Date: 2018-08-16
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 14.1

No other hikers showed up at the lean-to last night, so I had the place all to myself. I was fast asleep by 8PM and the sound of Cooper Brook cascading into the pool of water in front of the shelter provided an excellent ambient sound to help me sleep through the night. I was up at dawn and hiking by 0600. When I slipped on my damp hiking shirt it was cool against my skin. It stayed cool under the canopy throughout the hike. The nice dry breeze made the conditions perfect. The trail was soft for the first several miles. Birch, Maple, Hickory and White Pines eventually gave way to a strand of old forest Red Pines. The forest floor was free of vegetation and every rock and fallen tree was covered with a velvety blanket of dark green moss. Mushrooms were sprouting from the moist ground in their usual array of whites, purples, reds, oranges, browns, and yellows. What¢s this coming down the trail? A dog perhaps? Or maybe a coyote?  It was moving spryly over the rocks just about 40 yards up trail and headed my way. I froze. A second later it stopped too and looked my direction. I slipped my hand into my hip belt pocket and pulled out my camera. I got a couple of shots off and waited to see if it would come closer. After a 30-second stand-off, the animal took a 90-degree turn and disappeared into the woods. Dark gray, big ears, pointy snout, and a large bushy tail. It was a gray fox! Much bigger than most of the red fox I see down south. I pulled up my camera to see how the pic turned out. No joy! It is times like this that my zoom lens would sure have come in handy.Continuing along the trail I could see Cooper Pond through the trees. A loon let out a tremelo (like a loud crazy laugh) at the sound of my approach. I stepped to the pond shore just in time to catch the loon in flight above the trees. Got a pic (albeit low quality) this time.Man, I¢m really taking a walk on the wild side. Can it get any better than this? Yes it can!I came over a hill and the trail was back to its normal self again¢mud, rocks and roots. I could see Pemadumcook Lake through the trees. Then I saw a sign pointing the way to a view of, wait for it...Mount Katahdin!!  Twenty steps later I was standing on the rocky shore looking across the water at the most majestic mountain view thus far. It was 42 trail miles away, but I felt like I could reach out and touch it. I¢ve tried not to get out ahead of myself, just taking things one day at a time. But, standing there in awe of Her Majesty, it all began to sink in. I¢m doing this. I¢m thru hiking the AT. Correction, I¢m almost ¢through¢ hiking the AT!The 14 miles to the .2 mile side trail to a small boat dock flew by. At 1230 I called the White House Landing Hostel and waited for my taxi. I did my post hike stretching and laid out on the small dock. Before I could catch any shut eye, my boat taxi arrived. Bill navigated the restored 1942 Lone Star around boulders protruding above the surface of the lake. A few minutes later we arrived at a quaint little lakeside retreat. White House Landings caters to hikers and fishermen in the summer months. In the winter they offer refuge to snowmobilers and ice fishermen. A main house and several cottages were nestled on the slope of a hill. Inside the main house I met Linda. She offered me a cold drink, a Whoopie Pie and handed me my final resupply box. I¢m so thankful that Which Way has been sending me these boxes. It makes resupply day much easier. I hand washed my clothes, took a shower, cleaned up my gear and sorted through my box of goodies. Before I knew it dinner was ready. Linda fixed up a nice cucumber and tomato salad and Bill brought out two ears of sweet corn for each guest. All of the vegetables come fresh from their garden. I ordered a delicious jalapeno cheese burger as my main course. It was one of the best burgers I have eaten on the trail. I¢m hoping to get a few pics of the sunset and maybe capture a video of a Loon calling before Linda retrieves my phone and takes it to their house for a recharge. At least I got the journal typed up. It will be nice to once again go to sleep without that unfinished business hanging over my head. Getting the signal to upload is a different story. Feeling content. Always blessed!Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 790Descent - 1,260Grade - 2.8Weather:Day - 69 / Light RainNight - 63 / Mostly CloudyOver The Horizon: Baxter State Park, ME