Date: 2015-08-19
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 13.0

I find chocolate very addictive.Everyone at the shelter last night planned to head to the same shelter today, which is only 13 miles north. This would make it a short day, so we all agreed to sleep a little late.I had to get up at 4:30 to pee, though. And I couldn't last until the agreed wakeup time of 6:30 before I needed to make a privy trip. Still, I stayed in my sleeping bag much later than usual.I packed up and put on clean socks (hooray!). Iso arrived, all packed to go, and sat in front of the shelter as I departed. "See you guys in thirteen miles." I said, and he said "You'll be there at what, noon?"I might have been able to, but it would have been hard.As I headed down the rough blue blaze trail back to the AT, my tailbone ached. A stab of pain went through my back as I jolted down on rocks and roots. Misery. Stupid tailbone!The pain faded a bit after a few miles, but it continued to hurt on and off throughout the day. During the last miles, I tripped over a root, pitching forward. I caught myself with my poles, but jarred my body so much that I almost cried out. WHY DID I HAVE TO FALL?!Today's morning mountain was Moxie Bald. It wasn't a bad climb. When I got to the top, I passed a hiker who cried, "Finally, someone!"He had gotten a little confused about the route of the trail. The summit sign for the mountain was off the AT, so I could see why he got a bit confused.It was gorgeous up there. The hazy mountain green faded into the blue sky in the distance. Maine is so big... the mountains stretch out in every direction. It makes you feel so small, to think how many mountains there are out there. It seems like I have climbed so many, but in reality... I have barely made a dent in the mountains.And every day, there are fewer and fewer left to climb on this journey!So SAD. Back to today's story...I tried to call mom from the mountaintop. I could hear her, but she couldn't hear me. "Are you okay?!" She asked as the connection broke. Sorry, mom. All is well in trailland. I am not dead. My butt just hurts.I tried checking the weather and uploading a journal entry, but it just was not working. I gave up after 15 annoying minutes and sat with Iso and Silent Force for a little while after they arrived."Red Panda, I wish you were about four inches taller." Iso said as he approached me, sitting next to a large cairn near the summit sign.Every day, I clear about a bazillion spiderwebs from where they are strung across the trail. It feels like I am constantly brushing away bits of web. Occasionally, I brush away some spiders, too. Some mornings, I am like a giant walking yarn ball of spider silk. It is very obnoxious to feel that stringy feeling on my skin. But they are EVERYWHERE.We also discussed The Topic, which is the constant conversation piece lately. And by The Topic, I mean, THE END. Monson, The Hundred Mile Wilderness, Katahdin... the last week or so of the hike.At this point, we are all planning to summit on the same day. It might be a fun little party on top of Katahdin next week. Once again, I am thankful that I have landed in a nice little bubble. I will be keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't pop before the last mountaintop.I am going to ask mom and Dan to bring a cake with them so that we can have a Katahdin bottom victory party with my friendly bubble.When I started to head down the mountain, the Aussie Legs were heading up. I talked to them briefly then went down the mountain, sweating profusely in the horrible sweltering heat.I stopped partway down to eat the last of my chocolate chips. They were incredibly delicious. I wish I had more to eat right now. Tomorrow I will be in Monson and can eat pizza. Yay! MY LAST PIZZA BEFORE KATAHDIN.Every time I head into town, I just spend the whole time thinking about pizza. I consider my options. What kind of pizza do I want? How many chores should I do before I get my pizza? Should I have it for lunch or for dinner?I never last until dinner. When I was with Chris, we used to wait for dinner. Now that I am alone, I get pizza WAY earlier and enjoy a full pizza tummy for most of the day.And by that I mean, I stuff myself so full that I feel sick and waddle around for the rest of the day like a bouncy ball.Anyway, back down the beautiful mountain I went. Back down below treeline, into the woods, over the rocks and roots.Two miles from the bottom of the mountain, I rock-hopped across Bald Mountain Stream. Then I dumped my pack and filled up a water bottle. I took out my SteriPen, hit the button, and stirred it around.THEN, DISASTER STRUCK. The indicator light flashed RED. I took it out, hit the button again, and stirred some more.RED AGAIN. Noooo!I took it out and examined it. The lamp was full of water. The WHOLE THING was full of water. It must have gotten cracked when I fell yesterday. I have a backup of AquaMira, but it is a pain. I hate waiting for it. That SteriPen was expensive. Bummer. It only had to last a little more than a week longer! At least it didn't break earlier.The next few miles where SO NICE. I moved so fast! I enjoyed a nice path through the woods, rather than a rough trail. I sped along, falling in love. It was wonderful. The sun shined though the trees as I ambled along next to the river, trees rising up wonderfully around me.Silent Force and I forded the Piscataquis, swapping into our camp shoes and tying our boots onto our packs. There was a rope stretching across the river, but once I got two thirds of the way across, I couldn't reach it anymore.Luckily the river was not very deep. It never got up to my knees, but it was wonderful. So wonderful, that nice cool water on my feet. Gorgeous. Wonderful. It was so freaking hot today, I just wanted to sink into that river and lay there until I got all pruney and gross.ALAS, I had to resist, because I don't want buttchafe.We stopped across the river for lunch, and then I continued on. THREE MORE MILES TO THE SHELTER. It was not as nice and smooth. Too many stupid ups and downs. After ten minutes, I was sweating and panting in misery. At least there was a nice river to walk by.This afternoon, I took a rinse in the river and hung up my clothes to dry. I read a bit of my book and ate snacks and talked to people.I dried out my SteriPen. Oh, how I wish it was not on the fritz.Tomorrow, I will hike into Monson. The last town before Katahdin. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!I have feelings on this. I am not sure what they are. So conflicted! I am excited about going home but I don't want it to end.Many topics have been covered in pre-dinner conversation. This included the fact that some female hikers carry pee rags (this topic was broached because Redback has been collecting bandanas).Muddy Duckling was disgusted by the idea. "Just use toilet paper... or... just jiggle." she said.I agree. I am not willing to carry a pee-soaked rag on my pack. Supposedly, the UV sunlight cleanses it and it doesn't smell... but no. Just no.Muddy Duckling wanted to try my marshmallow Fluff (I have been having it with my lunch), and she and Firebear have eaten quite a bit of it, which is good, because I am going to get diabetes soon with all the sugar I keep eating.Figuring out food to carry through the Wilderness is confusing. How much to carry?! How many days?! Is it worth paying a hostel to drop food in the woods for you?!I never have any idea what I am doing.There are so many signs that the end is near.Iso shook his AquaMira drops and contemplated whether or not he should buy more to get him through to the end.Muddy Duckling and Firebear discussed sharing a fuel canister during the Hundred Mile Wilderness so they don't have to buy a new one.Silent Force counted his incense sticks to see how many he can burn a day until he reaches Katahdin. Incense is his thing. Every night at the shelter, he burns stick or two of incense. He burned some the other day while I was eating my gross Pasta Sides. Smelling it while eating just made dinner taste even worse.HOWEVER, my parmesan Pasta Sides tonight were a little better. They still sucked... but not as bad as the first two did.ANYWAY, MONSON TOMORROW. I am eager to get there early, to get through my mail drops, make sure I have enough to get me through the Wilderness, determine how much to carry, and perfect The Plan, which will probably require multiple long phone calls.I also want a shower. Maybe three.And laundry.And pizza. So much pizza. I require pizza.A whole lot of people arrived at the shelter after dinner. Well, after our dinner. Before their dinner.I get overwhelmed when there are SO MANY PEOPLE.We talk about pee and how much we drink now. My pre-bed pee was very yellow. So much sweat and never enough liters downed to properly make up for it.AHHHHH. I feel anxious about all the things I need to do tomorrow. I will beat feet into town tomorrow, if I can manage to drag myself out of bed early enough.There are too many people! Silent Force got it right: "This is when I wish I'd tented."I am thankful for chocolate and rivers. I am thankful for the woods. I kind of don't want to go into town. Can't I just stay here instead of being with all the people?!I am thankful to share my Fluff, and that my bag will be light tomorrow. I hope the trail to Monson will be smooth sailing.MORE PEOPLE JUST ARRIVED. IT IS HIKER BEDTIME. WHAT IS GOING ON.