Rain rain GO AWAY!

Rain. I think my friend hit the nail on the head when he remarked that it feels like November. I’m just waiting for sleet and snow! Brrrrrrr. Since it’s supposed to pour with brutal winds today I’m taking an unplanned zero at the beautiful Bromley View Inn (2 thumbs up.) I hiked in cold rain with 50 mph wind gusts four days ago and I’m not sure I’ve warmed up yet. 

My Marmot Precip rain jacket- which I love- is starting to leak a little bit. So while in Bennington VT last week I stopped at Walmart for a Frog Toggs raincoat, which so many people swear by. Maybe there’s a different model I should have purchased? I wound up drenched on that cold windy rainy day. Luckily I was able to stay in a dry shelter. I shivered for two hours in my sleeping bag before warming up. I saved the Marmot, though. So the following day it was cold and rainy but not windy. I stayed reasonably dry with the Marmot PLUS the Frog Toggs on top of it PLUS my trekking umbrella. (I couldn’t use the trekking umbrella on the windy day due to the gusts.)

On the cold nights Boomer wore his jacket and curled up under my jacket. He even put his paws and nose under, something I never saw him do before!

Stratton Mountain At least the hike over Stratton Mountain was on a rainless day with even a few moments of sun. Still chilly but not frigid. I met the caretakers, sat down and rested and ate. There were lots of day hikers – it was a holiday weekend, after all. Boomer received much love and food from other hikers. 

That night I stayed at Stratton Pond Shelter. Spacious, warm, and full (capacity 16) of congenial hikers. One even shared a hunk of dark chocolate! I used my first aid kit to clean and dress a hikers gashed leg. Not deep enough for stitches but filthy because he cut it falling into mud. 

Mud. Speaking of mud, it’s everywhere. As much as I love my Altra trail runners, they were not up to the job. I’m enjoying my new Keen boots. Much better in all the muck. 

Boomer and friends – Lily (collie) and Bella (Jack Russel/Dachshund mix) belong to my friends Mimi and Paul who put me up for a day off the trail in small town Vermont.