Date: 2009-09-09
From: Redington Stream Campsite

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: clear sky

September 9 --The morning was quiet in my remote site, the only other tenter was gone when I hiked out into another calm, sunny day. My first task was Saddleback Junior, 3655', the last peak of the Saddleback Range with nice views of many lakes, before heading down to Oberton Stream, ~1500'. The stream was another "ford" listed in the Companion, but like the previous others, was nothing more than rock hopping, unlike the stories from SoBos of thigh deep crossings. Our string of consecutive rainless days was unusually fortunate adding to the beauty and pleasure of the hike as Mt Katahdin neared with each step. The climb up and over Spalding Mtn, 4000', was a pretty one as the AT passed near Mt Abraham, 4044', and Sugarloaf Mtn, ~4237', with short side trails to each summit which I left for another day. The steep descent off of Sugarloaf was exposed with several landslides evident as the trail crossed the South Branch Carrabassett River, another listed ford, another easily crossable, huge boulders scattered about the steep, rushing water, as I crossed just after sunset. My objective was the Crocker Cirque Campsite, about 1m up the Crocker Mtn climb and I considered the open tentsite on the river bank knowing that I would arrive in darkness, but the noisy river and the promise of a tent platform drove me to continue. I soon broke out my headlamp and used the altimeter as a guide to spot the side trail whech led me past a privy to a blazing campfire with 2 hikers, a tent on a platform and an empty large platform nearby. I asked if there were other spots and was directed across the small stream where I found a nice small deck. I quickly set up and fetched water and was soon enjoying my cup o' Swiss Miss. When the water source is convenient, I like to filter my water at night ready to pack in the morning without leaving the tent since the 2 liter bladder is the first thing in the pack. Also to save time in the morning departure I prepare my rations for the following day and, of course, plan my objective and review what I am in for, terrain, sites, etc. Some nights fatigue comes quickly and sleep overcomes me like a fast moving fog, which is what happened, and I responded by switching off and removing my headlamp before placing it in the usual place, the tent pocket above my head. I had noticed recently, very recently, the "return" of wildlife along the trail. There were now spiders, daddy long leggers and small wolf spiders, around and in my tent, occasional mosquitos around wet areas, no-see-ums at lake shores, many toads, many brown snakes, some as long as 20", small birds, song birds, more grouse, almost daily, and, the biggest surprise of all, mouse. I sat up quickly from my sleep, certain that I had been touched on the face, grabbing the lamp, searching everthing, everywhere. "A mouse?", I thought, but it made no sense, it must've gotten in my pack while I was setting up. I learned early to lean my pack against a small skinny tree to minimize the number of bugs and spiders that crawl onto it, but a mouse? "Maybe it was a big spider", I thought, "or the strap from my silk liner pulled across my face", I rationalized. Not convinced of anything, I switched off the lamp, put it on my head and laid down, dead tired, dozing quickly. Within a minute I was certain that I heard a dull scratching sound, now alert, I listened, it could be the stream playing tricks, but it was getting louder, closer, I switched on the lamp, and sat up in time to see the litlle bugger scoot into the corner near my pillow and hide behind my pile of socks and dirty girl gaiters, unseen except for the telltale tail. Watching in disbelief for 2 seconds I grabbed the whole pile including the invader mouse. My first thought was to smash him with a rock, but I didn't want to go back to sleep with that scene in my head, I'll throw him in the stream, no better across the stream toward the other tent platforms, which I did after he was photgraphed, and I unzipped the tent, the fly, put on my shoes, all with one hand, while squeezing my captive firmly. Mystery solved, not quite. Returning to the tent, I found that he had chewed through the screen, where it meets the tent floor, directly above the packed baggie of trail mix that I had left unpacked for tomorrow. My fault, but what is a mouse doing out here in the middle of ME woods, there's not even a lean-to here, I haven't seen mice for months. I was getting angry and now I wished that I had slapped him around a little so he would tell his friends not to mess with me, maybe the tent screen that he ate will make him constipated.