than I was expecting. We walked on a wooden boardwalk- meaning two boards side by side - running up the trail for a long way(see pics). It was pretty and pleasant.We bumped into Tank at Peru Peak Shelter. He is struggling with an Achilles injury and had a short day. We got water there and hiked in. We were hoping for 15 today, but the thunder and lighting rolled in short of that. We were up somewhere around Baker Peak- no tent sites around and each walked quickly to find stealth spots. I got separated from my clan- they camped behind me- and I found a spot flat enough for my tent. The lighting was loud and close and scary, and I set up super fast. I actually impressed myself with my efficiency and felt like a wilderness woman. Once in my tent though- I decided to go to bed hungry because I didn't want food smells in my tent. So now I'm sitting here, dry in my tent in giant rainstorm with my stomach growling becaus I'm a chicken. And feeling very sorry for myself.Looking forward to hiking with Katwalk in a few weeks!