Date: 2010-06-11
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Big Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.5
Weather: light rain

16.5. Big Branch Shelter1. CPR. I didn't speak much about the current trail angel because I hadn't really  been able to discuss what he did and didn't want publicized about himself. But let me now introduce Odie Green. The thru hikers have a very good comm system up and down the trail. But, I think the trail angels maybe even better. This starts at the former Mayor's Outhouse in Unionville NY. There I met Rob who insisted I stay at the Birdcage in Dalton MA. Who in turn recommended I stay with Odie in Manchester Ctr, VT. And i have an open incite for a stay ib Norwich, home of one of my alma matersOdie hiked the AT SOBO a number of years ago and is currently a teacher in a private school. His next adventure is to take a canoe trip down the Hudson River. Meantime he was a perfect host for me and I hope/ expect to see him again before I get too far away2. Report.  Boy Howdy what a day. I slept fair and woke up with what felt like a good start on a chest cold. The wx report predicted today would be dry, but that we could expect some rain over the weekend thruthe 1st part of the week. We got up and left on avg and Odie dropped me off at a gas station/mini market. I got a big coffee and breakfast bagel. I was tryin to get a hitch to the trailhead when Odie and Tim arrived and they helped me with my ride. My goal was to try to go as far as I could today, then maybe slow down a bit during the rail. At the trailhead I met a ranger and we discussed an upcoming detour. A bridge is out, the water is high and fast and a 3 mile detour is recommended. The ranger highly recommended we (Pot Licker and Ramen Noodles were there as well) take the detour. But then she said that if we did try to ford the river that we don't interfere with the construction crew. I started hiking and was soon at a nice vista before I realized it was a ski run. Soon arrived at the Bromley Lodge and had lunch. I saw a lot of moose scat and a track almost the size of my boot. Along the way I met two SOBO who forded the river and a pair who took the detour they all recommended doin the ford. I hiked to the Peru Peak Shelter, which is the go/no go departure spot for the detour.  I got the same info from the shelter register and estimated I could arrive at the closed bridge site early evening, which would be the perfect time for the lowest water level and slighly warmest wx, with a short hike to shelter, food and bed. I was really enjoying the new boots, socks and pole tips. One of the SOBO warned me about the bog boards being slick and that he fell 3 times. I fell on my first step. The boards were pressure treated, covered with moss and it was like driving on black ice. I got up and was fortunate that I wasn't hurt. After the Peru Shelter, the bog boards run abou 1/4 mile. I was trying to stay off the boards and hike on the side. I tried to cross overto the other side and my pole tip didn't hold a bit and down I went. This time my knee didn't feel all that great. But I hiked on  and it didn't seem to be too much worse for wear. I did have another slip that resulted in a minor fall. I got to the closed bridge location around 1900. I surveyed the scene and decided on an approach that walked across rocks to the middle of the river and then entailed cording up the side of a tree that was recently felled just west od former bridge site. I double and triple bagged all sensitive equipment and made the ford without any difficulty. It was a short hike to the shelter, fixed dinner and getting ready for bed.Milestones1. First river girding2. Two months on ATLife Really is Great!