Date: 2004-09-13
From: Pleasant Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: broken clouds

"The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet." Ralph Waldo EmersonIt was a chilly morning to begin my day. I was up at 5:00, packed and ate my breakfast before 6:00. The sun was rising and the song of the Loon could be heard from the pond as I left the shelter. A hardy hike up Pleasant Pond Mtn. (2480 ft.) was a delight in the coolness of the morning. Baker Stream was the first fording where I had to place my feet into the rushing water. I decided to leave my boots on. I had to submerge the boots under water to step on the slippery rocks. The water never went over the collar of the boot. I was amazed after completing the ford that my feet were still dry. The weather today was ideal. Sunny, temperatures in the high 60's, Life on the AT was good. Large sections of the trail were a carpet of pine needles, a comfort for a change to my legs. Stopped with Diesel, Maya Ques, Catdog and Quest at the Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-to for lunch. Leaving the shelter after lunch, the trail was a gradual incline on rockface to reach Moxie Bald Mtn. (2629 ft.). From the summit we looked towards the northeast and saw for the first time in the far off distance our final destination - Katahdin. Katahdin is now a reality within reach, no longer an abstract object of imagination and talk. There before me was the real deal.Off the mountain and a pleasant walk until I reached Moxie Bald Lean-to located on the shore of Moxie Pond.Being only 2:30 I spent the afternoon lying on a large boulder in the sun. I would sit up look out into the beauty of the lake. Mesmerized by the world surrounding me, I would lie back down and drift off to the music of the water slapping against the rocks.I have a funny story to tell that actually happened involving an argument with a squirrel. I stress actually happened because some folks already believe I am nuts for wanting to walk a continuous 2100 mile trek, and others think I have been in the mountains to long. The story begins two hours into my hike when Quest and Catdog wanted to take a break. The timing was excellent because I needed to take a bathroom break. I trotted off trail, out of sight, where a tree had fallen. I was sitting on the tree minding my own business, doing my business, when a commotion occurs over my head on a tree next to me. A squirrel is chirping at me, berating me. I didn't know if he was angry because I invaded his space or he smelled me. Anyway, I look up at him and out loud in an intimidating voice, "Hey buddy, I was here first (actually it was his tree and he was there first). Well this squirrel, not intimidated easily, comes back down and in squirrelnese reads me the riot act. My reply was, "Leave me alone, let me finish taking a shit and I'll be gone." The squirrel runs up the tree and suddenly is knocking off pinecones that are landing around me. I AM BEING BOMBARDED BY A FRIGGIN' SQUIRREL! I look up at him and said, "I am not a Chicken Little, and I don't scare easy!" The squirrel then runs to the trunk of the tree and starts scratching off bark. It is raining tree bark around me. I'm finished and as I am pulling up my pants the squirrel comes down and with a contorted face appears to be screaming at me. I flick him the bird as I gave him a few words. The squirrel turns around and flicks me off by lifting his tail, then runs up the tree. I go back to where Quest and Catdog were sitting and they wanted to know whom I was talking to. I tried to explain my encounter. All I could see was their heads shaking back and forth as we continued up the trail and Quest saying, "Only you Krispy."