August 7, 2018
- Start: Little Rock Pond
- End: Bromley Mountain Ski Patrol mile 213.2
- Total: 16.8 miles
I started later today, around 8:30, after talking to Moose. I was thinking of joining him for an 18 or so mile day to stay at Bromley Shelter. We didn’t play leapfrog today as much as we did yesterday, but I really enjoyed just taking things slowly. I even took an hour and a half long break around 2 p.m. at Peru Peak Shelter. While I was there I cooked an early dinner, figuring I could always eat a cliff bar and drink hot chocolate before bed.
Shortly after leaving the shelter it poured. I was engulfed in thunder, lightning, and pouring rain. I slogged through the trail as it became a waterfall. With every step I felt my socks absorb water like sponges. The tape on my foot was sliding around between my toes.
When I finally made it to the peak of Bromley the ski patrol hut was full of welcoming faces. Moose had chosen to end his day here. Too Many was also there, and a female SOBO named Little Foot. An added bonus was Little Foot’s sweet doberman named Fire.
I was determined to make it to the shelter, but after sitting for a while and enjoying the warmth and company I decided it was perfect to end my day at the ski patrol hut. It was after all just a mile short of my goal.
When I took my shoes and socks off the situation was narly. My blisters had popped and transformed. They were now dead skin pockets full of mud. I tried to clean them out, but I just couldn’t do it alone. That night Moose became Dr. Moose when he swabbed inside the blisters with alcohol soaked cotton swabs. I also learned he is a horse veterinarian in Germany.