Running Against the Rain – Fox’s AT Thru Hike – Day 99

My goal going into the day was to simply get up early and cross Stratton Mountain. The weather report predicted thunderstorms at 11am, so that was my schedule.

Heading down Kelly Stand Road, Dead, the other two Long Trail Hikers (a mother and her son) and I stumbled upon the magic of the trail. After an egg wrap and a banana, I headed up the mountain still looking for shelter from the rain. At the top of Stratton I had a signal and it was only 9:30 so I called up the other foxes for a chat. I started the firefower but my fear of heights won and I went down.

Going down Stratton without any knee pain was great. My knee brace had irritated a sore on my leg, so I wasn’t even wearing it today. I don’t think this means everything is fine, but it gave me a positive boost. When the trail leveled out, the rain had not arrived.

I arrived at the Spruce Peak Shelter and even though it was early (4pm), I went ahead and had dinner. Another guy was already at the shelter and, interestingly, had claimed space for about four people. But the shelter was huge and I don’t really want to encounter conflicts. The rain came just after dinner and ended before 7pm. Shortly after, the rest of the people from last night’s shelter arrived.

• Breakfast: Oatmeal with blueberries, cashews, chia
• Dinner: Bean Floss Pasta
• Snacks: Fig Bar x2, Pop Tarts, Cereal Bar x2, Melody and Pretzels, Nature Valley Protein Bar, Met rx Bar, Nut Butters
• Bonus: egg wrap, banana, cookies
• Known today: Blaze
• Days without a ramen bomb: 99
• Today I am grateful for: The rain that was supposed to arrive at 11, arriving after 4

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