START LOCATION: Long Pond Stream Lean-to
FINISH LOCATION: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 20.8
TRIP MILEAGE: 2,100.5
MILES TO GO: 78.6
By the time I woke up at 5:15AM, I had no idea that the 4 month thru-hikers had already hit the trail. It wasn't until about 6:30AM that I'd realized this... Unbelieveable stealth. Casper and NLC realized their feedbags had been victimized by the shelter mice. The same thing happened to the sectioners staying there. My bag and pack seem to have been untouched. They must not like my food selection.
Casper and NLC were on the trail by 6:50. I was right behind them at 7. This early jump was great because we had a challenging 21 planned. We ascended Barren Mtn ledges and peak and were treated to some gorgeous early morning views. We then rolled up and down over some slow rooty and rocky ridges over Fourth Mtn and stopped for lunch on Third Mtn. We wrapped up our midday meal and within a couple miles arrived at Chairback Mtn. Lean-to to find a MATC trail crew replacing the shelter roof. We were glad we hadn't stopped there for lunch as the place was a mess of construction activity. Our ridge walk concluded with a quick summit of Columbus Mtn. and Chairback Mtn. All were beautiful vistas as well.
We descended off the ridge to arrive at the West Branch of the Pleasant River. This was a wide ford. There was no question the boots had to come off. I carried my boots in one hand and both trekking poles in the other as I barefooted my way across the icy water. Carrying the boots ended up being a critical mistake. I stumbled at one point and fell forwards. My hand toting the boots became submerged as I stopped my fall... Soaked. The boots had my socks stuffed inside and were full of water. I dropped a few expletives as I finished off the water walk. I shook off the misfortune quickly. There was 5 1/2 miles left of hiking and the boots would dry pretty quickly in the dry air and sunshine. They did somewhat. With sunny weather tomorrow, they'd fully recover soon.
I am sheltering with Casper, NLC and the 4 month thru-hikers tonight in temperatures as brisk I can remember since Catawba, Virginia.
More nice weather forecasted tomorrow like I mentioned above. We should be able to handle a 18 over our last significant climb until Katahdin... Whitecap Mtn. Up there, we'll get our first view of the "Greatest Mountain".
I was hiking and talking with NLC and Casper for most of the day. There was lots of trail stories shared and it made me really feel like it's coming to an end soon. Crazy how time flies.
-natedog
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