Date: 2021-06-21
From: Guyot Campsite

To: US Rte 302
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Passed a restless night at the Guyot Shelter due to the air mattress of a restless sleeper near me. It sounded like someone crinkling the worlds largest piece of cellophane wrap. I can only hope that I was snoring up a storm and returning the favor. The campsite area probably had about 30 hikers total but as far as I could tell I was the only thru hiker there. It is kinda cool to see how many people are out hiking these difficult trails and enjoying the outdoors. At 5:30 I started the .8 mile slog back to the AT, reaching the trail junction a few minutes before six. I was treated to a great view of a cloud covered Mt Lafayette illuminated by the rising sun. I had a short climb to the top of Mt Guyot (elev 4580 ft) then a rocky downhill presented itself before another climb to the peak of Mt Zeeland, another 4000 footer.  I met a handful of hikers on their way up the mountain, coming from the AMC Zeeland Hut at the bottom of said mountain. It rained for about 20 minutes, making the rocks slick the rest of the day but it was manageable.As I approached the hut I could hear a group of hikers preparing to leave - it was the Trout Family along with Wicked and Forager. It turns out they were just behind me yesterday doing the same hike I did, but they made the wiser decision to stealth camp past the summit of Mt Guyot and forgo the long side trail to the shelter. I talked with Bad Santa (dad) and Ninja feet (oldest child) for a few minutes before they headed out. They were eager to get to the road crossing as they were going to rent a condo with a hot tub and a pool to take a zero day on Tuesday. Forager was doing the same as well. I went into the hut, as Bad Santa said they had leftover coffee for free (they feed the paying guests, thru hikers with good timing can get leftovers if available).  Sure enough: free coffee!  Then a member of the Croo (what the staff call themselves) offered me two peach pancakes that had gone unclaimed. They were cold, no syrup, but they were delicious - made even more so by the kindness of the Croo. I then went outside and took an extended break on the porch and just watched the mountain across the way while listening to the nearby falls. From there I had about 8 mostly downhill miles to the road crossing where Sister Sherpa was collecting me.The big surprise of the day came an hour later when I bumped into a SOBO hiker - it was none other than Section Hiker Special Ed whom I had met my first day on the trail exactly 10 weeks prior.  He was back out from his home in Philadelphia to complete another section of the trail.  I last saw him outside of Waynesboro, Va nine weeks back.  Small world, small trail.  After he completes this section hike he¢ll only have 300 miles of the trail left to complete. What an achievement.  We wished each other well and hiked on in opposite directions.My sister was waiting for me down at the road crossing where the climb up to 6000 ft Mt Washington begins (plan to be back here on Friday).  She was loaded for bear with trail magic goodies, but, alas - had just missed the Trout¢s getting picked up by their shuttle.  She was able to share some of her goods with a father-daughter section hiker duo before we headed back on the hour and forty five minute drive to Patricia and Michael¢s.  Since I did 11.9 miles and finished at noon, I¢ll classify today as a ¢nero¢.  My niece was supposed to arrive this evening by plane from Michigan, but storms in Philadelphia canceled her flight. So I¢m chanting up plans for tomorrow and will attempt the Mt Moosilauke climb - a very steep and challenging 9.4 miles.  Depending how that goes, I may try to knock out another 12 miles to complete the mileage I¢ve left behind doing the slack packing of the last few days. I¢m not going to push things, with all the rain in the area I¢m prepared for a slick and difficult day.  I¢m hoping it¢ll be fine.