Date: 2018-07-08
From: Black Brook

To: Winhall River
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

It wasn¢t nearly as cold this morning as yesterday, but I noticed my sleeping pad seemed to have less air in it than when I went to bed. It wasn¢t completely deflated, and there were no obvious holes in it. I¢ll pay closer attention to it to see if there¢s any noticeable difference in the future. As I was finishing packing up, Puddles was ready to leave camp. She picked up her trekking poles and said ¢are you kidding me?¢ She had her trekking poles laying on the ground, and during the night, something had gnawed on the handles. Thumper and I both suspected it was a porcupine as we have both heard they are attracted to the salt from sweat, and will chew on gear left out to get the salt. Puddles was disappointed about her newly formed cork handles, but had no choice except to hike with them. Thumper and I chatted as we finished packing up, neither of us seeming to be in a hurry to leave camp. It was a great location and sleeping to the sound of the brook last night was soothing. It was another great day for hiking with clear skies and temperatures in a good range to hike comfortably. We summited Stratton Mountain, where there was a fire tower with beautiful views. I took off my boots and socks to air out and put on my camp shoes. Puddles, Thumper and I went up in the tower to check out the views. When we came back down, Buddha was there! I hadn¢t seen him since Warwick NY. He had come off trail for bit, which is why I caught up with him. He was now sporting a kilt, which he highly recommended. There were a lot of day hikers coming up from a parking lot to the tower. After getting a snack and airing out boots, feet and socks, we took off. Puddles left and a few minutes later, I followed Thumper down a trail. After hiking downhill for about 5 minutes, Thumper was coming back toward me. I figured she forgot something, but she said, ¢we¢re on the wrong trail¢. It was the trail going to a parking lot for day hikers and tourists, not the AT. Fortunately, I only had to go 1/10 of a mile, but of course it was uphill. I turned around behind Thumper and climbed back up the hill to get on the AT.Thumper is a faster hiker than I, and disappeared down the trail. Puddles was at Stratton Pond Shelter when we arrived, but was on her way out. I had stopped at the privy and was taking care of business when I heard her ask if I was in there. When I replied, she laughed because I have not yet used my trowel to take care of business in the woods. My timing has worked out so far, that I always make it to a shelter privy or forest service privy. It¢s now become on ongoing joke about when my trowel will be christened.I had a quick lunch and headed down the trail, passing by Stratton Pond. I stopped to take it in for a few moments, and continued on. Later in the afternoon, Puddles texted that she wasn¢t feeling well and was stopping to rest. When I got to her location along the Winfall River, she thought it would be best for her to stay and not hike any further. She felt bad about not going as far as we thought we would, but I didn¢t mind stopping. Then she showed me the campsite she had seen on the other side of the river she thought might work for Thumper and I. Thumper thought we could fit two tents on it, and I rock hopped across to check it out. It was an awesome site. It was on a little peninsula that jutted out where the river took a turn. It was a tight fit for two tents, but Thumper and I loved our home for the night. We set up camp and had dinner at Puddles' campsite, on the opposite side of the river before retiring for the night.Never ForgetTrooper Howard H. FunkOctober 5, 1901 - July 8, 1926