Start: The Sterling Inn (AT mi 2041.9). Stop: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To (AT mi 2056.6). Today’s miles: 14.7 miles. Total AT mileage: 1031.9 miles
I got up just after 7am, used the bathroom, changed my clothes and headed down to breakfast. It was basically a continental breakfast, so I had 2 toasted bagels with cream cheese, a banana, coffee, and juice. It was no patriotic pancakes, but it served its purpose fine. I ate with TieDye and a SOBO hiker who’s name I forget now. TieDye was already packed and ready, so he’d head out before me today, but we were aiming for the same camp.
I didn’t end up leaving until a little after 9.. I packed relatively quickly, but then laid back in the bed and got yesterday’s blog post uploaded. When you know you have service, you take advantage! When I was finally ready, I took all my stuff down to the porch and then settled my bill for my resupply and my private room stay. I was quite content with the way yesterday panned out, so it was money well spent indeed.
I hit the trail with two other hikers, from Canton, GA. TweetyBird and her husband-I want to say Starburst but I don’t want to ask again and be a jerk lol. We crossed each other a couple times throughout the day. Mostly I hiked alone, listening to another new audiobook, “The Last Thing He Told Me.” Lauren recommended it and I was so excited when it became available yesterday on my free library app. I think I’m going to finish it tonight, actually.
The trail was seriously easy today. Like the climbs up Pleasant Pond Mountain and Middle Mountain didn’t even register as slightly difficult. It was padded, pine straw and dirt path, dotted with easily avoidable roots and rocks. I’m sure this luck will run out, soon, but honestly it’s been phenomenal to be able to actually hike again. There may not have been any super exciting views, but I still loved every second of it. Plus it never got too hot, my bandana never got soaked from wiping my face.. it was beyond happy hiking, for sure.
I ate lunch on a log just below the first summit, and then on the way down I shared the trail with a snake, a bit longer than I wanted to. I even got a video of the little creeper. A few hours later, before I was expecting it, my planned shelter popped up. I was shocked! The next one was 4 miles away, but over another peak, and as good as I felt, I didn’t want to push my luck by hiking on.. plus, there’s no reward to getting to Monson early, except to have to pay money to spend the night there.. lol
So, I dropped my pack at the sign to go to the shelter. There were two mostly flat tent sites right there where I was standing, but I wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything better closer to the shelter, and I wanted to make sure TieDye was there since I never caught up to him today.
I took the blue blazed trail the quarter mile to the shelter, passing huge boulders that reminded me of Chia-pets.. mossy and leafy “hair” growing out the top lol.. the shelter wasn’t very inviting, so I knew I wanted to tent (I’ve pretty much preferred my tent to the shelters ever since I got David’s.. which is enough to tell me this tent is the right choice). I chatted with TieDye a minute, he was setting up there in the last decent spot, so I was happy to go back and set up where I left my pack.
We’re aiming for the same place tomorrow, maybe a stealth site closer to Monson so we have an easier day getting into Monson the following day. I’m going to try to be packed and ready by the time he comes down the side trail, maybe we’ll attempt to hike together some tomorrow. Normally that stresses me out, but something tells me TieDye won’t have that affect on me.
I sat up my tent in the flatter of the two spots, and just after I finished unpacking everything and changing my clothes, TweetyBird and Starburst appeared. I had passed them when they were eating lunch earlier. They set up next to me in the other spot. It’s perfect down here, we’re right next to a creek with good water.
We ate dinner and hung our food bags. I was going to sleep with mine, but now I’m glad I didn’t because I can hear these squirrels and chipmunks going ateshit nearby. Squeaking and chasing each other, plus dropping stuff off trees.. random thumps to the ground. I’ve looked out of the tent a few times to verify it’s not our ropes they’re chewing and our food plummeting to the ground.
I don’t have service here, so I really hope I get service sometime tomorrow and keep it, since mom will be checking in for her flight and might have last minute questions. I called the hostel in Monson to see if they had a private room for us, but no such luck. I think we’ll probably just eat a meal in town then head elsewhere for the night.
Anyway, that’s all I have for now. I’m going to listen to my audiobook with both headphones, and then get some shut eye 🙂 goodnight y’all!