Journey Day 268 | AT Day 91

I talked with the operator of this remote-controlled boat on Sawmill Pond.

6/20/86
What a day! Begins with a soaking hike to Culver Gap. A bakery there soon opens and I quickly down four donuts and chocolate milk. I talk with the lady owner, another local about the situation with the ridge's former landowners, the state's problems developing their lifestyle elsewhere.
Decide to walk road up Sunrise Mountain to dry off. Pass deer, then back on the trail. Meet a mountain biker on his way up, then hike on to large pavilion on Sunrise Mountain. Take a long break, abandon my "Three Days to Roger's Cottage" plan. Shoot some photos, nap until grandparents, children, then teachers come up and question me on my adventure.
I hike down off the mountain to another shelter, down to the Deckertown Pike. Meet a Seattle guy with a youngster, hike the Iris Trail, off for a swamp hop, lose trail, wind up back on the turnpike. No one stops, maps worthless. Finally a state forest worker is able to help me, but I'm still far from the day's end. We decide the road is the way to go. I walk it to Sawmill Road, meet a local guy playing with a remote-controlled boat on the pond. I hike a long way down the road, past the pond, cars whizzing by, loud noises from campsites. It's the weekend!
Eventually make it to the visitors center. Exhausted. Ranger Ed befriends me with coffee and talk. He and an assistant show me to the shelter, head back. I'm alone at the newly refurbished shelter, worlds away from dirt floor the night before.

I shared this view atop Sunrise Mountain.