Bemis Mtn Lean-to
The title says it all. I woke up at 6 AM and didn't stop moving til 10:30. The day started with getting breakfast and buying food for the next segment. After fiddeling with the kit for a while and Dave of the Pine Ellis drove me back to the trail. I started at 10AM with a manageable climb up to Surplus Pond. Surplus Pond was a nice spot with a good campsite and what looked to be a good swimming hole. The trail crossed over it's outlet where there was lots hapening in the water. I saw a bull frog tadpole. Also in the water fighting the current were a dozen small fish no bigger than my finger. Finally in a nook formed by collected washed up wood there was a small pool of still water. In that I noticed a collection of likely frog eggs floating on the surface. I dipped my trekking pole in and they stuck to it in stands of clear but dotted slime that slowly dripped off. Very cool.
After that a few more easy miles to Hall Mtn. Lean-to where I took my lunch break with a couple of SOBOers. Sonic, Mr. Panda, Earl Grey, and Jersey Fresh arrived in what I can only call more stylish dress that the rest of us. Jersey was wearing a union suit, Mr. Panda a long blue skirt, Sonic a long skirt, and Earl Grey floral shorts and a strawberry shortcake themed robe. They were staying at The Barn Hostel near Andover and there was a clothes box they decided to borrow from for the day. We hiked together off and on till Arm Road where they got a ride back to The Barn. The hike from the shelter to the road involed climbing up and over Moody Mtn. and just like all the other major climbs the MATC oversees this one goes up the mountain so steeply that I actually felt nauseus from the effort. Finally at the top I did get a good view. It air is very clear which helps a lot. Rounding the top I was exposed to a great view of the northen mountains with a surprisingly large number !
of large lakes filling in the lowspots. It was a suck out my breath scenic view. Then it went back down so quickly that it required several ladders, a touch the AMC would never thought of.
After the road another climb this time over Old Blue and the Bemis mountains. Before climbing though I had to fill up on water as my guide book said there was no water betweenthe road and shelter and that the shelters watersource was seasonal. Lucky for me before I started the climb a couple SOBO hikers came through and though they said the water was bad at the shelter they also said there was many water sources between Old Blue and the Beamis Mountains saving me having to haul a gallon of water for 13 miles up and down. I dumped half my water and made uncomfortable progess up Old Blue where I was treated to yet another stunning and hard earned view. This included the cliff of a slope of Moody behind. Then onward through the high gap between Old Blue and West Bemis. This turned out to be a winding trail weaving it way through impossably thick groves of fir. The trees were often growing so densely that a sensable unit of measure would be "fir tree per square foot". Sure enoug!
h there was water galore all over in the saddle and I tanked up. I wonder why my guidebook omits all of these?
The climb up the Bemis Mountains, at least the three I did today, was generally nice with only short steep segments. There view from the top of each was awesome. I can see why may people recommend slowing down in Maine. As I climbed them the sun dropped closer to the horizon casting a very warm light on the ranges and lakes surrounding me.
I made quick progess which was important as I was running out of daylight.
A note about the trails arround here, they are covered in moose droppings. It is hard to cover a 1/4 mile without seeing evidence of recent moose activity. I am always exspecting to walk right into one on the trail but it hasn't happened yet.
Back to the story though. About ten minutes shy of the shelter I saw my first porcupine ever. They are not very impressive looking animals with a squat cubby body, awkward looking tail, and woobly walk but I guess you don't need to be sleek if you are covered in quills. It slowly ran down the trail ahead of me and finally went into the woods. Unfortunatly it never presented itself well enough for a picture.
I made it the shelter with just the smallest margin of light to spare.
Now that I am well I am really feeling greatful for each day I do well on the trail.
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