Baldplate Mt. was awesome! It was about a mile of walking on sheer rock angled at about as steep an angle as my shoes would grip. I felt like Spiderman just getting to the summit.

I had a funny moment on the summit when I found my pack sitting on the rock and went over to it before I realized my pack was still on my back! It reminded me of the day after I got glasses back in 8th grade. I’d gone running around the house before school, desperate to find my new glasses before the bus came, only to be told that they were on my face. :) It turns out someone else purchased a Mountainsmith Ghost and decided to put a carabiner in the same spot on the back. Their pack was still bright and shiny, though!

It was a tough day overall, not just because of the distance, but because yesterday’s rough hike had taken a toll on my body. The sun was out from mid-afternoon onward and that always makes the day so much better. My clothing was soaked from the night before, so I was wearing my camp clothes throughout the day.

None of it bothered me too much, however. We got to the road at 6:30pm, caught a 2-part hitch into town and found a spot at the Andover Guest House. It was a decent place with a fairly psycho hostel keeper. The list of things we weren’t allowed to do was impressive! Dinner was much more friendly than the guest house rules so I spent my time eating, then crashed early.