Date: 2009-09-01
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: clear sky

A chipmunk kept me company while I ate my breakfast. He wanted me to share, but I kept shooing him away. So, he resorted to picking up a big white mushroom and sinking his teeth into it! I liked my camping spot. It was secluded and spacious, and I enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing morning.    After I packed up and collected water, I started the 1300 foot climb up Moxie Bald Mountain. Flying Scottsman passed me about half way up and commented on how not easy this was! After we got out of the woods, bare granite stretched out before us, and I kept looking behind me to take in the expansive views. Ahead of me, in the distance, I could see the 4 guys relaxing. Slowly, I made my way over to them and they invited me to join them. Spicoli asked me how I liked my pack, to which Scotsman responded, ¢Dude, we¢ve hiked over 2,000 miles and you¢re still talking gear?¢ He brought up the bad memory of an argument that Spicoli had gotten into with an older women early on in the trail who seemed to have a superiority complex. She needed to make clear how much more she knew about hiking and gear than Spicoli. He quickly became quiet at the memory. A little later on, they mentioned Mount Washington. I think they asked me how I found it. I said I had hiked it several times before, and that it wasn¢t that bad. Scotsman joked I was bragging like that other lady, so after Spicoli said he had also hiked it many times, I said, ¢Well, I¢ve climbed it about 50 times¢ to play with them. They were all a bit surprised and amused, as they were not expecting that from me! The boys kept at it. ¢Oh, yeah, well my grandfather BUILT Mt. Washington!¢    I heard some people talking on a higher plateau to my right. It turned out to be Ewok and Joker. We weren¢t actually on the summit, so I made my way up there and I saw the unmistakable outline of Katahdin in the distance! One by one, the boys took off, leaving only one of them (who could not stop taking pictures) on the summit. Finally, I too, took my leave.    I found SkyKing sitting in Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to when I went in for a break. He had bypassed Moxie Bald and took a blue blaze that skirted around the mountain instead, using his age as an excuse. He took off and left me alone. I wanted to go over to the water¢s edge, but I heard two loud men over there and decided it was better to stay where I was. I finished my snack and headed back to the trail.   Several miles later, I came to the West Branch of the Piscataquis River. A southbounder had warned me to keep to the right of the little island, where the water would only be knee-deep, as opposed to thigh deep on the left. It seemed to be the obvious path (even without the warning). I took off my shoes, tied them to my pack, and put on my crocs. It turned out that the water was only calf deep! It was nothing to worry about! I crossed to the other side, sat down, and began the lengthy process of putting my shoes back on. And then off I went again!       After a couple more miles, I was greeted by a happy, older southbound man. A little further along, I came upon a tent that was set up across from the river I had been following. It belonged to Sky King. He told me that man I saw was his friend from early on the trail, and that he had recommended this spot for camping. The man said it was nicer than the shelter. I wished him a good night, and continued on to the shelter.    No one was there! I always find empty shelters a bit eerie and lonely at night- especially the older ones. But I knew there was still a good chance that someone would be coming in. I set up my hammock behind the shelter and went in search for water. It turned out to be a long way away! I saw a little frog on the way down, and to my amazement, he was still sitting next to the same tree on my way back! After I cooked my dinner, I determined that I had enough time to get some water before it got dark, which would save me time in the morning. So, off I went, and who did I see, but my little frog friend again!   And sure enough, another hiker came in, providing some company! It was Strider, who I had met at White Birches in Gorham. It was nice chatting with him for a bit. Then, Poptart came in by headlamp. He seemed very tired and could barely talk! He wasn¢t sure if Andy was going to make it or not. It was getting late, so I told them I¢d see them in the morning and happily tucked myself into my hammock. Tomorrow, we would reach our final town before summitting Katahdin!