Date: 2015-09-01
From: Trident Col Campsite

To: Gentian Pond Shelter/Campsite
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: scattered clouds

I woke to a beautiful day and relatively easy trail. I saved my breakfast to eat next to Page pond. I was hoping to see a moose while I ate my oatmeal, but no such luck. However I did see huge dragon flies. One temporarily landed on my shoulder while I ate.Throughout the day I also saw chipmunks, red squirrels, Canadian geese, and a nonvenomous snake. It was a perfect day for hiking. I was hoping to make it to Maine today - new month, new state. But I did not reach that goal.A few days ago, during the terrible storm on top of Mt. Madison, I twisted the left side of my back. I slipped on a wet rock, then my pack shifted. I instinctively snapped my back to reposition my pack and to keep from falling off the rock, but in the process I apparently sprained my back.I did not think it was a big deal. But for the past few days, about mid day, I started to have muscle spasms. This morning I put arnica cream on my left foot, both knees, both ankles, and the left side of my back.I made it to Gentian Pond Shelter/Campsite and decided to call it an early day. I wanted to give my back a break, and I did not feel like climbing over Mt. Success with back spasms. The next shelter, just past the ME border, was more than 5 miles away. I decided to go to bed early, get a good night's sleep, and head out early in the morning.Although the shelter had a beautiful view, I decided to tent rather than sleep in the shelter. The site had wooden tent pads, which I like. And my tent is very cozy. As long as I did not have to share the tent pad with anyone, I expected to sleep well. I got my tent up, made an early dinner at the shelter, and enjoyed the view. Then I went to the pond to look for moose. The shelter journal noted sightings of a moose family and beavers. There was a beaver dam at one end of the pond and a beaver lodge at the other end.I sat very still on a rock near the edge of the water. Just after the sun went behind the mountain a beaver emerged from behind a log across the pond and started swimming straight for me. Someone warned me that beavers can be dangerous. Therefore, I did not want the Beaver to get too close to me. I purposely shifted my position to let the Beaver know I was on the rock. The beaver changed course and swam to the other end of the pond to its lodge.A few minutes later a second smaller beaver emerged from the same log. I watched the Beaver swim along the far edge of the pond to its lodge.Two frogs sat in the water next to the rock and kept me company while I waited for the Moose family.   No moose appeared. It was getting chilly, and I needed to stick to my plan to go to bed early. So I headed for my tent. A snowshoe hare (now with its brown summer coat) was munching on grass near the privy. Hikers are encouraged to pee in the woods and just poop in the privy. So the grass around the privy probably has a lot of salt from people peeing around the privy. Florida has Eastern Cotton tails and Marsh Rabbits, but no hares. So I spent just a little time watching the hare munch on the pee grass.A nice southbounder was getting ready to pitch his Ztent - a free standing tent made of cuben fiber. I asked if I could watch. The tents are ultra lightweight, and very expensive. I recently discovered that they are made in Florida. The southbounder graciously answered my questions while he showed me how to put up the tent, which weighs a mere 22 oz.Then I was off to bed.The AT is calling. Tomorrow I enter Maine!!