Shaw's Hostel in Monson, ME
The mice from last night were mercfully less annoying and I got a restorative nights sleep. It rained most of the night and a little drizzel this morning. I had breakfast and packed up but in no hurry due to the rain. This time I got lucky and the rain disapated before I hit the trail and throughout the day the weather kept getting better and better. The first thing to do today was climb Moxie Bald, a pretty sizeable climb but also a rather well graded one. The trail was not brushy so I stayed mostly dry on the way up. Going up I ran into a very cool rock formation. It was a series of long cracks in the rock that had a vertical cracks that had spread enough to permit a person to squeeze
e through. On top of these a large flat boulder had fallen making the whole thing look man-made with a roof. The tunnels formed were dim but teh other ends had open ceilings permiting the sun to light the far end. In one was a collection of boulders which formed a neat stack where someone had put a Virgin Mary ceramic figurine that seemed to glow in the sun light at the end of the dark tunnel.
The final part of the climb was easy but unfortunately there was not much to see due to the fog hanging around from the earlier rain. That was a shame because I read much of the view of Katahdin from here.
The downhill was wetter due to all the wet leaves hanging over the trail. I did my best pushing through it and a short distance from the top I caught sight of Moxie Pond. It was poking out from the mist with a glassy smooth surface that showed every puff of air crossing it. After that there was the best blueberry picking on the trail with large numbers of heavy bushes of them. I must have eatten a pint of them as I walked along. Green Hornet caught up with me and we hiked together most of the day. He was worried about the upcomming river fordings so we stuck together to ensure we both made it safely across. The first fording was across the West Branch of Piscataquis which turned out no to be a big deal. The river was wide, flat, and water lazy. It got up to about knee height as we crossed. The water was also very comfortably warm and I was tempted to go for a swim.
We saw a couple of hawks that tuanted us from the tops of trees with a whistle like call.
After that it was a short hike to Horseshoe Cannon Lean-to where we took a break. The temps were warm and the break gave us a chace to let the sweat dry off. Then off to the last big water crossing of the day, the West Branch of Piscataquis. That went as uneventfully as the first. I was planning on taking a swim there but the water was cooler than the first crossing so I just rinsed off. It still was a nice spot and I spent about half hour soaking my feet enjoying the warmth of the sun, refreshment of the breeze, and sound of the water.
Then I was off to make it to the road crossing before it was too late for a hitch. The trail worked it way though spacious and boggy pine forests and along rough roads. Unexspectedly a large lake came into view on my right. It was goregous with 1000s of small water beatles floating on it's surface as far as the eye could see. Whenever one moved a small quickly dampened ripple would form allowing me to see their effects even farther then the bugs themselves. They glided across the water in sudden spurts launching from a spot and gliding to a halt a few inches later. The shore had short plant stalks poking above water level with sigle leaves hanging from their side.
Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a visitor. I only saw it breifly but I think it may have been a weasel or marren. It was about a foot long with short smooth dark brown hair. It escaped my further examination under the roots that keep the shore from washing away.
My data does not have this lake labled but I was not upset enjoying it's beauty as long as I could before covering the last 6 or so to the road.
The data spoke of a summit, gap, and another rise for the end of the day but it turned out to be totally wrong! The summit was 200' higher than listed and there was no gap, just a long gentle descent to the road. Again I was surprised but generally pleased to arrive at the road cool and dry. I made it a hair after 7 and got an easy ride from a fly fisherman guide/professor of law.
Shaws looks like a nice place to spend the night. It will be my last town stop and I plan on savoring it by leaving no earlier than 7 tomorrow night. The next shelter is an easy 3 miles from the road and tommorow I plan on eating dinner in town and then strolling to selter to sleep.
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