Date: 2003-07-26
From: Griffith Lake Tenting Area

To: Minerva Hinchey Shelter
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: few clouds

I had a great night sleeping last night. The air was cool, and there was a decent breeze. Just good for sleeping! I don't even mind that I paid $6 to stay there.About 2mi north of the camping area, we reached Baker Peak, which included a climb up rocks to get to the top. The view from there was pretty good, and the wind was also blowing pretty good. It was a nice start to the day. About 2mi from there, we stopped for a break at Lost Pond Shelter, where we met 3 other hikers, surprisingly northbounders! BooBoo, Tuscon, and ???. I hadn't met them before, so they must've just caught up. It's about time, as they all started a month or more after I did.From there, the hiking was pretty good, no steep ups or downs for quite a while, and occasionally we followed or crossed streams or brooks. The water is low, despite the recent rains, but it still looks and sounds neat. I always like the sound of fast moving water.We stopped for lunch at Little Rock Pond. It was awesome! A great little pond, and a nice breeze! What better place for a long lunch? We chatted with Will and his dog Obie, and didn't want to leave. Finally, we did, but after spending an hour there.All day long, the hiking wasn't very difficult. There were some short steep sections, but nothing too drastic. At one point, the trail went through a hemlock forest. All the trees lined up looked so cool, and the trail was fairly straight through the middle of them. The pathway was soft, with all the pine needles on the ground. Once again, there was a great breeze blowing through the trees, sounding like fall. Or what I think fall would sound like. I know it's still summer, but sometimes I think... or hope... fall is coming. I've never seen a northern fall, and am looking forward to it.When we came to the side trail to White Rocks Cliff, I looked around, and was confused. It looked like aliens had been there. There was rock art everywhere! Small pyramids, large towers, words, and even a rock arch about 4ft high. It was very cool. I don't know if thruhikers create them, or dayhikers do, but it was neat, in a confusing sort of way.Later, when we came to a brook, the trail crossed it, then went along it, but up the mountain a bit. I heard some people down by the brook, and when I looked down there, I was three naked people in the water! I wasn't expecting that, but wasn't bothered by it either. They can do whatever they want. I don't mind. I think they were hikers, and was trying to see if I recognized them, but I couldn't tell from the white buns who they were, as I've not seen many white buns on the trail.From here, it was just over 3 miles to the shelter. My feet were sore and tired, but I just kept walking. I knew I had to climb Bear Mountain, and just kept up a steady pace. The trail was nicely graded at first, with long switchbacks, but got steeper at the top. I have been trying to keep a steady pace, and even push a little bit, to get in shape for the mountains to come. There were no views from the top, so I only stopped to chat with southbounders that passed by. I think I saw 5 SOBOs today, and there are at least 5 at the shelter tonight.Also at this shelter are Mylo and Nuke, New Zealander, Matt, Hotdog, Drew and Desmond, and Recycled. I haven't seen him since High Point State Park, when my dad and brothers were visiting and we gave Recycled a ride to DQ and back to the trail. Also at the shelter are BooBoo, Tuscon, and ???, who we leapfrogged all day. There might be more here, as there are about 6 or 8 tents set up, and some people I haven't seen since I've been here.It's good and bad having all of these people here. Good, or great, because I get to meet all these new people. But sometimes I want some solitude. At those times, I can tent if I want to. The time for passing SOBOs will come to an end, or at least slow down, and once we turn east, from the Long Trail, the traffic will lighten again.I am still looking forward to NH, and the SOBOs that are in the shelter tonight were talking about the awesome views we'll be getting in NH and Maine. I can't wait! I don't want to look past the current days, but I must say I am looking ahead a bit. Not too far though... as I know each day holds something special for me.