Date: 2004-09-15
From: Mahar Tote Road, White House Landing

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: few clouds

Good shower and breakfast at the White House Landing. The mist lifted off the lake for another clear day. Our hosts informed us that Ivan, the next hurricane, is spinning wheels in Tennessee and would not hit until Sunday.Regardless, we wer e all eager to hit the Trail as soon as Bill could start his boat. Slips jumped into it first to ensure a seat. Mushroom, 81, and I followed. Jalan Jalan took a later ferry.I expect I would reach the campsite tonight after sunset, so I took the free time in the morning before breakfast to prepackage meals. What a concept, I realized. Now all I have to do is throw a complete bag of pasta, veggie, protein, and spices into the pot, add water, and boil. Two days before the end of my hike, and I¢m still tweeking my routine.On the Trail, we all walked in clumps. I stayed close to Slips and 81 in the morning, and then Jalan Jalan and 81 in the afternoon. Great fun because we needed the encouragement. We all had our doubts that we would make the twenty mile distance today.The Wilderness is a blur and I shall return to this place someday to actually enjoy it. I know that I¢m speeding through the last hundred miles of the Trail without relishing its peacefulness and pondering the beauty. I know I passed waterfalls, flowing streams, and quiet ponds without stopping and admiring. At one point, the green tunnel suddenly went completely yellow. The change startled me from my trance and I looked up to see that every leaf on the short bushes and the trees had turned golden. Then, as I continued along the path at 2.5 mph, the world changed back to green and the moment was gone.Many hikers congregated at the Wadleigh Stream Lean-to, which is a resting place before our last major hump over Nesuntabunt Mountain. I pulled out map #1 and did a little Vanna White display, song and dance (consisting of the lyrics, ¢Map #1, Map #1¢ to no particular tune but I¢m sure it resembled the opening music for the Tonight Show). My captive audience seemed amused. According to the registries, I was not far behind Bluebearee and asked fellow hikers to tell her I¢d be at the campsite tonight if they see her.I followed Jalan Jalan¢s heals up Nesuntabunt even after getting stung by a bee. Argh! I was so close to the end without dealing with this. I haven¢t been stung since I was a kid. That really hurt and I griped about it all the way to the top. I also wondered why the bee stung me.*The climb was long and steep for 800 feet but had a tremendous view of Katahdin Range behind Nahmakanta Lake. The rest of the day was just walking, walking, walking. Four miles to go and my feet are killing me. I had trouble moving around even after taking my pack off for a break.Surprisingly, the last miles went fast to the campsite and determination paid off. Many fellow hikers are here, including Bluebearee! I had finally caught up with her. We shared a spot of earth and chatted late into the evening from the refuge of our tents. The mosquitoes were relentless.She remarked that the 100-mile Wilderness was a blur to her as well when she came through here two years ago. Therefore, she returned this year to get a closer look. It is just as Earl Schaffer says¢¦you don¢t see what is around you because you are too busy looking at the trail two feet in front of you as you walk.The loons sound great tonight making all sorts of calls. If all goes well tomorrow, this will be my last night camping on the Trail.*My sister informed me later that bees, after thawing from a cold morning, will get nasty for no apparent reason. Another interesting fact about the bee is that Bluebearee informed me that she too got stung near the same spot during her hike two years ago.