Date: 2007-09-08
From: Big Branch Shelter

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

mi. 15sleep hammockdest. Happy Hill Shelter day 58 Well I almost did my first 20 mile day. I say almost because we decided to end early. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Catz and I got a good start. I think it is early for him, but I like to be hiking by 8am. Both of us we wanting to make some miles south. On an interesting note, the trail actually goes pretty far west too. Springer mt. GA is pretty far west of mt. Katadin in ME. Today had a lot of west to it. But either direction feels like progress. Unlike the Whites where the AMC had the trail going a little north and east for me. We made some great time. We stoppe for a break at Stratton Pond around 10am. I was so close to going for a swim. In retrospect I should have. But at the time it was a little cold and pretty windy. So I seattled for washing out my shirt, which was getting really bad. We determined that the water has as much to do with the coffee taste as the grounds. I was using water fresh from the lake. What's really great about the Steri-pen is the pretty much instant clean water. The coffee at Stratton pond tasted great. It helped that I freshly gounded the beans the day before. After that onto Stratton mountain. This has to be the easiest mountain to climb. The grades up and down were really easy. The top even had a cool old fire tower to go up. Unfortunately there where not that many views. Stratton mountain also has a lot of history behind it. It was the mountain that the Long trail was thought up on. Also it was the mountain that Benton McKeye sat on and looked over the mountains and dreamed up the AT. It was really cool getting that bit of history. Mileage wise it was great stopping at noon and having 10 miles done for the day. It really opens up the rest of the day. Now I don't feel stressed at all for making miles for the day. We rolled into the Happy Hill Shelter around 3pm. We were both on the fence about stopping for the day. One thing was for sure in I needed some food and calories. I really hit the wall in the hike up. I got water and cooked some dinner. We were thinking about it. At the same time it was really windy. Usually when it gets windy the weather is starting to change. It was also getting a little dark and starting to thunder. I was already pretty wet with sweat, so getting wet wasn't a concern. What was a concern was the thunder. I really had enough and close enough calls hiking in the thunder storms in Maine. So we decided to stay. The next shelter was only 5 miles away, which would have ment my first 20 mile day. I am not a mileage junky and I am going to try and not turn this into a big talk everyday about getting the mileage. It was just what I was thinking about today. A big reason to get the miles now is that there is a good bit of rain in the forcast starting either tonight or tomorrow. If it is raining hard it is not going to take much for me to take a zero. I have more than enough food. I could even get into a town tomorrow for mopre if needed. It would just be nice to get some in while the getting good. But 15 for the day is not bad at all. We were also thinking that we both want to be close to a shelter in case we do take a day tomorrow. It gives you a nice place to sit and relax while its raining. But it was also nice to stop at 3pm. Tonight consisted of a lot of rest, 2 dinners, and lots of good conversation. There is a northbound Long Trail hiker staying here. This is only his third day out. It was a lot of fun to talk to someone just starting out on their hike. It should take him about a month. A little shorter than the AT, but still really cool. Gear note.So I need to swap out my 3rd hydration system. This one is starting to leak too. I have only had it since Hanover. Luckily I got the one garrentteed for life, so the next outfitter should switch it out. I am really being careful too and not sitting on my pack and it. Which is what did in my other ones. I am really liking my Steri-pen. I joke around when I am treating water that I am shining my flashlight on it. But I really think the UV light kills all the nasties in the water. Although I think most of the water out here is cleanier than the city water back home. Now that I am not adding any bleach, it tastes great. Tonight I treated about 7 liters. Enough for both dinners, 1 liter of drink mix, clean myself off with, and have enough for the morning and drinking tonight. I would have went lighter and had to wait longer if I was still using aquia mira. It also sure beats sitting there and pumping.