Date: 2004-10-03
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Leanto
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Start: White House Landing @ 9:30. Stop: Rainbow Stream Leanto @ 5:45Mileage on Trail: 15.9; cum. 412.3. Off trail: 1.2; cum. 16.1Weather: Cool, sunny, breezyMajor Landmarks: Nahmakanta Steam and Lake, Nesuntabunt Mt.Major Milestones: >400 miles in this sectionIt was a nice warm night in the bunkhouse and when we woke up, the sun shone brightly. The one time I got up in the night, there was a slight mist, but I never heard it rain. Bill had breakfast ready for us when we got to the lodge ¢ scrambled eggs, bacon, homefries, English muffins, OJ, coffee and AYCE blueberry pancakes. A great meal to have under your belt when you start a 17 mile day. After breakfast we loaded into the boat and Bill brought us back to the dock. He is normally able to drop hikers off 0.3 miles from the trail, but the power company had lowered the lake level 15 feet, so we had to retrace the 1.2 miles back to the AT. At least our way back was easier than Bramble¢s. He had stopped a few days earlier for lunch. After lunch he wanted to get back to the trail, but Bill was off doing something else, so he decided to swim across the lake with his pack. He got a couple of PFDs, some plastic bags and inflated his sleeping pad, then proceeded across the lake with his pack. A couple of hikers followed him in a canoe, but he wanted to swim. And he plans to do a yo-yo next year, so that tells you something about him.When we finally got back to the AT, I told Blue I had a feeling we would see some moose in water today, and lo and behold, within about 5 minutes, a cow and her calf waded across Nahmakanta Stream, crossed the trail in front of us and disappeared into the woods. Do I know how to call them or what?We followed Nahmakanta Stream for a couple of miles to Nahmakanta Lake, and followed it a couple more miles to Wadleigh Stream Leanto for a lunch break. Then it was up Nesuntabunt Mt., our major climb of the day, from which we had a good view of the lake below and Katahdin beyond. There was a fellow at the viewpoint with a video camera, part of a larger group from a nearby camp. As we headed down the mountain we heard a whistle blow three times, so I shouted, ¢Does someone need help?¢ We just heard a bunch of laughter from the rest of the group who were trying to communicate with the video guy. When we got to them, Blue let them know that it wasn¢t very funny.We continued following streams until we got to the leanto. We got our tents set up and a little while later Little Tree came in. She had waited at the intersection with White House Landing for awhile until her friends Walking Stomach and Sure Foot arrived. She¢s trying to figure out how to summit with Walking Stomach, since they had hiked together most of the trail. She also so One Thing, so there¢s a chance he might catch up with us and be able to summit on the same day.Another 15 miles tomorrow to Abol Bridge, where I¢ll be able to call Laurel and make last minute arrangements for summit day. Just two more nights out on the trail. It hardly seems possible after all this time.Just 30 miles to go in the Big K Kountdown.