Date: 2014-09-19
From: Moxie Bald Lean-to

To: Stealth site on Piscataquis River
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: light rain

During the night, I heard a few loon calls -- mostly just a single note -- and the quarter moon lit up the tent in the early morning hours. I was not in a hurry to get up, since I had planned just an 8.9 mile day over pretty flat terrain, but the morning sun was on the tent by 6:30, so I began the morning tasks. The warmer water was nice for the oatmeal and coffee -- temp inside the tent was 39. By the time I emerged (7:30) Tee Bird was gone, and I took my time packing up. Though it was cold, the quiet and peacefulness were lovely to enjoy.I finally got on the trail a few minutes before 9 and headed for Bald Mountain Pond, 2.1 miles away. I was there in under an hour and navigated a fairly tricky crossing of the pond outlet. It was sunny but still cold, and I had on my shirt, wind shirt, rain jacket, gloves, the hat I wear under my ski helmet, the hood of my shirt, and the ball cap I wear in the rain. Also long underwear under my pants. All but the long underwear and the hood stayed on all day.From the pond, it was 3.7 miles to the West Branch of the Piscataquis River, which the guides say is a ford. I made good time (including a couple of 15 minute breaks) and was there at 12:10. It did indeed look like a ford, with a rope suspended a few feet above the water, though some exploration may have yielded a rock hop crossing further downstream. I sat on the rocks and ate lunch and then changed into my camp shoes, rolled up my pants, and waded across. The deepest part was just below my knees, but it was cold! I was glad for the rope, because the rocks in the river were slippery, but I had to let go about 15 feet from the other bank and rely on my poles, because the rope got too high for me to reach. I quickly dried off, changed my shoes, and headed on, the goal being Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to. I hoped it would have a sunny spot for my tent. After several ups and downs, always following the river, I got to the turn-off about 2:30. The place was a disappointment -- no good tent sites, no sun -- so I ate a half tortilla with PB and honey and headed on to find a stealth site.While I was getting water at the next stream crossing so I'd have enough for the night and the morning, Irish came by. He was the first person I had seen on the trail all day, and he said he had see just two others. Odd after yesterday, with people going both directions. I saw him at the next stream cooking supper. He, too, planned to find a stealth site so he could get into Monson early and do what he needed in preparation for the 100 Mile Wilderness, a part of the trail to which he has been looking forward. He hoped to get at least to the East Branch crossing. I hiked on, and after about another tenth of a mile found a spot along the river bank. It is a leaf covered little clearing, which had some sunlight, on the left side of the trail. Just across the trail are two beautiful large hemlocks on the edge of the bank, about 12-15 feet above the rocky river bed. The sun was shining from the other side of the river through a filigree of overhanging hemlock branches. Just my kind of place. And, once I got the tent set up, the space between the trees became my kitchen and dining room. I even had a massive tree trunk to lean against while I cooked (another full package of mashed potatoes, this time baby reds with the last of the beef jerky), ate, and watched the sun set behind the trees across the river.Now in the tent at an absurdly early hour (7:00) for this night person, I'll work on the journal for a while and then hope the sound of the river will help me sleep. It is 48 in the tent now. I don't think it will be as cold as last night, but I should probably put the phone and water filter in the sleeping bag with me just in case.