Date: 2013-08-15
From: Peru Peak Shelter

To: Stealth Camp atop Bear Mountain
Miles today: 17.7

Happy 5 months on the Trail Anniversary!I was also happy to wake up with feet, ankles and knees that didn't feel so beat up and sore. That's definitely something to be grateful for. And my clothes are all dry. No wet shorts, socks and underwear that had to be put on with a groan. That was also something. It sounds silly, but these sorts of situations start a morning off right.It was cold. I put on both knee braces, not because my knees hurt, but because it was the only leg coverings that I had. Yep, the winter gear can come none too soon. I set off at 8:30, and first rattle out of the box, I had to change the battery out in my camera. The replacement battery was missing a little bottom cover. I didn't think much about it. I found it and stuck it back to the bottom of the battery and shut the casing. I head northward, and within a half mile I was standing beside Griffith Lake. The surface was smooth and calm except for a wind stirred ripples. They played against small reeds that poked their heads just above the surface. I stopped atop the board walk and watched the salamanders gliding underwater, dodging around rocks. I watched my shadow stretch and grow tall. I looked like a long-legged giant, though I'm pretty short. I continued along the boardwalk and walked beside it when I could. I've worm most of the tread off the bottom of my boots, and the boards can be quite slick. Thank goodness, I have good balance, but I've had some close, heart-stopping calls. The trail climbed up a sharp marble outcrop. I stopped to adjust my poles, and I happened to look behind me. Wow! The valley opened up. Sometimes when you walk for hours in the trees, you forget that vistas often lay just on the other side of those trees. Green, tree covered mountains, a deep grey mining scar, a road cutting down the middle of the valley floor. I knew no photo could come close to capturing the scene, so I didn't try. I tried to get out a phone call to a family member in Rutland, but for some reason the call was blocked. Hmmm.I continued along. Sometimes there were rocks and roots. Sometimes it was beautiful flat smooth trail. I kept my eyes peeled for moose, because they are somewhat common in the area. But wildlife in general was scarce. Mainly just the occasional bird and chipmunk. I crossed some beautiful bridges. The AT has taught me to appreciate them greatly, not only for their construction, but for the effort it must have taken to get the materials to these remote stream crossings. I ran into Tangy sitting beside Little Rock Pond. He was perched on a rock in the water, the contents of his pack spread all over the edge of the water. It was finally warm enough to go for a swim. I got undressed, and as soon as I stepped into the water, a dark grey cloud moved over the sun. I was covered in goose-bumps before I got my first toe in the water. But I was committed. I brought my camera in the water with me. It's supposed to be virtually indestructible, and for the last couple of years it has been. I swam around for a bit. The lake was quite large, but there were a lot of day hikers about. There was a lot of laughing and screeching. I got out and got dressed and said good-bye to Tangy. The trail took me by an enchanting and somewhat eerie rock sculpture "garden". There were a few giant white boulders covered in hundreds of tiny rock cairns. But there were no other rocks around. The ground was covered in a soft uniform carpet of spruce straw. Where did these rocks come from? They felt like ghosts. I took out my camera to take a few shots. It made a noise, and the message: Card Error, popped on the screen. I opened the battery/card compartment, and it was full of water droplets. Damn. The bottom of the battery that I had forced in had kept the compartment from sealing properly. Darn it. I wiped it down as best I could and hoped that the camera still had some of its Superman qualities. I hiked for a few more miles and found myself atop Bear Mountain. I was meeting my family down at the road to Rutland in the morning. I only had 4.5 miles to go, so I knew I was in a good position to get there early. I got my tent set up and made dinner. Suddenly, I could hear sirens of all sorts rising up from the valley below. I heard a donkey bray. I was reminded how close I am to civilization that I felt like I was miles and miles away. I flipped through my guidebook to get an idea of the days ahead. New Hampshire and Maine sure look tough.