Date: 2011-08-02
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge Campground
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

Today, August 7, I will enter the final 4 journal entries ¢ August 1, 2, 3, & 4. ¢ MaryIt rained hard last night and when I woke up it was still misting. I waited for a break and quickly broke down camp and went down to the shelter to eat breakfast. I had hoped the weather would clear and the sun would come out so I could dry everything. It looked pretty good for a while, but the clouds came back. We didn¢t hike too hard today as we only planned 11.5 miles, so Mammoth and I yakked all day as we hiked around the ponds, through the bogs and forest. I really liked hiking the last couple of days through some really old forest. The timber is huge with some of the biggest pine, hemlock, and spruce I¢ve ever seen. It¢s good to know there are some huge trees like that left. As we passed Rainbow Lake today we saw a pair of loons with a tiny baby that couldn¢t have been more than a week old. We watched while the parents would dive and then come up and feed the baby. Before long it started to sprinkle again and I stopped to put on my pack cover; Mammoth was high tailing it to the shelter.As I climbed up over Rainbow ledges I saw the blueberry bushes were loaded. I couldn¢t resist anymore, I¢ve nibbled on blueberries but haven¢t taken the time to stop and pick a bunch. I decided I would now even though it was sprinkling because they were so big and juicy. I¢d picked for about 10 minutes when a flash of lightning and clap of thunder changed my mind about it being a good idea. I was up on the high point of a ledge peak with hardly any trees, so I hustled down to lower ground. Shortly after I started down the storm really hit with lots of thunder and lightning and a torrential downpour. There was nowhere to go so I just walked the 2 12 miles and arrived drenched. Mammoth was also drenched so we decided that now that the rain had stopped we would walk the 3.5 miles to Abol Bridge Campground where we could get a hot shower and food. I ate my lunch as Mammoth headed out. When I arrived at the campground it started raining again so I headed right to the store for a second lunch; a chicken salad sub and chocolate milk. I wasn¢t too pleased when I commented on the rain and the girl cooking said it was supposed to rain for the next 3 days. I could deal with an afternoon shower, but today would not have been a good day to try to summit. The rain stopped long enough for us to get supper and have a fire before it started sprinkling again around 9:00. From our campsite we had a great view of Katahdin, and it is neat to watch as one minute it is clear and the next the clouds flow over the ridge and settle down the other side. All evening we¢ve watched the mountain and it is a constantly changing picture. I¢m hoping our luck continues and we get a good window Thursday morning. This campground is awesome with the view of Katahdin, plus as I was talking to some other campers we watched a bald eagle swoop down and grab a large fish from the Penobscot and fly away. Later this evening we¢ve watched a kingfisher constantly splash down and come up with fish in the marsh area. I¢m also watching a bird that might be a nighthawk or chimney swift. It is too large to be a swallow, and it has the angled backed wings like a falcon. It is definitely eating insects on the fly. I can¢t see any markings because it is dusk, and I just see the silhouette. A real short day of about 10 miles tomorrow to the base of Katahdin, so we¢re in no hurry to leave.