DAY 11 - 7/3/06 141.3
Sunrise to Skyline Lodge 15.7
Weather: Clear, Sunny, Warm
Animals: Several large toads
We were late leaving camp today, but I was determined to have a great hike. After parting with Jamie and Jarad at rt. 73 we ascended Mt. Horrid and the side trail to the Great Cliffs. There were amazing views from the cliffs, all across a broad, flat valley. The next few peaks were ups and downs, over mossy, fir forest. We passed the family of four again today, the had planned a zero or resupply in Middlebury so it was likely we wouldn’t see them again. After lunch at Sucker Brook (Suckah!), we climbed, and climbed, and climbed! We passed Boyce, where a family had set up for the night. They told us that it was pretty much flat with a few ups and downs to the next shelter. No. Lies, dirty lies. It was mostly UPHILL with 1 or 2 flat sections. By the time we made it to Skyline Lodge it was well past sunset. 4 already had settled in, a couple in their 50’s and probably their children were there. Eric, the care taker, was a tall bearish guy, wearing a blue plaid kilt. He was totally awesome. We traded stories of border patrols, beard fetishes, life, weather, and of course food. Eric gave us an orange, so divine and delicious. We cut it into thirds and quickly devoured it. After dinner conversation died, I dug into my book with is getting towards the last third. I’ll be sad to finish it. It’s the “best first novel I could ask for”. Before I passed out a large black spider crawled under my sleeping pad. Charlotte made a good companion for the night.
Weather: Clear, Sunny, Warm
Animals: Several large toads
We were late leaving camp today, but I was determined to have a great hike. After parting with Jamie and Jarad at rt. 73 we ascended Mt. Horrid and the side trail to the Great Cliffs. There were amazing views from the cliffs, all across a broad, flat valley. The next few peaks were ups and downs, over mossy, fir forest. We passed the family of four again today, the had planned a zero or resupply in Middlebury so it was likely we wouldn’t see them again. After lunch at Sucker Brook (Suckah!), we climbed, and climbed, and climbed! We passed Boyce, where a family had set up for the night. They told us that it was pretty much flat with a few ups and downs to the next shelter. No. Lies, dirty lies. It was mostly UPHILL with 1 or 2 flat sections. By the time we made it to Skyline Lodge it was well past sunset. 4 already had settled in, a couple in their 50’s and probably their children were there. Eric, the care taker, was a tall bearish guy, wearing a blue plaid kilt. He was totally awesome. We traded stories of border patrols, beard fetishes, life, weather, and of course food. Eric gave us an orange, so divine and delicious. We cut it into thirds and quickly devoured it. After dinner conversation died, I dug into my book with is getting towards the last third. I’ll be sad to finish it. It’s the “best first novel I could ask for”. Before I passed out a large black spider crawled under my sleeping pad. Charlotte made a good companion for the night.