Date: 2006-08-23
From: Monson

To: Wilson Valley Lean-To
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Had dinner last night with Grits, Sketcher and Don Quixote at the Lake Shore House, which has just ¢ eight weeks ago ¢ opened as a restaurant and pub ¢ just not open on Sunday and Monday. Good time and talk was had by all. Spoke with KT on the public phone at length.   Had breakfast with the same group ¢ 2 scrambled ¢ and three section hikers, finishing a SOBO section, and happy to be out of the wilderness. Dawn ¢ one of the new owners of Shaw¢s [they kept the old name] - shuttled both Grits and myself back to the trailhead and we were off and running ¢ well Grits was. I soon lost sight of him, on a beautiful morning prelude to an even better day.    The trail, although it did go up and down, was magical today. I am now in a different environment of slate rocks and frequent ponds. Not so much of a wilderness though ¢ I saw two guys in a boat fishing on North Pond, and passed over numerous logging roads during the day.   Took a midmorning break at Little Wilson Falls ¢ you can just see the water leaping over the top to begin its 60 foot fall. Then a steep descent down into the gorge, to cross Little Wilson Stream on the old ¢Slippery Pole and a Rope¢ traverse. Three young SOBO section hikers had found an easier rock hop down-stream. But I spurned it for the more difficult, but official, white blazes ¢ I am crazy!   The reported 200 yard long beaver dam, on which the AT crosses, proved to be a disappointment. It seemed more like 200 feet to me. Then, after a short sojourn on an old logging road, there was a nice ascent up to some exposed slate ledges with an excellent view of the apparently unending expanse of the Boreal Forest. At least it was nice today with cool conditions, sunny and firm dry rock.   Big Wilson Stream was a formal ford, but I have the technique down to an art now. This was the deepest ford yet, with water over my knees, and a brisk current over slippery rocks in the center of the stream. After a few anxious moments I was over.   As I was drying off on the North bank, Don Quixote arrived on the South. I got some photos of him fording the Big Wilson [there is one in the archives on this site]   One of the carabiners broke! The spring doesn¢t work anymore, so I have put the Wallabies in their stuff sac on top of the pack. I think that these miniature carabiners, sold by the bucketful in the outfitter, are more for use as ornamental key rings, than for any other purpose!   Then it was a quick but steep climb up to and across the C+P railroad tracks ¢ clearly a busy and well-used railroad ¢ and then on here to the shelter.   So a great day. I did get a few twinges in my back and knee, but nothing serious so far. A variety of hiking conditions ¢ there are still rocks and roots and up and down ¢ but with lakes, and coniferous forest, and streams ¢ I love streams ¢ and a big waterfall, and a good ford, and a nice shelter to stay in, with good water.      SOBO section hiker just arrived and tells me of more hikers to come. We will see. Though for Today ¢   By Leaf and Branch We Draw the Tree.[Thinking of Sketcher and the importance of viewing each part as a continuum of the whole]