Date: 2007-11-10
To: Carl A. Newhall Lean-To, Maine
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

*****Author's Note: To "Researcher": Yes, I know "The Traveller". If you read my entire journal, you will see a few stories about him. I have many more coming about him. He is not a myth. He is a living legend. Unlike other self promoters on the trail that used to hike, he still does self supported; fully pack; thru hikes. What are you researching about him and why?*********** "Ramblin' Rose" and I left his house around daylight. We stopped at "The Restaurant" in Milo. What an original name, huh? As we ate, he told me a story about going to a local B&B and inquiring about a guy that wrote a popular book. In the book the guy said that he and his companion stayed there. According to the proprietor, only one person had stayed there, contrary to this guys book(vague, I know, Ill tie it together later). We drove out to the exact spot where I crossed a log near the Hermitage to go across a stream to avoid getting wet. In retrospect, I made a good decision to cross the Pleasant River where I did on October 24th because the vehicle bridge that crosses the river is about 5 miles east and uphill. We saw a hunter that was really beat up from all the brambles he had went through. He showed us on a map where we could go through Gulf Hagas to intersect with the AT. We drove down Kathadin Iron Works road west and then north towards The AMC campground that is mentioned in the thru hiker guide. Rose had a map that had all the roads and trails; but, no elevation contours. We followed one track towards the AT that eventually died out in the woods. I then followed Rose, bushwacking across bogs and ridges. It is always good to follow a local in unknown territory. He knew how to cross these bogs over fallen trees and unexposed rocks. I would have sunk down to my hips. I was getting a little concerned when we had walked an hour and a half without hitting the trail. The map did not show this long of a trek. I was relieved to see the AT corridor sign. About another 30 minutes and we hit a blue blaze trail and followed it until we crossed a creek. It hit the AT at The Gulf Hagas Cut-Off Trail. Rose had "The hiking fever" and wished that he had brought his sleeping bag. He had not; so, he had to walk back to his truck. I told him that I hoped he made it. I said that I could see the locals now, "so, where did you say that you last saw him. You need a lawyer?" The At goes up and North along The Hagas Stream which is absolutely stunning. It had all kinds of ice formations where the water had been splashing up out of the waterway. I need to tell Ya'll now that I missed many good pictures because it was so cold. Each time I stopped to do so, it would take me about 30 minutes to get warmed back up. About .5 miles from The Cut Off Trail, I noticed that snow was still on the ground. As I climbed: the snow had more accumulation and had frozen solid on the trail and along the railing bridges. I steped on one of these bridges and slipped off and went about ankle deep into wet semi-frozen muck. I did not put my gaiters on because I thought it wuld be an easy trek to the Carl A. Newhall Lean-To. The higher I went, the more snow and wind there was. When I climbed about 30 rock steps to the shelter. The wind really slammed me in the face. I decided to stay at the shelter due to the wind and I did not want to sleep on ice. I went to sleep around dusk. I was on a good schedule for sleeping. I stayed surprisingly warm through the night.