Date: 2007-10-17
From: Pierce Pond Lean-To, Maine

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-To, Maine
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

I tried to get up early to have another big miles day; but, the wind stalled me some. It did subside some and I got going around 11:30am. I could not get cell phone reception anywhere to call "The Ferryman". Actually, since I picked up this cell phone in Glencliff, NH.; I have only had reception once, on top of Kinsman Mtn in the Whites. I carried the phone for "YDG"; it made her feel that I was safer with it? I got going and went about .2 miles over to Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps to ask to use their phone to call Ferryman. I got there and the proprieter was very nice and quite a talker. I called the Ferryman who said that he would come ferry me. I said that I would do the 3.6 miles down to the Kennebec River in an hour and a half. He asked if I was going to get there and have him take my pack across and then swim "packless"; like the guy did yesterday? I said no and thought to myself, "'Lentil' you 'Nancy' or the other term he used, 'Sally'. I think that was his word for silliness vs 'Nancy' for cowardice". I moved fast down to the river and was careful as I heard that several people had broken bones in this area for going too fast. As I followed the scenic creek with many waterfalls through the vibrant foliage; I began to get very hot. It must be 80-90 degrees in the sun. The elevation was around 500 ft. I guess this is an exceptionally hot fall. I know last year that there was an early October snow of 10 inches. I was very thankful for this weather and I wished that The Baxter State Park "Junta" would be less rigid with their closing rules and the constant disinformation that I hear. I had one local say, "you know they close the park?" Then in the next sentence he said, "I love climbing up in the park in the snow." He let it slip. It's a scam! How can it be closed and you still be there? Come on Maine, unlock your treasure! How can I enjoy the "Jewel of the AT" without "The Crown Jewel" of Kathadin. I am joking of course. But, since Al Gore has proven that global warming is happening; along with inventing the internet and having the book and movie, "Love Story", written about him and Tipper: The BSP folks should move the close date back or do a study or let thru hikers go up. Hell, NY will allow thru hikers to hike on trails that are closed to the general public during wildfires. It is just killing my hike! I have hiked 2000 miles doing it "my way." I have tried to make my hike, "Man vs himself"; instead of "Man vs. Man(or 'The Man')". Ive resisted the temptation to run real fast with most of the others; or to hike in bad conditions to avoid, "Man vs Nature"; or "pink blaze" chasing tail; or give in to my financial budget being blown; to resist the temptation of all the comforts of being indoors. I am seeing more and more that much of the trail culture; much of it's establishment; and many hikers try to mold a thru hiker into hiking like everyone else. It is the old psychological principle of social comparison and the old "in group-out group" phenomenon. As humans we are such social creatures that we seek to do like those around us and when someone deviates from that; we question what is going on with that "fella"; "You ain't from around here, are ya boy?!" I watch people on the trail bring everything from home to transpose their world onto the trail: cell phones, schedules, rushing in the morning, listening to "Guru's", getting "clickish", and judging those that are different. It makes them comfortable. Not all thru hikers are like this and of course you must have some determination to get to Kathadin. I just wish the culture of the trail was much more like how Ed Garvey used to write about or maybe there were even less services along the trail. OK........sorry, drifted off. I got to the Kennebec and was happy that the AT had a ferry service as this river was deep and wide. There looked like some parts could be forded; but, it would be very wet. Ferryman picked me up and took me across. He said that there were still people behind me. He said, "Rider" had arranged a ferry crossing. When we got across, I gave him 5 dollars for the crossing. He said that his contract had run out October 15th. He also gave me about 2000 calories of food that I devoured. I then got moving up towards The Pleasant Pond Shelter. It was a fairl easy 6 miles. The leaves cover the trail now. It is a beautiful mosaic; but, covers up "ankle breakers". I hit a rock about the size of a big potatoe and twisted my ankle. It hurt my old 2000 AT injury, my left instep. I could not shake it off. I had to stop at the shelter and take an ibuprofen which I had not taken since the whites because I was living on them. It made for a difficult sleep and it was a beautiful night. Man, I should have been hiking!