Date: 2008-09-11
From: Campsite

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean To
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: broken clouds

There is a certain festive air on the trail, when the weather is good and the terrain is gradual. Again, we¢ve been hiking with a pack of people, Brahma and Sweet Potato, Gonzo, Just Mike, Lee, Clause, Hare. The morning began with an easy climb up a piney mountain, it¢s summit peaking out over fog-filled valleys, nothing but pine trees and lakes and more lakes. Maine is such a deliciously wet state. Hiked with Clause for awhile, talking to pass the miles. Stopped to take a breakfast break on a beautiful warmed flat rock, all white granite, with patches of scrubby pine and large clumps of wirey lichen, moss. Over a slight saddle, down through deep pine forest, rich loam, to another rocky summit, the stone carved in glacial curves, huge rounded boulders in piles here and there, the mountain raising in gradual tiers, flat stone plains, views far off into the distance, and such color! The distant mountains purple, the brilliant blue of the sky, dotted with clouds, the vibrant red of dying leaves, deep evergreen. My heart was filled with joy, I was content to walk forever in such a place. I began to notice blueberries, fat and juicy, and stopped constantly to pick handfulls¢¦.finally, I gave up, dropped my pack and began stuffing my face with the perfect fruit. After awhile, the others came hiking up and stopped to pick the fruit, as well. When I was full, I lay on a rock, examining the lichens, their fascinating branches, like tiny facsimiles of alien trees. Finally reshouldered my pack, heading down over the rounded boulders¢¦.to my surprise and delight, I ran into Naked Time, Chuck and Motorbutt, who were taking some time to hike random bits of trail. We chatted for awhile, then finally hiked on, the day half spent. Hare and I were walking together, finally stopping to get water at a small stream. We caught up with the others, who had passed us while we were dallying on the mountaintop, at a creek ford¢¦the stream had two branches, and between them was a dry bit of land, a jumble of stones. The sun was shining warmly, and everyone had laid out their gear to dry. Another long break. Feeling very lazy, I left everyone behind, began climbing the day¢s last mountain, a knee-busting half mile of near vertical ascent to a road crossing, where dried grass waved in the breeze, another beautiful view back to the mountain we¢d just climbed over, glassy blue lakes lying below. The climb continued beyond the road, through fern-laced forest, up and up into pine woods once more, the trail wet, my feet flying along¢¦the underbrush cleared, the hillside covered by old tall pine trees, their needles blanketing the ground, a jumble of sharp edged grey rocks falling down to the edge of a glistening lake. The lake shore was a quagmire of rich black mud, my boots getting sucked into the mess. The water was clear and perfect...there was an opening in the trees which edged the lake, a small beach with two benches. Stopped in the chill evening to watch the sinking sun sparkle on the lake. Peace. Finally headed to the shelter, started a fire to get warm. Chilly night. Fell asleep to the eerie song of loons calling back and forth between two lakes.