Date: 2007-09-23
From: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2135.8

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2155.4
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: clear sky

Day 172 ¢ 9/23/07Start: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to ¢ 2135.8End: Hurd Brook Lean-to ¢ 2155.4Day Miles: 19.6I have settled into a pattern of enjoying the morning and hiking into the night. Mornings are far more relaxing in camp than evenings since evenings seem to require a number of chores to be performed in a timely manner just so you can rest after a long day. In the morning you can take your time with the various chores and not feel so rushed. I had hiked with other people that got up at the crack of dawn and rushed to get on the trail. It started the day with the same pressures you have in the ¢real world¢ trying to get to work. Tension and stress and then you always hit the trail with the feeling you had forgotten something. Numbtoe and Shadow take their time breaking camp in the morning which I have come to enjoy. While our hiking styles may differ our camping styles seem to be in sync.The days have become typical New England fall days. Cool nights, brisk mornings, and usually dryer, cooler days. Within 2 miles the trail climbs over Nesuntabunt Mountain. It is a mere 1,000¢ of climbing with most of it gained in a 12 mile. A side trail at the summit leads to a lookout with great views of Katahdin. I meet up with Shadow and Numbtoe at the viewpoint and we take pictures and soak up the scenery. Then we have about a 4 mile, mostly downhill, run to Pollywog Stream and a gravel forest road. From here the trail climbs steadily along Rainbow Stream and up to Rainbow Lake. There is evidence that the trail has been re-routed recently to higher ground around the lake. It is very windy and the trees are creaking. Every so often a large branch comes down in the woods. I start watching overhead for ¢widow makers¢ and rush under risky branches. I catch up with Numbtoe and Shadow at the far end of the lake. I need water and to eat before we climb over Rainbow Ledges. The wind is very strong and you need warm clothes when you stop. I remember Rainbow Ledges as a challenge but I hiked it southbound in the rain. The trail is anything but a challenge and we fly up the trail. At the summit there is a breath-taking view of Katahdin. It is close to dark but who cares. This is what we hiked 2,100 miles for. We drop our packs and just sit there taking pictures. The trail down the ledges is definitely more of a challenge. Darkness falls before I make the lean-to. I can see the fire but there is a huge boulder field that has to be crossed as well as a boulder strewn brook. I cannot find the trail and stumble and fall a few times trying to navigate. The light from the fire actually makes it harder to see because of all the shadows it casts. I finally emerge from the other side and make it to the shelter only to realize that the water source is back in the middle of the boulder field. Back down for water but this time with my back to the fire it is easier to pick out the trail. The mice are already out in full force so we opt for setting up tents. Sites were not easy to find in the dark on this boulder strewn hillside. Another couple has already set up behind the shelter. My experience with mice is to be as far from the shelter as possible especially if no one has hung food in the shelter to keep them busy. Numbtoe, Shadow, and I discuss our strategy for the morning. We are about to enter Baxter State Park and there are a number of restrictions. Thru-hikers are only allowed to camp one night at the hiker campsite and the number of hikers is limited. The sign-up sheet goes up each morning and it is first-come-first-served. We know from the log a number of hikers went ahead to camp at the private Abol Bridge campground. We decide to make a stealth getaway at 6:00 am and set our alarms accordingly. The wild card is Shadow¢s friend Poppie Terry plans to meet us but we are not sure where or when. From here there is a one day hike into the park and then a day to summit if we put in two full days.