Date: 2014-07-01
From: William B Douglas Shelter

To: Peru Peak Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

Slept great again. These spruce needles practically are a bed in themselves. So springy. Plan was to sleep in so I wouldn't be at Scoopys too early (11am) and I think I do but check the phone and it's 5:30. Ugh. Choices. I can go back to sleep but it's bright out and that's not going to happen. I can stick around here but eventually it'll just be a bunch of noisy teenagers again - who are camped all around the privy, or I can just hike to Scoopys and wait there. Maybe if they have an outdoor outlet I can charge this phone. I chose to hike. I'm way off this morning. One if those days where you just can't get a rhythm and are fumbling and tripping every where. The gnats have started already too and it's only 8:30. The humidity is getting thicker too so rain is definitely near. I got to the road and it's really busy, loud, and hot. But only ten minutes or so of hiking. I get there at 9:30 and things have changed. It's no longer Scoopys with burgers and fries. It's Cilantros with wraps. Not as exciting but I'll take it. They still have custard and soda and there's an outside plug. Of course they now also open at 11:30 so I'm waiting....Starving. Part two - they opened. It's a very bright very warm day. I've been trying to sit in whatever shade I can. Cilantros is pretty much Chipotle on wheels. I get the biggest burrito I can with a bottle of coke. I've never eaten so fast. Trying to not resupply I ordered another and also a large sundae with brownie. This all seems like a really good idea but hiking on a stuffed stomach can be troublesome. Especially (Warning :TMI) if you've been constipated for two days. This is also another big climb afternoon. The mountains are definitely getting bigger. And steeper. (An aside - that last sentence reminds me of a funny line from Evil Under the Sun. Two women who were once chorus girls and aren't very fond of one another meet again after years. The nicer one trying to be snarky to the less nice one says "Arlena could always throw her legs in the air higher than any of us. And wider".)It's almost 90 today and this is Vermont! I'm dying. I bought a new sleeveless shirt in Adams and my shoulders are exposed. I really should put sun screen on but don't. The first two miles of the climb are nothing. The last is tough then you end hiking up a ski slope so it's very exposed. Nice little rock up top to rest and see if I have service. I do! And find that storms are moving in at five and settling for two days. Crap! I knew this was coming but now I have to book it over this mountain, down the other side, up another one, and hike a ridge for a few miles. Great. Just the place I want to be in a storm. Quick mileage calc and looks like I can get all the way to the shelter before five if I push it. So I do. I haven't been so exhausted since the Priest in Virginia. I can feel myself wanting to just sleep. And there's no water. Drenched in sweat. Another afternoon of cursing. The downhill is quick and over. Right when I really want to drop my pack there's the shelter. Yippee! I really wanted to tent just beyond at the lake and go swimming but with the weather I don't think so. It's also a pay shelter but no idea where to pay. Who cares. I'm here. Lots of mosquitos. My shoulders are sunburnt. Not my favorite day.