Date: 2008-10-06
From: Copper Brook 

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 13.8

It is 11:06 am as I write. I am sitting in the sun on a sandy beach beside Jo-Mary Lake. After a stretch of cloudy cold days, this feels wonderful!!!! Lead Dog and I were hiking this morning by 5:30, with headlights again, so we can make White House by dark. Thus far we have been blessed with favorable trail conditions that have allowed us to make good time and at this point it seems likely we will get there early afternoon. I am looking forward to the boat ride, a hot shower, good food and sleeping somewhere warm for a change. At this point I am anxious to be done with this hike. Today my feet are in such pain and every step is difficult. I think the 19 miles yesterday has taken its toll and my body is shouting out for me to stop the insanity! Thankfully I am almost there! After lunch we had only 2.4 miles to go. We were making good time when we came to a sign on a tree that indicated a view of Katahdin to the right, down by the giant lake. So we took the 100 foot trail to the water's edge and looked left and there, rising above the lake was Katahdin! Snow covered! I nearly fell over. Snow covered, though beautiful, was not a good thing! It was impressive and I was in awe that I not only walked here, but that in less than a week I would be standing atop that very mountain!!!!!!! And maybe I would look out and there, far below in the distance I would be able to see this same shimmering lake. Today is a perfect day!!!! AFter we had our fill of photos of Katahdin we hiked on. Eventually we came to the grassy road that we knew we had to walk .9 of a mile to get to the blow horn by the lake. This side trail seemed to take forever, winding us around and around and around, through the woods on a rooty, rocky trail. Finally! We arrived at the talked about blow horn, roped to a tree at the edge of the forest with the dock in view. We had been warned not to blow it long or multiple times so we gave it a quick hit and sounded the horn, then walked down to the dock to wait. Soon enough we saw a man walking across the lake, down to the boat. He got in and zoomed over to pick us up. On the ride to the lodge he informed us Katahdin had been closed since Friday for snow. He didn't know when they would reopen. I was alarmed, so wanting to hike the big one and finish with gusto, not be so close and not able to summit. Bill showed us to the bunk house--a nice building with a bunk room and living area with a wood stove. The living room looked out at the lake and mountain in the distance. How wonderful to be there! We met Hell on Bad Wheels, a thru-hiking headed south, doing a flip, took a shower and get this, actually had time to relax before dinner! A new concept for both of us as all we've been doing lately is hike hike hike or sleep. A change is wonderful and welcome! Dinner was in a lovely building with more windows looking out across the lake. It was just the three of us at a cozy table beside the window. Lead Dog and I shared a most-delicious pizza along with two freshly baked muffins and for dessert--homemade apple pie with a generous amount of vanilla ice cream. The dessert Linda explained, was in honor of a hiker who died, who'd always stayed there on his yearly hike of the 100 mile wilderness. It felt special to be part of such a wonderful tradition. Now, at 7:30, I am lounged out on the couch enjoying the warmth of the fire. It is another cold night in Maine and I am very happy to be here in this cozy cabin. Lead Dog is relaxing too and Hell on Bad Wheels is getting his pack ready for the morning. Only 46 more miles to go!!!!!!! I am ever hopeful that the snow on Katahdin will melt and we will be able to summit as planned on Friday. I can't wait!!!!!