Date: 2009-09-07
From: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

To: stealth
Miles today: 21.2

The terrain really eased up, and I felt like I was moving once again! By 11 am, I had already done 8 miles! I took a break at the edge of Jo-Mary Lake and found that I had reception! So, I called Bound and had a nice chat with her. Three backpacks were left out under a tree below Antlers Campsite, and while I was on the phone, three women came down, put them on, and took off on the AT. Just before I caught up to them, I was thinking about how I had made it all the way through this hike without getting stung by a bee. Then, I saw the ladies on the other side of a sand pit, and they urged me to stay to the right and ¢come quickly!¢ Apparently, they had just been stung several times by bees! I crossed the sandy area and nothing happened!      I took a break at Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to, first going to collect water, and then returning to the shelter to read the registry and snack. The three ladies came along and took out their mouth-watering lunch: ingredients for a BLT! They offered me some slices of red pepper, a cherry tomato, and piece of lettuce. It tasted so good (much better than a Snickers bar!). They were all trying to make it to White House Landing in time for dinner. Before I had started this hike, I had planned on stopping there, but the things I was reading in the registries made me reconsider. Apparently, the husband had quite a temper and treated many of the hikers very unkindly. Some were laughed at when they inquired about getting more fuel or snacks and told to ¢Get in the Boat!¢ It was clear that the owners did not like hikers who only wanted to stop in for the 1 lb burgers. They preferred the guests to spend the night and buy their food, which I learned was quite pricey. The location of this place did not fit into my schedule to spend the night anyway, so I decided to forego it.      When I told the ladies I had 10 more miles to go today, they couldn¢t believe it. I was already getting very tired, especially after resting, and wished that I could stop early like they were, but I needed to keep moving in order to meet Erik at Abol bridge. While I filled up on water again, a hippie couple had come into one of the campsites for a break. The man shouted to me, ¢Where did you stay last night?¢ I felt a little uncomfortable, but felt they would not be hiking 10 more miles like I was, and that I would be safe.      I hiked out and soon came to a sign with an arrow, reading ¢Katahdin view¢. I decided to take a look, and made my way over to an area of stones and logs piled up in front of the pond. At first, I saw nothing interesting- just some regular mountains. Then, I stepped further out, and was treated to a stunning view of Katahdin! I could not believe it! I stood there for a little while, taking the sight in, happy that I took the time to see this.      I passed the women again, came to the path to get to White House Landing, and continued on. I had a bit of trouble finding the trail near another stream I had to ford, but soon figured I had to get down the bank and across the water. I came upon another couple, who were taking a break at Nahmakanta Stream campsite, and who were also planning on staying at White House Landing. They were surprised that I was not.    I filled up my water at Wood Rats spring and pressed on, growing more and more tired. I came to the south end of Nahmakanta Lake, where a beach chair was sitting (chained to the ground) facing the water. I really wanted to end my hike for the day here, but it would have left too many miles for me to hike the following day. I pressed on, going back into the woods, every uphill consuming all of my energy. I filled up my water again at Prentiss Brook and made my way to another stretch of beach. I felt mad that I didn¢t even have time to put my feet in the water! This 100 mile Wilderness was not turning out to be the joyful experience I was hoping it would be!       I reached the side trail to a sandy beach on the shore of Nahmakanta Lake, 0.3 miles away from the shelter and decided I would go no further. I was too tired! I also predicted that the shelter would be in the woods and preferred to stay by the water. I saw some trees in the woods where I could set up my hammock, and took my food bag over to the sandy beach, where I found a small log to sit on to eat my dinner. Two chipmunks scurried in and out of the bushes, hoping for some crumbs. I brushed my teeth and headed back into the woods to my hammock in the dark. I slept incredibly hard during the night (perhaps the deepest sleep that I had on the entire trail)!