Date: 2018-09-17
From: East Chairback Pond

To: Logan Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 14.6

There was a ¢ghost of a moon in the afternoon¢ when we arrived at camp yesterday. When I turned off my book to go to sleep, our camp was illuminated in it¢s brightness. When ¢nature called¢ at 2 AM the moon had gone down and been replaced by a brilliant Milky Way. My ankle was really stiff at 2am but when I woke in the morning felt pretty good.We broke camp early and enjoyed the sunrise over East Chairback Pond. Even the loons came to say goodbye before we headed down the trail.  Our ascent brought us to the Gulf Hagas trailhead and Pleasant stream. We would have to ford about 150 ft of river but first made a side trip up to the parking lot to hit the privy. Ran into Fluffernut and AT Gracie while there and got morning trail magic in the 100 Mile Wilderness! Chocolates, protein drinks, etc. (They had been camped by the river the last night but a nuisance bear made them sleep in the car!) Thanks again!We forded the river and went up thru The Hermitage, an old growth stand of enormous White Pines. From there the trail followed a big stream up into the Gulf Hagas Portion of the wilderness. (Both the Hagas and Hermitage are national landmarks and hence the road in for day hikers. No camping or fires permitted here)The climb up Gulf Hagas Mt was hard but only the first of four successive peaks that culminated at White Cap Mtn. I¢m currently sitting on White Cap Mtn typing this to post so you are getting a quick midday synopsis (...as this Is the last ¢BIG¢Peak in the 100 Mile Wood and last shot at cell service). From here I have an amazing view of Mount Katahdin lying to the North. It¢s hard to describe the wellspring of emotions I¢ve had today climbing White Cap and seeing Katahdin. This ¢impossible journey¢ is finally seeming possible. The rain is coming so I gotta wrap this. Still have miles to go to the lean-to so I can ride out tonight¢s stormLife is Amazing. Pure and utter Awesome. Don¢t take a single Breath for granted. Hug your loved ones and chase your dreams!!! Keep walking.Addendum:I hauled it off the top of White Cap as a big storm was coming right at us on the prevailing breeze. The mountain must have pushed it aside as it never caught me. 1.4 miles down I came to the lean-to and still had service so checked the weather app. Rain chances at only 20% and dropping to 5% by 6 pm. Would much rather tent than shelter so I grabbed a stealth site about 200 yds past the shelter. Threw up the tent, went and got water and then, on the way back the sky opened up. Raced for my tent and ducked in just as Noah passed me in a big boat. Dammit. I hadn¢t staked out the sides or anything. In 10 minutes my tent was filthy from mud splashing up, five minutes later water was pouring in under the tent floor as it came down the sides onto the drop cloth. Frickin rookie mistake and here I sit, 35 minutes later in a completely wetted our tent. Dammit! This night of sleeping in shit, and carrying dirty wet crap tomorrow, is gonna be very long.When the rain stopped I went out and my coffee cup had just shy of an inch of water in it... what a Gusher! Made dinner and cocoa. (Btw, rookie mistake #2, don¢t make cocoa in the pot you just cleaned out with the sock you¢ve been wearing for three straight days. It gives the cocoa a perplexing aftertaste.) can¢t wait to get in the wet tent and go to sleep!