Date: 2008-07-09
From: Manchester Center, VT

To: Lost Pond Shelter, VT
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Well, back to hiking today. I woke up at 6 a.m., but had set my alarm for 7:30, so I layed there and dozed on and off. I don't like rushing out of towns anymore or trying to plan a normal length day (this despite some good mileage for me today), because you never know how long it will take to find a hitch.So I got up @ 7:15, took a shower, and finished packing up. I went downstairs to the outdoor porch to eat my breakfast of poptarts, banana, and a peach, and I met Padre (IN) for the first time. Nice guy, and he's been hiking with a guy from Germany, and apparently a German filmcrew is out here filming a documentary about hiking the AT. The crew didn't know at first that one of their country's own was hiking, but they found out, so Padre and this guy are going to be some of the hikers in the film. Pretty cool.I left Sutton's Place (GREAT place to stay by the way, but I'd recommend calling ahead, because he fills up quickly), and I decided I needed 1 last awesome iced vanilla latte from Up for Breakfast, so I went there and got one. Man those things are good.I called Karen to say good morning and good luck on a lecture she's giving tonight, and then decided to start trying to hitch.I walked to the corner where cars slow down and could see me, but nobody was biting. Then I walked a bit further, down towards the EMS, hoping someone pulling out from the outfitter would know what was up and pick me up.While I was there, I met my first southbounder, Rocklayer from NC (I think). He was quiet and was trying to catch the 3 SOBO'S in front of him. We both stood there thumbing it and finally, a man named Tony pulled over in his truck. Tony was on vacation and had taken his son to his first major league baseball game last nite (Redsox). Nice guy and THANKS TONY!We got to the trailhead, and I started hiking around 9:30 a.m. Just as I got off the road a bit, I almost got caught watering the leaves by this guy, but barely made it.Hot and humid day, but I am feeling optimistic again. I think part of my sluggishness was also due to mentally stressing about having real climbs again, but I'm feeling more confident about that now.First it was 3 miles up Bromley Mtn. This is a skiing mountain so @ the top is the ski lift, observation deck and a ski patrol shelter that they let hikers use. Pretty cool.I climbed the observation deck and the guy that almost saw me peeing was there. We did the normal introductions, but then something really amazing happened. We both admitted we preferred to hike solo, and come to find out, he's 35, and feels EXACTLY like me about the lack of depth in so many trail conversations. He's also a super light sleeper! Neither of us could believe we'd found the other, because we both are so accustomed to meeting partyers. We stood there and had a wonderful conversation about life, living it to the fullest, being misunderstood by our families, etc. It was really cool, especially considering what I wrote yesterday. He also admitted he didn't feel like he fit in to the hiking community either. Crazy huh? His name is Hiker Dude from MA, but he preferred that I not take his pic, ad I always ask and always respect the person's wishes. Cool meeting you man. He did GA-MA in 1999 and now VA-ME this year.So I headed on and it was down and then 3 humps. I was headed to Mad Tom Notch Rd. for water and lunch and just before I got there, the skies opened up. Man was it raining. I put my pack cover on (which really does nothing, I'm going to get a trashbag in the next town), and my OR hat, but not my raingear, because it was warm enough.I got to the road to find Tupperware, Buns and Roses, and Spock and Twiggy. I figured they were to Hanover by now, but they had been staying in Bennington, VT and keeping Hearts company in the hospital there. They were laughig because they said they stealth camped in the hospital last nite. Funny. They said Heart may get out in a few days, and then he's going home to recup and hopefully get back out and finish.So, they were all standing there waiting on a car to show up. Apparently on their way up Bromley Mtn., one of them found some guy's wallet with $300.00 in it. They somehow contacted him and agreed to meet him @ this road. The guy showed up and was SO happy to have his wallet back. So you see...I'm not the only one doing the "right" thing out here. I told them all what they did was awesome.I got gross rust tasting water from a handpump ad it is absolutely downpouring. Of course NOW is when my steripen decides it needs new batteries, which involves me having to get inside of my pack and foodbag in the pouring rain...but I did it.I quickly ate some combos and an oatmeal creme pie, and moved on...I was getting chilled.Next climb is up to Styles Peak, a pretty steep 1.5 mile climb. At this point, the trail is totally flooded and muddy and I'm soaked completely, and it's still raining (and will continue to do so until 3:30 p.m.).I got up there and had about 1.5 miles of flatter stuff before climbing up to Peru Peak. Well, in the middle of the flatter section, I started hearing thunder. I'm "lower" than the peaks, but not by much and am still technically on the top. I knew I needed about 15-20 min. to get up and over Peru Peak, but the thunder kept getting closer, so I went back to the lowest point I could find and stood there to listen. I took note of the frequency between rumbles and finally heard nothig for 5 minutes, so I decided to go for it. I knew I'd be descending over 1 mile if I could get over Peru Peak.I wasn't panicking or anything, I just kicked it into ahigher gear and was up ad over it in 15 minutes. I was relieved to be going down because the thunder did start again.   I ran into a woman dayhiking going south.I kept going and around 3:00 p.m. I was at Peru Peak Shelter where Tupperware and that crew as well as Hiker Dude were there. Hiker Dude was waiting for the rain to stop, and the others had called it a day.Oh, Hiker Dude asked what songs I sing, and he said he's been tortured by Billy Ocean's "Caribbean Queen." I suggested "I can see clearly now the rain is gone," and that worked for him, but then I got that damn Billy Ocean song in MY head!I ate a snack and the others were asking me some questions about my hike last year. They said they've run into 3 people who (when they mention they've seen me) all said, "Oh Certain! I read her journal last year!" I explained to them that it started in 2006, so it's been a long saga and I give detail and pretty blunt accounts.I told them about the crazy foot injury and the things that made it difficult, and then Spock goes, "Well, we're really glad you're back out here." I thought that was such a sweet thing to say, so I thanked him.At 3:30, the rain finally stopped, so I decided to go another 4.7 miles to the "Non-Shelter" Lost Pond Shelter. I say non-shelter because it burned down, the GMC rebuilt and it burned down AGAIN, so there's no shelter, just campsites.I hiked past Griffith Lake and the sun even came out for a bit. There was a lengthy boardwalk and then some slight ups\downs . Finally I started my last climb of the day, up Baker Peak.It was pretty easy till .1 from the summit where it turned into rocks. The clouds up there were crazy. The wind was blowing like crazy too.Right at the top was a little snake trying to warm up. Wildlife has been scarce. Mostly toads and orange salamanders. No bear, moose, and not even deer!I got over Baker Mtn., and started the last 2 mile descent. I was getting tired though.Finally @ 5:30 p.m., I saw the shelter sign. Hiker Dude was there, so I set up a distance from him (so we could both sleep).I set up camp, got water, and ate my mac n cheese along with 2 little semi-soft cheese things. I'm enjoying eating more food out here.The rain started again too. At least I'm dry in my hammock. Well, a good day for the most part, wouldn't hurt me if the rain stopped. My cell phone was in a baggie with my small pad and pen, but my phone got wet. I have it taken apart to hopefully dry out tonight, but I did manage to get a hold of Karen and my phone was doing all of this crazy stuff on its own like dialing 3's, 4's, and the # key in the middle of my conversation, and then adjusting the volume by itself too! It was like someone had a remote to it, but I know it was because it got so wet.I'm about to fall asleep to the sound of the rushing stream, pitter patter of the rain slowly falling, and it's 9:00 p.m. @ 59 degrees. A little chilly, but I'm toasty in my hammock. Goodnite.~Certain