Date: 2013-08-23
From: Pleasant Pond Lean - to

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean to
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Start Pleasant Pond Lean-to, mile 2040.4Stop Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to, mile 2049.4Sleep tentCell noneHiked 9.0 miles Northbound136.5 remainingHiked 97.1 miles 2013 ATOld Goat's notes:The weatherman predicted rain showers yesterday afternoon and last night. Chalk one up for him he was right, fortunately the rain didn't amount to much and our possible stream ford for the day ended up a rock hop. We started off hiking on a bad note today - at the lean-to we went out where two southbound hikers came in from. That brought us out onto a road that we figured was the trail. Were we wrong, the trail never touches that road. Both of those guys got themselves turned around at the junction and were not in the right place. We walked an extra 1/4 mile today before we realized we were not where we were supposed to be. That set us back about 15 minutes before we started out hiking north. I think we ended up on the trail at about 7:30am with the lost time. The climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain was anything but pleasant. It was steep most of the way up and difficult all the way up for 1 mile and 1000 ft elevation. Coming down was less steep but a very long 4.7 miles. It had many dips that went down only to have us climb up over another rock ledge. We reached the bottom dead tired at about 11:45am. We came to a road next to Moxie Pond, I remember this pond because the guy I was hiking with in 2006 "Sleeper" went swimming there, I was too cold to go in. As we walked down the road the pond ends and Baker Stream begins. We had to cross this stream to stay on the trail. This is the rock hop I mentioned earlier. In 2006 it was a boots off, feet wet crossing. I know we'll have some feet wet fords before we finish, I only hope they are easy ones. We stopped on the trail after the stream to eat lunch. We enjoyed the rest we got and the strength from the food. We had 2.6 miles to go once we finished lunch. The trail was easy to walk on and we made excellent time. We hiked the 2.7miles between 12:20 and 1:40pm. Once we arrived at the site we strung a clothesline and hung our gear to dry. The gear was mostly damp but a few items, like the tent, were wet. Everything is now dry and we'll be comfortable tonight. Check 6 is having a hard time with the early stop time. We planned a 9 mile day and achieved it, now we earned a rest.I'm enjoying being out here and seeing these places in a different light. In 2006 I was in excellent shape and I was clicking off miles at a rapid pace. Although I was having the time of my life and the fulfillment of a long time dream was in sight I was anxious to finish my thru-hike and go home again. This time we are out here for about a month and it is nice to take the time to enjoy it. The only downfall is that the hiking is more difficult this time. Before we left home we needed a day to day schedule in order to plan the right number of meals. We already added a day very early in our hike and then made it up the day before yesterday. This schedule is really only for food purposes; we don't want to run out in the middle of nowhere. All in all we are fine and we are enjoying the hiking, especially this afternoon. Check 6's notes:"THEY" LIE! There are more than 5 mountains left in Maine! I wonder what criteria is used to consider something to be a "mountain." Pleasant Pond Mountain doesn't count, and it was a challenge this morning. Old Goat says there are more like that, too...so much for being excited about so few mountains left until we reach Katahdin. Oh well. One day, one mountain, and one step at a time and we'll get there. The terrain after we stopped for lunch was pure heaven...easy hiking most of the time. I'd love that kind of terrain all the time, but that's not reality. We asked a day-hiking couple about the weather. Sounds like it will be perfect until about Tuesday. It might get pretty cold though (in the mid/30's). We have our winter gear with us, so we'll be ok. I got quite cold after we stopped at today's destination. I also became very emotional. The being cold I understand, the emotional I don't. I warmed up by putting on layers and getting into my sleeping bag for a while. The emotions settled down after I got warm and took a nap. I think the emotions were because we stopped so early...I feel guilty about stopping so early. 9 miles is a respectable day for us, so I shouldn't feel bad, but we used to push so hard to get in as many miles as possible and I'd be wiped out. I enjoy this easier pace much better, but I feel like a wimp for not pushing harder to go farther today. I hate when I get so emotional. I try so hard to be strong all the time. When I get emotional (upset, angry, frustrated) I cry very easily and then I get mad at myself when I cry. In my head my tears seem as if I'm weak. I don't feel this way about other people when they cry. In fact, I envy their being able to cry when they do and I wish I could be more free with my tears. Tears are part of who I am, even though few people see my tears because I fight to hold them in. Sent from my iPhone