From: Trapper John shelter
To: Hexacuba shelter
Mileage: 12
Weather: Sunny, breezy and mild
I was out of the Trapper John site before Penguin.
Shortly after crossing Grafton Turnpike the trail entered tall grass and my shoes were soaked with morning dew.
Penguin joined me during a 2,000 foot climb to the peak of Smarts Mountain and a fire tower, but several of the pot smokers from last night were there ahead of us, and Penguin did not want to be exposed to irritating smoke while they took a break, so we bypassed the peak and Fire Wardens Cabin there to get ahead of them. I decided keeping up with Penguin was more important than the short excursion to the peak.
The trail dropped then climbed to the Eastman Ledges with some views, then climbed further up the south peak of Mt Cube (600 feet total) to the Hexacuba shelter, which was a unique hexagon-shape and led to some discussion on how to arrange sleeping bags.
Also at the shelter for the night were Doc and Chief, retirees from southwestern Virginia who were hiking the Whites. They chose a tent site. Joining us at the shelter were the Boston crew and Dusty Pilgrim. Because we were first at the shelter, Penguin requested that any smoking be kept out of the shelter, which did not go over well with one of the Boston crew, though they did smoke outside the shelter (not far enough, really). Doc and Chief (who was a former police chief) offered some support if we needed it, but we let it slide.
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