Date: 2004-07-29
From: Tenting at Full Goose Shelter, Maine

To: Trident Col Tentsite in NH.
Miles today: 14.5

14.5 miles todayTrident Col Tentsite in NH.I slept really well last night and I got caught up on the sleep I missed at The Cabin. I got 11 hours of sleep.When I woke up, I made coffee and had a small breakfast.I looked up by the shelter and I saw a girl trying to push the shelter over. I called up to her to see if she needed any help, but she said she was just stretching her calves out.I packed up and went up by the shelter to see who all came in after I went to sleep. There was some grumbling going on by a couple of hikers who said it was so crowded that they didn't get any sleep. I didn't say anything, but I was thinking to myself; "Don't they have a tent?"I have hit the biggest group of nobo's yet. There was Camel, Footloose, Walk On, Waldo, The Camera Crew...#1 and #2, Lekiless and Mountain Man, {not the one from Side Track Cafe.}I let Caveman know that I was going to Trident Col Tentsite today. We'll see if the Slobo's can make it there.I hiked on up to the top of Goose Eye Mountain. I was in a real cloud today, not mentally, but environmentally. The clouds were blowing by at about 20 mph. On the way up I remembered a tree that when you stepped on its root to step up, the root would give way and the tree would hit you in the head. I was surprized that it was still there. I learned my lesson last year though and caught myself before I put weight on it.I got up to the top of Goose Eye Mountain and realized that the other peak I thought was this mountain, was probably just a false summit. The wind had picked up to about 30 mph up there. I sat down on the side of the mountain away from the wind and ate a snack and took about a 20 minute break.I ran into a nobo by the name of The New York Mule just after I got started down the mountain. A little while later, I ran into Pony Express. I had met him at the Keffer Oak down in Va.I met Deja Vu at the side trail to Carlo Col Shelter. I had last seen her in Ga. earlier this year. We talked for about 15 minutes and then I walked .3 miles to the water source at Carlo Col because I was about out of water. At 11:20am, I crossed the border from Maine into NH. I got to say hello to Pamela. I took my own picture in front of one of the best trail signs on the A.T. It says; "Welcome to Maine...The way life should be."I saw a nobo by the name of Captain Hook shortly after I left there.On the climb up Mount Success, I came across a mother and a baby spruce grouse. She was sitting on a log, about 7 feet away from me and just keeping an eye on me. I tried getting a picture of them, but my digital camera's battery just gave out. Not too bad because I've taken about 150 pictures since I charged that battery. I won't be able to take anymore pictures until I get back up to Monson in a couple of days and recharge it. I left after a couple of minutes, so I didn't disturb her too much.I got up to the top of Mount Success and I stayed about an hour. I took off my shoes and dried them out while I ate lunch. The sun had come out and the wind wasn't as strong as earlier. It turned into a beautiful day. I can see a city in the distance and I think it must be Gorham, NH. I got to Gentian Pond at 2pm and Comfortably Numb got me to go to the pond and watch a cow moose feeding about 30 yards away from us. Rabbit was down there too. We watched it for a while until I needed to go get some water because I had been out for a while. We all left at the same time and the cow moose started getting nervous. She trotted parallel to us as we walked down by the pond. She was making a grunting sound. I figured that she must have a calf over on that side of the pond.I got my water and walked on ahead of Comfortably Numb and Rabbit. I was being cautious and kept a tree in sight to climb if she came charging, but when I saw her again, she must have found her calf safe because she had calmed down and was feeding again.A little later a nobo by the name of Ramblin' Man came by me and said hi.Near Wocket Ledge, I ran into Bull, a nobo. He said that Moosie sent a message along with him from way back in Ct. to say hi to me. Bull seemed real pleased to be able to finally deliver that message.Thanks Bull and Moosie.I hiked on to Trident Col Tentsite and set up my tent and let it dry out. I went down to the spring and got water and came back and ate dinner. Comfortably Numb And Rabbit got here and set up their tent. Giddy Up just walked in and said that Commando and Caveman should be here in a little bit. I may not see them tonight because I'm getting ready to go to sleep.Just before dark, Caveman and Commando walked by and when they saw my tent, they said 'Hi Stumpknocker."I said "hi" back to them and told them I would see them in the morning.Another great day on the A.T.