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Emergency Essentials/BePrepared

Appalachian Trail Day 146 - Stony Brook Shelter to Stealth Campsite (Mile 1,719 to Mile 1,735)

I slept really well last night and I feel so much better than yesterday, but I still feel a little slow this morning.

The woman in the tent near me Is already up and moving so I know I can get up and start packing without disturbing anyone. I finish packing and change into my nasty sweat-damp clothes from yesterday, and I'm on the trail at 6:20.

As I leave camp I cross the stream and the woman from camp is there washing up. She is a Kiwi who is hiking to Maine for two months. We just say good morning and talk briefly but don't exchange names.

I've only walked a quarter mile when the trail becomes a ladder. The drop is so steep right here that thankfully the trail crew decided a ladder is the safest choice for this descent. I toss my poles down and climb down without incident. As I'm doing this the woman comes up behind me and I tell her that she picked the hardest part of the trail for her adventure. She actually breathes the sigh of relief and says "Oh good! I was worried yesterday about how hard it is!"

The trail descends further to a forest road with a nice full stream and a bridge to cross over. Immediately after, the trail ascends steeply for 500 feet before leveling off in a nice mixed woods forest where the hard words predominate. 

On the side of the trail is the largest pile of moose scat I have seen thus far so I need to be on the lookout for a big moose. I've seen moose scat on the trail, but it was rather small. I'm more afraid of getting attacked by a moose than a bear. I've been hearing stories of people getting charged by moose on the trail.

Over the last five miles I've gained 1,700 feet in elevation, and I'm already getting low on water so I stop to filter water at a stream, since the next reliable water is 9 miles away.  While I am filtering a young woman walks up. She was the one in the shelter last night, and she introduces herself as Fallout. She is originally from Maryland. We chat for a while before we head up the trail to gain another 700 feet, but now I'm loaded with three liters of water.

By 11 o'clock I have hiked about seven and a half miles, and gained close to 3,000 feet.  I pass by a side trail that leads to The Lookout, a privately owned cabin where the owners graciously allow hikers to stay for the night. It's supposed to have a gorgeous view of the valley to the west, and I consider stopping, but the sky is darkening and there is an 80 chance of rain and thunderstorms this afternoon, so I bypass the side trail and instead start the descent towards Woodstock.

The trail goes by a turn off for the Mauri Wintturi Shelter. I take a quick look at the weather and see a storm is moving in fast. Radar makes it look like it could go around me but then again who knows? 

I decide to veer towards the shelter at the last minute. It's definitely too early to stop for the day, but I have enough food that if bad weather hits, I could stay here. At the very least I can take an hours break and then reevaluate the weather situation.  The shelter has a brand new privy that is gorgeous by trail standards, which isn't saying much.

It rains for a few minutes and then the sun comes out. I pull out my bear canister and munch on some cheese and salami while I write this, enjoying the decadence of a prolonged break. If I had to camp out here for the night I would be more than happy. The only problem is the water is quite a way down the hill behind the shelter; the seasonal stream beside the shelter is dry as a bone.

I am motivated to leave when the rain looks like it went completely around this area.  I realize that it's 2:30 and if I want to make it to the Farm Stand for some fresh food I need to hustle in order to be there by 5:00 when it closes.

I am literally running in a couple spots down the hill to try to make it to the farm stand before it closes. I end up getting there at 4:30, I And thrilled that I came here! I buy a peach, mini sweet peppers, and cherry tomatoes, all of which are some of my favorite foods. I also Indulge in a Mocha Java monster, which given the late hour I may regret later, but I think the infusion of caffeine is going to seriously help me for the next three miles and 1,000 feet of gain I still have to do. I already hiked over three thousand feet today, and I am getting tired!

Two miles later I can attest that caffeine, sugar, and vitamin C are definitely the secret sauce to getting through my day. I pretty much suffer up the climb, but when a couple of young pups pass me they are huffing and puffing and groaning, so I know I'm not the only one out here suffering and it does make me feel better.

Once I get over the mountain, however, I am literally bouncing down the trail. I'm also jamming out to music which really helps. I think I'm going to have to start sucking down more caffeine in the afternoons. I know it's helped me before but I always try to limit my intake. I think this might be the only way I can survive the increasingly difficult mountains, especially in New Hampshire and Maine.

So far the rain hasn't materialized but I don't want to tempt the Rain Gods By thinking that I cheated the forecast. There have definitely been some dark clouds overhead, and some sprinkles, but nothing appreciable so far today, and for that I am so thankful.

I hike the two-and-half miles to the stream where I plan to stay tonight. I go across, but have a difficult time finding the campsite. I go back and read the FarOut comments and realize the campsite is before the stream and up a hill. 

By seven thirty I have set up my camp, eaten dinner, and changed into my sleeping clothes.  This is the earliest that I have been set up and ready for bed in a while. Now I only hope that the caffeine doesn't keep me awake.

Good night!

Today's Stats: 16.2 miles (plus one bonus mile), 4,000 feet gain
Trail Stats: 1,735 miles, 339K feet gain


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