Date: 2004-09-19
From: Route 4 near Rangely, Maine

To: There's Something Happening Here
Miles today: 13.5

Dave and Mary dropped me off at the trailhead at 8:00 a.m.. The two days of rest and the pleasure of their company had restored my strength and morale.I hiked a short ways and noticed a letter X scrawled on the dirt of the trail; it had been placed there by one of Dave and Mary's sons when they were hiking yesterday.The trail passed several ponds and I kept a lookout for moose. The autumn colors were beginning to appear on some of the trees.I ascended the slope of Saddleback Mountain (elevation 4,120 feet). The wind increased in velocity as I gained elevation. Near the summit, I left the protection of the trees and hiked on a long stretch of exposed terrain. The weather was harsh. A gray mist and drizzle were being pushed sideways by the force of the wind.I wore additional clothing, but was chilled during the traverse of this exposed ridge that rose and dipped for a couple of miles. The wind was so powerful that it almost pushed me sideways. My fingers were especially cold. The trail dropped back into the tree line and the harsh conditions eased. But the relief was not complete. The wind continued to blow in the woods but with less velocity.I never warmed up again unless I was hiking fast. At 3:30 p.m., I passed a shelter where two tents were pitched. The occupants of the tents had made camp early because they were trying to get warm.Late in the day, I descended to 1,500 feet and waded across a wide stream wearing my sandals. Then I ascended a short and steep incline which led to a crude woods road. Even at this relatively low elevation, the cold wind blew relentlessly through the trees.I left the trail and hiked 12 mile along the woods road, seeking a place to make a camp. I wanted a flat spot in the woods because it was too cold and windy to sleep in the hammock. I could not find a suitable location and hiked back to where the trail crossed this road. It was almost dark and I was becoming worried. I found a small clearing beside the road¢thank goodness!¢and began erecting my tarp.The wind caused the tarp to whip about as I tied down the initial guy lines. The tarp was erected close to the ground to minimize the exposure to the wind. The back end was tied down lower than the front entrance. My umbrella was opened and placed at the entrance, providing additional protection from the wind. When all of the guy lines were secured, I placed rocks and logs on the edges of the fabric to reduce the penetration of the wind.Three other thru hikers showed up and pitched their tents on the woods road.Their names are Ski Bum, Rooster and a woman named Gayia, all in their twenties. I joined them for supper.Rooster had started a campfire. Ski Bum hung a small radio from a branch. He tuned it to a station playing music from the sixties and seventies. A song from Crosby, Stills Nash began playing."There's something happening here;What it is ain't exactly clear..."It was dark out as we quietly sang along to the song. The glow of the flames illuminated our faces with a reddish hue. Sparks from the fire launched sideways toward the radio which swayed back and forth in the wind."...It's time we stop, hey, what¢s that sound..."The wind was cold but the fire and the companionship was warm. Later the radio station changed the programming to a sock hop hour; I took that as my cue to wish everyone a good night and head back to my tarp. Tonight is going to be exceptionally cold with temperatures possibly dipping into the twenties. I hope that my tarp shelter and three season sleeping back keep me warm.