Miles Today: 20.4
Mile Marker: 1,641.4
Today we had the biggest climb we've had in a long time. Stratton mountain is almost 4,000 feet, and we had to go up about 1,800 feet and then down the same. The climb up the mountain wasn't bad, but the backside was a muddy mess. So was the rest of the day. Vermont has the nickname Vermud, and it lives up to it. As a silver lining someone left a cooler of sodas at the base of the assent. The sugar and caffeine bump were much appreciated.
I was zoned out listening to podcasts all day and lost track of the gang for most of the day. Toward the end of the day I bumped into Dr. Stretch and he said he was going to go about three of four miles further than I had the energy to. I figured I'd be on my own tonight so I found a nice spot, threw my bear line and started setting up. Then I got a text saying he found MacGyver and Trinity just up the trail at a perfect spot. I pulled my bear line down, started to pack up, and realized it was about 7:30 and I'd have to hike almost another mile. I phoned it in, put my bear line back up, and told him I'd catch them in town tomorrow.