6/9 Big Birds

9.1 today, 1218.1 miles N, 955.9 miles left
Eckville Shelter

Overnight we got strong winds as I went to sleep. I thought a bad storm was brewing but I was wrong. We spent the time while drifting off watching the outline of the trees bend and sway against the glow of the sky. High winds always worry me but no big branches seemed to fall.
The day started with a 800' climb up the ridge-line. In a open rocky stretch we came across a snake. I was ahead but Dana spotted him first. She shouted to me and I jumped back. It was definitely non poisonous. We think it was a Black King snake. It took a quick sniff with it's tongue and then turned around and disappeared into the cracks in the rock.
Our first stop of the day was at Pulpit Rock which provides a great view of the valley below. We hiked a little farther to The Pinnacle which had even better views. Were as the Pulpit was a clearing in the ridge-line The Pinnacle is a protrusion from the ridge-line of maybe 50-100 yards that gives an expansive overhanging view. We decided to lunch here and did not regret a choice at all. We sat on top of a rock in the shade of a tree and while we ate we started to notice the large birds circling around the ridge there. At times I counted 15 large vultures, probably 6 foot wingspan. They circled the ridge taking advantage of the thermals and wind to fly hundreds of feet up above the ridge and then circling and drifting down until there were almost flying through trees. Dana spotted some of them had red heads so she thinks those are turkey vultures and the others with black heads are black vultures. We spent at least and hour relaxing and enjoying the birds and view before moving on.
From the Pinnacle the earlier rocks mercifully turned to old woods roads mostly and we made great time to the shelter.
Tonight's shelter is like the 501 shelter in that it has a caretaker house and the luxuries that come with it. We we got there we met Caps and I was pleasantly surprised to see McGyver's backpack. He was in the solar shower and we had a reunion a few minutes later. Dana and I bummed some liquid dish soap off Caps and took showers that left us lemony fresh. After we arrived Fidel and Blowout arrived to complete the crew for the night.
At dinner Dana and I made ramen based spaghetti and Mac and Cheese. Fidel was stocked to the gills though and we ate well from his food. His mom sends his super yummy food in his care packages but it is stuff that is largely found in bottles and cans and so too heavy to carry far. He shared some mock duck, salsa, chips, sake, and more with us. Thank you Fidel's mom! It was yummy.
The rest of the people stayed in the bunk house and Dana and I pitched our tent across the road in a soft grassy field. There are countless birds all round this field signing to us.