Bald Mtn. Lean-to
Last night sucked! I spent the night battling the mouse from h#ll. For some reason this mouse would not give it a break and from about 10 to 5 this morning I didn't sleep longer than 20 minutes a pop before it would jump on me or start making noise near my head. I even figured out how to get at my food bag that was suspend on a supposedly mouse proof hang! Arg!!
On the up side I was up in plenty of time to get breakfast at the Harrison Camp even if I was a little groggy. The camp is perched next to the outlet to Pierce Pond and from the dining room you can see the river and a waterfall. Very very nice. For the last 18 years they have been serving the thru-hiker breakfast of 12 blueberry pancakes eggs, tea, and juice. The pancakes were awesome and Tim Harrison was too. We spent a couple hours talking and in the end I left only because I had to make it to the Kennebec River before the ferryman took his lunch break. Tim had lots of ideas of other neat hikes around the area though so I think someday I may comeback.
Since I was talking with Tim for so long I really had to rush to make it to the ferry. Unfortunately it meant that I couldn't look at the waterfalls that are along the trail. I could see them here and there and hear them everywhere. Where the river was not cascading it was wide slow and lazy calmming the soul.
Skipping the falls did work at least. I made it to the ferry just in time. That means I made it 3.2 miles in about 55 minutes, not bad!
The ferry is a small canoe and I helped paddle ensuring I contributed to ever last mile of my hike. The reason for the ferry is that even though the river is flat and wide there is a hydro-electric plant up stream that is prone to un-annouced releases of water causing sudden rises in water height. A hiker died in 85 from trying to get across without the ferry so I decided to do the prudent thing.
After the crossing the trail was relativly easy going with only the heat working up a sweat in me. At Pleasent Pond shelter I came across some trail magic in the form of two tins of home backed cookies. I took a couple which I enjoyed completely and took a break to read some local newspaper clippins. That is when I found out some sad news, Colin Fletcher had died. He is the author of, in hummble opinion, the very best backpacking book there is, "The Complete Walker". His writting has never been matched in its simple elegance that takes the reader not into a dry analysis of backpacking but instead like a good travel novel transports the reader into a simple graceful world where wonders lie everywhere and joy can be reached nearly effortlessly when one knows how to do it. I wrote a heavy and sad register entry. Colin, you are missed and the backpacking world owes you a great debt of gratitude.
Nearby is pleasent pond at the end of a short sidetrail. My guided promises a sandy beach at Pleasent Pond. I hoped to find a warm quiet pond to skinny dip in. Instead I was disappointed to find a pond dotted with houses. The beach was maybe two feet of exposed sand and I could hear the wine if moter boats around the other side of a nearby point. Still I did find it agreeable enough to spend a half hour sitting on pier with my feet in the water. The sun was warm and I took the oppertunity to dry my sweaty shirt and socks which I rinsed in the pond.
Along came one of those queer storms where the rain comes down lighty meanwhile the sun stays bright in the sky. I hurriedly gathered up my clothers for not as the rain was so light and brief that it would have not caused a signifigant amount of harm to the drying process.
Next up was a climb up over Pleasent Mountain, not a difficult climb. However it seemed to go on forever in the heat. Up top I picked a few blueberries and headed down to tonights shelter. The last few miles were miserable when it came to bugs. They ruthless attacked any exposed skin but I dared not stop to apply the DEET for the fear of even more bugs.
Miraculously the shelter was free of them and brought great relief when I stopped. I stopped with pleanty of sunlight but last nights mouse issues has prematurly drained me of energy and so I am taking it easy. Green Hornet is here too as well as the psyco mice. Tonight we have learned from last nights experiance and have taken to throwing rocks at them. After a couple hours of this I think they have gotten the idea as they seem to be leaving us alone now.
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