Date: 2004-09-05
From: Avery Memorial Campsite

To: West Carry Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: overcast clouds

It was 35 degrees this morning, but I didn't feel theharsh cold. Maybe getting used to it already. When Ihiked the short climb to Avery Peak, I got a view ofthe distant lakes and above the cloud cover. Iconsidered myself lucky because the fog was rolling infast. Walking beyond the Bigelows, I saw a sign that read"Excellent View" and pointed 1/10th to the right. Witha carved endorsement like that, how could I lose. Itwas an okay view in my opinion. After awhile, you growdesensitized by all the fresh air and beauty. It'ssuch a shame.As I made my way toward Little Bigelow, I could hearsomeone struggling as they climbed up the rocky trailahead. I could see that person's hiking poles droppedon the ledge as they groaned and grunted, pullingthemselves to the top. They stopped and brushed offtheir shorts. I stood waiting. "Are you Baltimore Jack?" I asked. "That would be me." He said. This was my thirdencounter with the man. A celebrity encounter where Ifinally get to see him hike the trail. He stood in hispost-thru-hiker glory and girth, carrying a ten-tonbackpack. Extracting a Camel from a ziploc bag, heplaced it between his teeth. "Aren't you supposed to be writing a book?" I asked. Yes, he replied. That is what his publishersays, but he is hiking with a friend who has some"serious leg issues." Oh yeah, I remember. He ishiking with One Leg southbound. We waited for One Leg to show up a few minutes later.He fared the climb much better than BJ. He was meetingthe family in Stratton tomorrow. He said theWilderness was tough, he climbed Katahdin withcrutches, and I'm in store for some hard days.Baltimore Jack had already informed me that theBigelow's are the last of the tough ones. I didn'twant to tell One Leg that he is at the beginning of200 miles of hard hiking. I'll let Baltimore Jackbreak the bad news. As we chatted and One Leg rested, Polar and Pilotshowed up and said hello. We all set off togethernorth on the trail and chatted about all sorts ofthings. I had never had a chance to talk to thembefore and learned about some fellow comrades for achange. I broke away from the girls when I reached "The Tubs",a nickname for a shelter near Little Bigelow.Bluebearee had written a note in the registry saying"LD, you're done with the hard stuff, girl!" Yeh! Inthe registry, everyone was gloating about reaching2000 miles of the trail. So I am officially a 2000miler and can join the ALDHA club, I guess. The Tubs are natural rock pools of water. Wish it waswarm enough for swimming. But a low cloud cover keptthe day cool. On my way leaving the shelter, I metWizard's wife and her friends. That was a verypleasant encounter. I caught up with Polar, Pilot and Hotrock before theroad crossing where "2000 miles" is painted. This isactually at 2005 miles, but who is counting? We are now at the shelter near West Carry Pond. Everyshelter since I hit NH and beyond has been near a bodyof water or a bubbling brook, it seems. This pond hadLoons. I could hear them but couldn't see them. Theircalls echoed through the evening. Pilot and I built a fire and we all sat around jokingfor a few hours. Roadster, a hiker I met in Franklin,NC, showed up. She was now southbounding with a coupleof guys from Alaska. She didn't expect to finish thetrail this year but that is not her goal really.Roadster has a tremendous handwritten journal. Whenshe is relaxing, she pulls out watercolors and drawscartoon images of the events she witnesses on thetrail. Very talented and hopes to be a children's bookillustrator some day. As I lie in my tent reading, I can hear the redsquirrels dropping small cones around me. They aretrying to sound like a large intimidating animal.Polar's tent is nearby but I don't call out to her tosee if she hears what I hear. There is somethingslowly passing by my tent as well. If it is a moose, Ihope it doesn't step on me.