Date: 2013-07-02
From: pleasant pond lean-to

To: road 
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

Today I awoke to a steady rain beating down on the walls of my tent. I was glad to have been protected from the bugs during the night, but not to happy about taking down my tent in the rain. Eventually I mustered up the strength and packed up my stuff and moved it to the shelter for packing. I took down my tent then stuffed my belongings into my pack and headed up the trail. The rain was still coming down but as I made the climb up pleasant pond mountain it began to let up and eventually ceased. But the cold air was still very much present, but for once I was glad to have some steep uphill as it kept me rather warm....The descent off pleasant pond mountain was anything but pleasant, and it continued for quite some time. It was not overly challenging and only steep in a few places, but it had numerous ups and downs with flat sections in between. I just wanted to push forward and get in the miles, as my hiking spirit was practically null. Eventually I reached the bottom of the downhill and was greeted by a challenging and deep ford over the outlet from pleasant pond. The high water created a small section of whitewater, which I avoided by traveling upstream from it. Unfortunately it meant that the water was nearly waist deep and with the many algae covered rocks below it made the crossing very slow. But soon I found myself on the other side and I began the gradual uphill to the next shelter. I had decided to push to the shelter without any breaks and I was growing quite hungry, but I knew it was only 3 more miles or roughly an hour to the shelter. The terrain was pretty easy during the climb and thankfully the gradual uphill kept me out of the mud for the most part so I was able to make good time. I reached the shelter early than I had anticipated and I stopped for a much needed lunch break before headed up moxie bald. The climb was fairly short and moderate for the most part, and when I neared the summit I was greeted by a nice cooling breeze...I made my way down the mountain and shortly before the shelter I ran into a SOBO couple who I asked about the upcoming fords of the Piscataquis river. They explained that several NOBOs had done it a few days earlier and had to swim across it, and that was before all the recent rain. I heeded their advice and got directions from them for the road bypass in case I could not cross. When I reached the lean-to I ran into another SOBO who mentioned the same details about the river. Just as I was considering calling it a day in hopes of letting the river levels drop a SOBO section hiker arrived who had just forded both branches of the river. He gave me some directions on where it could be forded but warned that it was over waist deep and that the current was very powerful. This lowered my doubts and I decided I would give the river a try. It would be another 6 miles to the river, but I also knew of another ford which was before the river that I was warned was pretty tough...When I reached the bald mountain 'stream' it looked more like a river to me, and there was a strong current flowing over numerous rocks complete with a dip towards a log followed by white water. I decided to ford behind the log to avoid the heavy current, but I knew the water would also be deeper. As I made my way across the 'stream' the first half went rather smoothly and I seemed to be doing well. But as I neared the middle it became much deeper than I had thought and I soon found the water well above my waist. It nearly knocked me over and I could feel the fierce current pulling me towards the white water. But I fought with everything I had and thankfully I stumbled upon a wedge between two rocks with my left foot and I regained my balance. There was also a beaver dam over the final third of the stream which I though would aide in my ford, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. The current became stronger and I struggled to stay afoot. Thankfully I managed to make it safely to the other side in a surge of adrenaline and breathed a sigh of relief. I instantly made up my mind that if a 'stream' could do that then there was no way I was about to attempt a full on river crossing...I dredged along the final few miles towards the gravel road just before the river the SOBOs had mentioned to me earlier. In the final mile or so before the road the trail conditions changed from terrible to miserable. It was bad enough to endure dredging through mud pits all day, but now the trail had become a full on stream. Water was everywhere and at times it was even above my knees. It was not dangerous to cross but more a nuisance to constantly sink my feet into the cold water, making sure not to fall on the slippery rocks. Finally when I thought I could endure no more I reached the road at last...I made my way up the hill as per the directions and after a mile reached the junction with taylor road which I was to follow for the next 7 or so miles. After a mile on taylor road I decided I had hiked enough and just as I was about to set up my tent in the middle of the road a truck pulled up. I explained that I was hiking the trail and he pulled out a map and showed me where I could get back onto the trail. I hiked for another few minute then called it a day and set up my tent. I had made the mistake of putting my tent at the bottom of my pack as usual and so it was utterly drenched from the 'stream' crossing. I climbed into the wet tent and relaxed as best as I could. I endured quite the miserable day and now I had to endure a miserable night as well.. But I knew it would all be over soon enough and I would make it too Monson the following day..