Date: 2007-09-18
From: Logan Brook Lean-to

To: Mahar Tote Rd. - Whithouse Landing
Miles today: 25.5

Last night "Sideshow" arrive at the shelter after I was asleep. He woke me up around 9pm because he said I was having a bad dream, and also to let me know mice were after my food. When I got up to investigate I found a mouse head peering out of a small hole in my food bag. He must have seen my headlamp and made a hasty exit. Right after that 4 more exited the same hole. I swatted the last one pretty good and catapulted him into the night. These mice in the 100 mile wilderness are a devious mutant breed that have figured out how to bypass all the methods we hikers have devised to safeguard our food. I noticed that "Pop Tart" hung his food bag and then covered it with a plastic bag. The mice seemed to bypass his bag, so I did the same and had no further problems. Hikers adapt and prevail once again (until these mice figure it out that is)! Today should be one of my biggest mileage days on the entire trail. I am planning to try and make it to a place called Whitehouse Landing. Whitehouse Landing is a wilderness camp, located on Pemadumcook Lake. I plan to purchase enough food there to carry me to Katahdin Streams campground in Baxter State Park. I will need to either hike 25+ miles to arrive and stay there tonight or camp somewhere before it and go there tomorrow morning. Either way I need to stop there to re-supply. I'd prefer to stay overnight, but I'll just have to see how the hike goes today.I knew I'd need to start early and was able to get moving at a decent hour on the coldest morning yet. I successfully forded the the East Branch of the Pleasant River by wading over in my camp shoes. I sat on the opposite side taking a break and warming up and drying my feet in the sunlight. There was a little elevation gain as the trail gradually went up Little Boardman Mtn. but for the most part, the morning hike was looking to be an easy one. I finally stopped for lunch at Cooper Brook falls Lean-to after 11 miles. I would have enjoyed staying here for the night, since it sits right next to Cooper Brook and a beautiful swimming hole and water fall. I brewed a cup of coffee hoping this would give me a good jump start for the remaining 14 miles I wanted to cover this afternoon.As I started walking after lunch, I was fortunate to hike for miles over some prime flat and even trail. I was feeling good and the miles were flying by until I got closer to the end and then the trail transitioned to an ugly roots and rocks obstacle course. It was getting late in the day and I was wondering if I'd make it to Mahar Tote Rd. before dark. There is a 1.3 mile side trail from the road to a dock on the opposite side of the lake where Whitehouse Landing is located. You need to blast an air horn to signal the camp owners that you want to be picked up. I was concerned since my guide indicated they stop the boat pickup after dark. I eventually reached Potaywadgo Spring lean-to by about 5:30. I had to make a decision to stay here for the night or commit to pushing on another 3.5 miles to Mahar Rd. I wavered a bit but decided to forge ahead. I was trying to move as quick as I could but the roots, rocks, and now bog bridges were slowing me down. After some frustration I finally made it to Mahar Rd. but still had another 1.3 miles on the side trail. I just about ran down the blue trail, looking occasionally for a spot to camp, if I needed to. When I reached the dock, I sounded a short blast of the air horn, and hoped for the best, since there was barely much daylight left. I waited for about 5 minutes and was prepared to sleep right on the dock that night, when I heard a motor start up on the opposite side of the lake. What a relief to see the Whitehouse Landing boat heading my way. In about 20 minutes I was at the camp, in the bunk house and talking with "Sideshow", "Big Brother" and his dad "Decadad", "Byte Code", and "Church Mouse". We were all quite excited about only having 3 more days before we reached the base of Katahdin and our eventual climb to the top.