Date: 2003-08-20
From: South Arm Road (1420') 

To: ME17 (2200') 
Miles today: 13.3

Aloha! Whewie is slack packing fun! Yes, my knees hurt but not nearly like that would had I been carrying a full pack today. It was a roller coaster type of ride today and my knees didn't scream at me nearly as loud. Whewie! Let's slack!   Before we slack though we need to get out the door. Can't do that without a good breakfast. Just as yesterday, all the omelet fixings were in place and the table was loaded with bacon, pancakes, potatoes, biscuits and gravy. It was wonderfully tasty! My fried eggs went down smoothly; right after the biscuits and gravy!   Also like yesterday, everyone's slack packs and shuttles were determined. Coffee, Sundance and I were headed north to hike back south 13 plus miles and Gutsy (yep, gonna try out the rested knees) and Recycle were headed south to hike the 10 miles we did yesterday and meet us at the road for a 3:30 pickup. This time it didn't quite work out as we had hoped.   Before even starting the hike this morning, we spent several minutes taking pictures with Honey's help. The view was spectacular and we hadn't even started! Mooselookmeguntic Lake is gorgeous. Hell of a name, huh. The easiest way to remember it according to Honey is to think "Moose! Look! Go get your gun!" Something like that. It really was a pretty sight to start the day with.   Sundance was out the gate in a flash. He's fast. He stayed with us for the one mile down start but was out of sight in no time once we began our six mile, mostly UP, UP. I can't say anything about youth of today since he's 51 so I'll just believe that his being a yoga instructor has something to do with it. He's probably able to put himself into a state of nirvana and not even notice the climbing! Wouldn't that be nice?   We didn't catch up to Sundance until Bemis Mountain Lean-to where he had been taking a break and we planned to. Surprisingly he was chatting with the two kids we tried out our comedy routine on yesterday. Today they were much more friendly and animated. They even seem to appreciate our comedy routine. Now that's progress!   The hike itself wasn't terrible but it wasn't the greatest either. We crossed three peaks (2604', 2915' and 3155') on Bemis Range before we ever got to Bemis Mountain (3592'). From there the roller coaster continued with the greatest run UP and down was on Old Blue Mountain. A hell of a mountain thrown in just to irritate the hell out of hikers! The first six miles weren't nearly as bad as the last seven. At least in the beginning we had views but not so for the ending. The down from Old Blue (3600') was a steep one and then a very long one. It was one of the longest 2.5 miles I've done in a very long time. This also was not a bad part to slack if you're willing to do so. Obviously I am!   Along the way we got to see Daesman, CeeBee, Don Q, Tapeworm, Drifter, Notes, Grizzly, and Ben of Britton. For me it's fun hiking south and running in to folks you know hiking north. For some, they may actually run into people they haven't seen in quite a while so it's almost a reunion of sorts. It's fun for me. After meeting each of them at various points along the way it became blatantly obvious that we once again chose the best way to do this. We weren't huffing or puffing even a quarter of what they were. Wuhuu!   As I said early on, our joint arrivals at the pickup spot didn't workout quite as hoped. Sundance wasn't that far ahead of us so I didn't feel horrible about his 15-minute wait. Recycle on the other hand finished several hours earlier and had already been returned to The Cabin. Gutsy was also back at The Cabin but had hitched after taking a blue-blaze trail out. Originally she had gone down the blue-blaze to relax at the bottom of the falls and soak her knees in the icy waters. Since there was barely any difference in the blue and white blazed trails she continued on the blue trail until it reached the road. The unfortunate part of this decision is that it came out at a much different location than anticipated resulting in Gutsy having to hitch back to town. Luckily she didn't have a problem doing so. Good for her. As for the knees, she's a hurt'n gal again. Recycle was awed at the speed in which she flew down the mountain. Hummm....   Dinner tonight was another grand occasion consisting of salad, chicken, corn, cranberry sauce, strawberry-rhubarb pie and to many other things to mention. It was a feast fit for a Queen. I'm still full!   Joining us anew was a young woman taking a five-day driving trip around various Northeast cities for the heck of it. To cut expenses she started looking for hostels along the way and came up with The Cabin. She's never been around hikers before so she's been fascinated, and maybe a little apprehensive, with all of us. Everyone seems to want to take her under their wing ensuring she leaves with a good impression of long distance, smelly, starving looking hikers. I believe she will.   The only other thing of true significance for the day is my trail husband Coffee's latest sweet gesture. He knows the story of my trail son Ben's stove making and also knows that I'm determined to use the stove. Unfortunately though, the stand I made and use with the Esbits is not of sufficient height to work with Ben's stove. Since our arrival at The Cabin, Coffee has been diligently working on making himself and me new stoves. With the help of coffee cans and a few of Bear's tools, we both now have sturdier and better-made stands. This one is as light as my former one, fits nicely in the pan and works well with the stove's height. I'm so tickled! That was so sweet of him! I have such a great trail family - husband Coffee, son Ben and daughter Gusty. Who could ask for anything more!   I guess it's that time again -- bedtime. As always, everyone has crashed out and I need to do the same. Coffee and I are heading out for good tomorrow, without a full pack, making our way to Rangely. If all goes as anticipated we should be tucked into the Saddleback Hotel awaiting Gutsy, Mama Gutsy and Grandma Gutsy. (Gutsy was smart enough to suggest she carry our stuff to Rangely since that's where the Gutsy Clan was going. Such a smart daughter!) Anyway, it should be fun! I'm looking forward to meeting the family.   Okay, bedtime. I'll see ya tomorrow. Have a great day in the meantime.BSandTs: same-sameAandPs: would you like me to mention the knees again?MandGs: I'm way too full from dinner... waah!Critter count: 9x Spruce Grouse (aka Maine Partridges) - dumb crittersCountdown: 233.1 miles