Date: 2010-09-30
From: Antlers Campsite

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up early, with just a hint of light in the pre-dawn sky promising a glorious sunrise. It did not disappoint. As we were cooking breakfast and packing up, all of us kept grabbing our cameras every few minutes as the colors intensified and tried to get that perfect shot. What a great campsite and an awesome sunrise!Packed and fed, we had a 7:45 start a few minutes behind Peru and Radar. Met up with them about 3 miles up the trail where they had stopped to replenish their water at the great spring just past the Potaywadjo Lean-to. Sweet tasting, crystal clear water.Skirted Lower Jo-Mary Lake enjoying the visual delight of all the autumn foliage and its reflection in the water. Came across some mushrooms on steroids. They were huge! (See photo.)We took a side trail 100' to Pemadumcook Lake where there was supposed to be a view of Katahdin. As we're approaching the shoreline, I'm looking through the trees but not seeing any big mountains. With cloudy skies, I expected to not be able to see the Big K once again. But after we stepped out onto the rocky shoreline, I looked to the left and there it was¢big, brassy and in my face. Oh, what a mountain! Hard to rearrange the mental perspective that it's still 50 miles away. (See video.) That's the end point; that's where all these months of hiking have led me. Talk about siren songs! As we continued hiking I could feel the irresistible pull of that great mountain drawing me forward.Six miles into our day, we met up again with Peru and Radar near Mahar Tote Road where we took the 1.2 blue blaze trail leading to White House Landing. The trail took us to a boat dock where you blow an air horn once and someone from the Landing comes across the lake for the short boat ride to the lodge. The handwritten sign said to be patient so we sat lazing on the dock for about 15 minutes. We were spotted by the local duck population and they all came winging their way over looking for handouts.After a quick, short and very chilly ride across the lake, we arrived at White House Landing. They have a specialized "High Fat, High Calorie" hiker's menu consisting of 1 lb. cheeseburgers and homemade pizza. I ordered both, ate the cheeseburger and a couple slices of pizza, and washed it down with a couple of Cokes. Brought the remaining pizza along to have at a later meal. They also had trail food supplies so purchased my resupply food and a few extra ounces of fuel. The Canadian Geese were here, too, but they're staying for a day or two waiting for the forecasted storms to pass.Then we shuttled back across the lake, up the blue blaze and were on the trail for another eight miles. The storm clouds filled in and it started to drizzle. We arrived at the lean-to at dark, and the rain started in earnest. Wild Poodle and I shared the shelter with Peru, Radar, Nails and his beautiful and well mannered Akita dog, Rashi. After carrying the heavy leftover pizza all afternoon, I was glad to finish it off and share it with Nails who was a little short of food.After a 16-mile day (13.6 on the trail and 2.4 on blue blazes), I fell asleep quickly to the staccato drumming of the rain on the tin roof.