Date: 2013-09-04
From: Mahar Tote Road

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean -To
Miles today: 7.5
Weather: few clouds

Start Maharrey Tote Rd, mile 2140.2Stop Wadleigh Stream Lean-to, mile 2147.7Sleep lean-toCell noneHiked 7.5 miles Northbound 38.2 miles remaining195.3 miles hiked 2013 ATOld Goat's notes:We started a little later than if we were camping in the woods. We ate breakfast at 7:30am coffee, scrambled eggs, bacon, English Muffin, and blueberry pancakes. Bill the owner of WHL gave us a ride across the lake back to the trail. Well actually we were close to the trail but not on it.We hiked up to the trail and headed north. In about 1/4 mile we came to the Tumbledown Dick Stream which was a major ford today. The water was high and the current was swift. Two ladies who were at WHL with us last night said it was waist deep yesterday. They also said there was a log across the water that they had to hold on to as they waded across. This prepared me to wear my gym shorts under my shorts today. As we approached the stream there was a guy attempting to cross by walking across the log and holding on to a rope strung across the stream over the log. He went out a few steps and then came back because that technique would not work. I went upstream to look for a better spot to cross and did not find one. I then found two long poles hoping to balance ourselves with them. By that time Check 6 said she wouldn't feel comfortable doing that so we started to take our shoes off. The other fellow tried the poles and decided he couldn't cross that way either. I waded across with my pack while holding onto the log with one hand and probing the stream bottom for depth checks. I crossed the stream, dumped my pack, and returned for Check 6. I then carried her pack and guided her and the other guy across. The only thing that got wet was the bottom edge of Check 6's shorts and the other guys pant legs, he had on long pants and couldn't roll them up high enough. It was an interesting crossing but highly rewarding also. About 4 miles later we had to ford the Nahmakanta Stream. This ford was ankle deep but still required shoes off. On the north side was a stairway, one like you would find in an industrial building not in the middle of the forest. It did make getting up from the stream easy. The last ford of the day was just before the shelter. After fording the stream I was expecting to come upon the shelter so we kept our Crocs on and walked the last .1 mile in them. We received Trail Magic from Pippin, a 2013 Thru-hiker. We saw her about 2 weeks ago heading south to fill in some trail miles she had missed. She is planning to summit Saturday with a lot of her family joining her. In the meantime she came out to do some Trail Magic. Thanks Pippin. The trail really annoyed Check 6 today. She was complaining a lot and cursing the trail. The rocks, roots, mud, and water made the day difficult all day. I guess when you have a bad day on your birthday, you have a really bad day. Happy Birthday honey!Check 6's notes:We had a wonderful breakfast this morning at Whitehouse Landing, and then a boat ride to the trail. We only hiked 7.5 miles because we weren't sure what time we'd be able to get going. It's supposed to get cold tonight (in the 30's) and there's a chance of rain so we decided to stop at this shelter and stay in the shelter just in case it does rain. It was hard hiking today...a LOT of huge tree roots, large rocks (small boulders), and water on the trail. It's draining to hike in that kind of terrain. I feel exhausted now so I'm lying in my warm sleeping bag for a while. It's later now...I slept for an hour! I don't know why hiking this year is wearing me out so much. I'm sleeping well most nights (which I didn't do during our attempted thru-hike in 2009).   I'm glad I can sleep well out here. Sent from my iPhone