Date: 2018-09-02
From: ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs

To: Wilson Valley Lean-To
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Even though I¢ve gotten up early the last few nights and had a nice warm bed, I woke up at 4 and couldn¢t get back to sleep. At least the WiFi was working nicely since no one else was on! I went to the kitchen around 6 where they had coffee/tea. An hour later was breakfast - eggs made to order, hash browns, and blueberry pancakes. Not sure what the fuss is about, everything was good but not amazing - maybe because they had over 40 people!I finished packing up my stuff and headed over to the gear shop/resupply next door. Everything was overpriced, but it was convenient. The owner had driven a shuttle so I couldn¢t cash out, so walked over next door to the general store. The deli wasn¢t open yet for sandwiches, and they didn¢t have much for resupply. So I went further down the street and found a gas station convenience store that actually would have been a good resupply, but oh well. I stopped by an office set up to help hikers plan for Baxter State Park since the rules are so complicated. We¢ll see when I get to Abol Bridge if I can get the option I want!I cashed out at the hostel (after getting new socks and pole tips!) and was talking to them about hitching to Greenville for new shoes when Trout said he would take me. I didn¢t recognize him, he was the guy that drove me in Stratton! But it was nice of him to take me, it was about 20 minutes away.We passed the trailhead on the way over and a couple of hikers were trying to get groceries so we picked them up. The outfitter was pretty big and I got the last pair of the shoes I like! We then went back over to the grocery store which actually had another outfitter/sporting goods store attached. If I had known I would be going to the grocery I would have waited! But I did get stuff for lunch.Trout dropped me off at the trailhead, where a couple of girls were giving out cold drinks. I hung out there for a bit eating my lunch, and Player One and Ballflap came down the trail. We hung out for a bit, they went into town and I finally got on the trail almost one.The elevation profile looked pretty easy, so I assumed I could bust out miles especially with new shoes. But there were a bunch of short steep up and downs, plus the rocks and roots slowed me down. I think I counted about 30 feet of actual smooth trail in ten miles.Around 5:30 I got to the Big Wilson Stream. There was a nice campsite on the south side, but since it was early and I figured I wouldn¢t want to ford the river in the cold morning, I crossed. It took me a while, as the spot I picked wasn¢t ideal and ended up having to go back to shore and finding a better spot. It was a lot easier to change into my sandals with new shoes and socks though!There were a couple of guys who were cameling up for the shelter ahead, and since it was so late I did the same. It was tough because it was uphill with the extra weight. Of course when we got to the shelter, there was a nice spring. Unfortunately, there weren¢t great tenting options and I debated staying in the shelter to get an early start tomorrow (and someone said it might rain) but found a rooty, sloped spot I made work. A few miles shorter than I was hoping, but I¢ll try to make up the miles tomorroe. And hopefully I can sleep in past 5!