Date: 2015-09-19
From: Pierce Pond Lean-To/Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 9.7

It was tough getting out of the comfortable warm bed in the rustic little cabin. I had a shower yesterday before dinner, which felt great. But now I had to put on the same damp, dirty, stinky hiking clothes I wore yesterday. Three hikers who spent the night at the nearby shelter came for breakfast. We were each given a plate of 12 red, white, and blue (raspberry, apple, and blueberry) pancakes, eggs, and 2 sausage links. I tried but I could not eat all the pancakes. Then it was time to hit the trail.I took the blue blazed trail back to the shelter. Along the way I stopped to take pictures of a little waterfall which was visible from the porch of the lodge at the sporting camp. From the shelter the AT crosses over a crudely built rock dam at the end of the pond, and then heads into the woods. I was really glad the water level was low. I cannot imagine trying to walk on the dam with water rushing over the rocks.The trail was relatively easy, but my back and knees were not doing well with the weight of the full pack. I stopped frequently to give my back a break. I was not in a hurry. I was crossing the Kennebec River today. The ferry, which is actually a canoe with a white blaze painted inside on the hull, runs from 9-11 and 2-4. I planned to catch the afternoon ferry.I stopped a few times to take pictures. In places the forest was absolutely beautiful - rocks and trees covered with a vibrant emerald green moss, and the AT, carpeted with soft brown evergreen needles, weaved its way up, around, and sometimes over the mossy rocks.For a long time the AT ran parallel to a brook, which had waterfalls and cascades. At times I could see the waterfalls from the AT. Occassionally there was a side trail to a waterfall, which I did not take. I think it might be fun to come back and section hike Maine, taking the time to see and enjoy things along the trail that I am currently missing because I need to get to Katahdin. I came around a bend in the AT and heard water rushing. Then I noticed a knotted rope tied to a tree. The rope went down into a ravine where there was a waterfall and a wonderful swimming hole at the base of the waterfall. I dropped my pack and used the rope to climb down to briefly explore and take pictures. Then I used the rope to climb out of the ravine. Not bad for an old hiker who wears granny panties! I arrived at the Kennebec River at about 1 p.m. While I waited for the ferry I had lunch and visited with a few thru hikers who joined me in the wait for the ferry (Soda, Beer Man, and Trixie).A little before 2 p.m. we heard the canoe being readied, and then we saw the canoe launch from the opposite bank with 2 southbound hikers and their packs. There is a hydroelectric plant up river which suddenly, and apparently without warning, releases great amounts of water which could easily drown a hiker trying to ford the river. The ATC provides the ferry service free of charge to hikers and strongly discourages hikers from fording the river.After releases were signed, and life vests were put on and fully zipped, we were permitted to load our packs and board the canoe. I was in the bow and helped paddle the canoe across the river. What a treat! I decided not to go to Caratunk, and instead pushed on up the trail. However, when the wind started to pick up and the sky clouded over, I began to think maybe I should have gone into town like every one else. It was clear that a storm was coming.I made it to the shelter, which is the only one I have seen with not only a mouse trap but also a rat trap. The shelter was also relatively small and had a very obviously sloping floor. No one was at the shelter except me. I looked for a place to pitch my tent but could not find a flat spot that did not look like it would flood during a storm.The wind was really picking up, and things were being blown out of the trees. Tenting did not look like a safe option. But staying in the shelter with rodents running around me, and on me, all night was not appealing either.Although it is contrary to trail etiquette and considered very bad form, I decided to set up my tent, without the fly, in part of the shelter. If the shelter started to fill up with other hikers I planned to immediately take my tent down.I quickly made and ate my dinner, hung both my food bag and my pack to keep the rodents out, and then went to bed. No one else showed up. At 2 a.m. the storm started. The wind and rain pounded on the roof, but the shelter kept me dry. (It rained until the sun came up. I checked the tent sites. Every one of them showed evidence of water running through.) I was VERY glad I tented in the shelter.The AT is calling. I am well rested, dry, and ready to hit the trail.