Date: 2008-09-05
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to, ME

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to, ME
Miles today: 18.2
Weather: broken clouds

I do not even know where to begin for the craziness that occurred today. I blame Creek Diver. The first part of the day I flew up the trail, completing 10 miles in under 4 hours over a very rooty, but otherwise flat trail. I took a break at Wadleigh Shelter and had an early lunch at 10:45AM. Creek Diver and Shelter Monkey were also there and I let them look at my map (a daily occurrence and request from Shelter Monkey). I pointed out a logging road that would cut off maybe a mile of the trail at the end of the day. They however examined the map and proposed that we hike along the shore of nearby Nahmakanta Lake, to a road that would intersect with the trail two miles before Rainbow Spring Lean-to. They were convinced the shoreline would be a pleasant beach stroll and would avoid Nesuntabunt Mt. It was anything but pleasant.The small sandy beach quickly gave way to a boulder strewn shore that required us to either climb from boulder to boulder or walk in the lake. We did both. Then we decided to move slightly inland and bushwhack around the lake while keeping the shoreline in view. Now I know I have belittled the HMW for not being a true wilderness, but still, bushwhacking anywhere in Maine is probably not the best idea. It proved difficult and there was nothing resembling a trail. There were downed and rotting trees everywhere. Most were covered in moss that would occassionally give way under our feet causing a foot or leg to drop down into a hole in the ground. Nothing like risking an ankle injury days away from the finish.Eventually we returned to the shoreline thinking it must be easier to walk in the water in our crocs. The shoreline turned back into a beach for a short while then gave way to muddy, marshy land. Our feet and legs kept sinking into the muck and several times we almost lost our crocs to the quicksand like muck. Then came Pollywog Stream. We had to ford it right where it emptied into the lake. Unfortunately there were also leeches here in the muck. Gross. I literally had to pry one off of my left foot. And it was also tricky finding a spot that was not too deep to cross.Once on the other side of the stream we had to bushwhack back to the shoreline again. At this point I just didn't care and went crashing and ripping my way headlong through the mud, trees, vines and pricker bushes. Finally back on the shoreline we were able to walk on a sandy beach to a cluster of vacation homes on the north shore of the lake. Probably the most amusing thing in retrospect was that we could see these homes in the distance most of the time and there was a lake plane continually landing and taking off in the lake to take visitors on an aerial tour of the wilderness. I wonder if they could see us below. Anyways from here we walked on the road to where it intersected with the AT. Back on the AT I hiked two miles in 45 mins to the Lean-to. In the end I doubt our 'shortcut' actually saved us any time, and it may not have saved us any miles. At one point Shelter Monkey compared it to Mahoosuc Notch, and I do not think the experience was that far off. So in the end, lesson learned: it is not a good idea to bushwhack in the HMW. But as Creek Diver said, none of us is likely to ever forget the experience. And as I said, 'Let us never speak of the 'shortcut' around the lake again.'