Date: 2023-09-28
From: US Route 201

To: Bald Mountain Pond Lean To
Miles today: 18.8

We decided to do some road walking to let me ease back into hiking since I wasn¢t feeling perfect and I didn¢t want to go crazy. It actually ended up being a super fun, cruisey road walk and I got to chat with Air Quotes a lot for the first true catch-up since Virginia + get the group to play Ninja Destruction. When cutting back to the AT I suggested following the service road along the power lines since it seemed like a more direct path back to the AT, but it quickly turned into bushwhacking across this eerie, post apocalyptic landscape with the sun beating down as we picked our way across tall grass, bogs, dead moss, etc. It was super cool but Air Quotes and Hungry Bird definitely did not love it - but I got to use my bushwhacking skills from NOLS! It dumped us back to the AT, and then we all flew off separately. I think I made it to the shelter in barely over an hour (it was 3 miles) even when I fell on my ass doing a river crossing to Rabbit¢s amusement, and then unfortunately the sniffles came back. Made lunch, laughed when Crypt came in and looked salty that we beat her there (that's because of the road walk), updated back entries in my diary, and we guessed Hungry Bird¢s real name which I got on my first real try. Hey at this point anything will entertain me. After lunch I immediately ran into trail magic of 3 former thruhikers with beer and Gatorade in their backpacks so I had a fruit punch Gatorade and headed off to be alone with my thoughts - I'm hurtling back to ¢the real world¢ and things I¢d have to deal with when I get back such as my grandfather's estate, what to do next year, etc. Maybe the malaise was caused by eating a pint of ice cream yesterday without lactase (I kid). I saw the tail of a lil corn snake wriggle into the bushes as I walked past, which was cute.I hiked up Moxie Bald and the caves (more like rock overhangings) were cool and I sat at the overlook, watching the hazy sunset (the sun looked like Tatooine¢s sun) and enjoying the precious cell service, and then headed on. The peak itself was pretty meh, I got a little lost, but then headed down where I passed Magic Falcon! Hugged him and kept going.  I was too lazy to put on my headlamp for A WHILE so was just hiking in the semidark bopping along (not speedily as my knee was bothering me) and getting passed by Magic Falcon and Huff & Puff. As I was nighthiking I contemplated how I felt utterly at home and safe in that moment, and how my best friend back home would be freaking out about people and bears if she were in my shoes at the moment, and how much I¢ve grown in terms of back country comfort. Now that the days are so short I¢ve accepted nighthiking is part of the deal, and it¢s okay! As long as it¢s an hour max because I want to veg out in camp. But tonight was great as I was bopping along with my headlamp (that I finally put on) and music blasting in my headphones. I rolled into camp singing the Pok©mon theme song to where I saw a campfire and Uno being set out on the picnic table!! (Also first picnic table since VT???) so I played Uno while eating salmon packets and Hawaiian rolls because I couldn¢t be bothered to cook (who am I????).I went down to the water to look at the moon, watching the perfectly crisp reflection of the night sky and moon onto the lake where you could see the trees and mountains reflected and supposedly heard the loons calling.