Author: mmbowden60

Getting ready for bed in the Ski Patrol Hut on top of Bromley Mountain. This is a very cool spot to spend the night with an open area at the top of a ski resort. There are the top of ski lifts all around. Great sunset, but the best part is stepping out the door into the windy night sky. I can see Manchester Center twinkling below. The Whites (White Mountains) can be seen in the distance just east of north.

Today I had a close call on Baker Peak. There was a rock outcropping with nice views. It was becoming a little windy. I checking out a view for a photo, edged closer to a point where the rock dropped off about 9 feet. A sudden gust put me on one foot and I fought to keep my balance and not fall off. Lesson learned.

Here is the photo I took when I nearly fell at Baker Peak.

Another photo at same spot.

Shortly after, I missed a turn on the AT and proceeded to hike 0.9 miles downhill on Baker Peak Trail. I did not notice the blue blazes and continued descending, steeply at times. I only realized my middle when I reached the signed trail junction with Pond Trail. I backtracked to the AT, but the 2 mile detour and hour delay caused Sheffy to wonder what happened to me. My hike today was 11.8 miles on AT and 13.6 miles total. Tomorrow we have a 3 mile downhill hike to the car. We are postponing breakfast until town.

Here is where I made wrong turn. I continued downhill to right. I should have gone to left. Notice sign behind tree.

More photos.

Reaching top of Bromley Mountain at top of ski resort.

It was a 14.9 mile day from Minerva Hinchey Shelter to Lost Pond Shelter. This was after adding 1.7 miles to our original plan. The major climbs were over early in the day, but we still had typical Vermont rocky trails which I really feel on the bottom of my feet. By the end of the day the trail became friendlier (less rocks).

We had some beautiful lakes. Including this one where I ate a hot cooked macaroni and cheese lunch in the gorgeous Little Rock Pond Shelter close to the lake.

Met Patches (AT Class of 2012) and Sara and dog at Lost Pond Shelter. Soon Top Peak showed up. I asked everyone whether they had been in the woods overnight on their own. I was surprised when Patches told us that she had been the caretaker at Hermit Lakes at the top of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail on the side of Mt. Washington. There were a number of times she had spent lonely days in the HOJO (caretakers cabin) without seeing anyone. The weather was brutal with 80 mph winds at times, but she had everything she needed. We all joked about whether it was like “The Shining”. Patches also told us about a cabin that she and her boyfriend once had where they could not drive up the quarter mile driveway because it was so steep and rugged. When the moved out, they hand carried everything down the hill. Guess she likes living in tough places.

Somehow burned holes in my Goretex rain pants, probably while cooking supper.

It was a cold night camping at Cooper Lodge. The cold wind blew all night long under the edges of the tarp and through the front opening. At first I could feel myself warming during pauses of the breeze, but eventually my body couldn’t keep up with the repeated blasts of cold air and I slept on the cold side of the edge of comfort.

Here is the tarp setup where I suffered through cold winds all night long on Killington.

We had 14.1 miles to make Minerva Hinchey Shelter. Still cold, I began hiking with most of my clothing on my back rather than in the backpack. The long descent from the 4000 foot point where we camped was a treacherous collection of rocks and roots set into a steep path with high knee straining steps. As soon as the trail crossed a wind sheltered spot with warm sunshine, I shed the rain pants and extra clothing.

Eventually we were rewarded with long stretches of the easiest trail you will find on the AT.

We hit a spot near Clarendon gorge where the trail dropped through a small chasm like feature of high rock walls. Beautiful but hard to photograph.

A little further on here  is a Swinging Bridge over Clarendon Gorge. It really moved and it was a little scary to look over the side to rocks and river below.

We Met a family, Mom, Dad, 6 year old girl, and 12 year old boy camping at shelter with us tonight. They are thru-hiking AT. There trails name is Fam. They started in Maine, now in Vermont. Have hiked 510 miles and 1600 to go. Will be hiking through winter.

Thankfully tonight is warmer, but I have taken the precaution of having the edges of my tarp pinned against the ground to keep out wind. Here is my tarp set up at Minerva Hinchey with leaves covering gaps on the sides. This is where we met Top Peak, a thru hiker finishing up after a flip.

Finally we have a cool clear dry morning . We hike 10 miles from Mountain Meadows Lodge to Cooper Lodge, but first a breakfast of 4 sausage egg cheese rolls, juice, and coffee. We climbed today to over 4000 feet where we tarped near the top of Stratton Bald. As I lay in my warm sleeping bag, a cold wind blows up the mountain and under my tarp.

The best part of the day was hiking a mile of high ridge with dense firs that blocked the sun from the wet tangle of roots, moss, and ferns. The forest floor gave way at times to carpets of squaw root. This walk reminded me of the Black Mountain crest in North Carolina.

Mountain Meadows Lodge in morning.

AT passes lake next to MM Lodge

Mountain Ashe

Set up my tarp on this platform where cold wind blew in from every direction.

Cooper Lodge where I joined others on the roof for the view.

We planned on a 15 mile day, but ended up hiking 16 miles to Mountain Meadows Lodge. Turns out that Thundering Brook road crosses the trail twice and we had picked out the wrong one. What’s another mile when you are hiking 15 miles.

Today I was on stride. Felt good all day. Cooler weather and dry socks might have helped. Used some moleskin on some blisters from yesterday and feet did well.

I went off trail twice. First, we lost the trail while leaving Winturi Shelter on the blue blaze. Using Guthook we bushwhacked back to the shelter trail. Not a good start. Next, I missed the trail when cruising the last half mile trail. Backtracked and Sheffy never missed me.

Had fun climbing this trail ladder.

Stony Brook Shelter where we had a short lunch.

I helped move this wedding trellis in return for a ride to the Deli store.

Mountain Meadows Lodge: Hot showers, laundry, room, pizza delivery,  and breakfast.

Thundering Brook Falls

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