Date: 2003-09-06
From: East Branch Lean-to (1240ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) 

To: Antlers Campsite (520ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ) 
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: clear sky

Aloha! My, oh my¢¦ what a gorgeous day! I swear each day keeps getting better and better! It started out gorgeous, stayed gorgeous throughout the hike and ended gorgeous! Not only do I love this job but also I absolutely love Maine! Unbelievable for me!The morning started off with Gutsy heading out first, Old Corpus second, Coffee third, and me last. In so doing Gutsy walked around the first corner to be met head-on by a bull moose. As she backed away the moose calmly walked toward her before turning and walking into the woods. Old Corpus, as second, didn¢t see a thing. Coffee, in third, also saw the moose. He even waited and tried to point it out to me but alas, all I saw were tree branches moving and heard twigs crunching beneath the moose¢s feet. No moose for me. I possibly could say that I saw a tail flick but it was probably a bird getting out of the moose¢s way. Nope, I¢m thinking it¢s not meant to happen. Not only are there no bear on the AT, there are also no moose on the AT. So there!The hike was wonderful today. Yes, it immediately started up but not before we forded another roaring river ¢ the East Branch of Pleasant River. It was horrid! Okay, maybe not horrid. Well, not even bad as a matter of fact. In short, I comfortably rock hopped across without missing a beat or getting my boots wet. These roaring rivers in Maine sure are something else! Anyway, it was from there that we began our minimal UPs. And in comparison to the past three plus months, I do mean minimal.First it was UP to Mountain View Pond (1640¢), a couple of miles of down and flat, if you don¢t consider the rocks and roots, and then back UP to Little Boardman Mountain (2017¢). This would be our highest peak for the day. And by the looks of the maps, the highest for the next several days. Wuhuu! We¢re hiking now! As a matter of fact, we were sitting ¢swimming hole¢-side at Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to in less than an hour. Coffee and I comfortably booked the 3.5 miles to the lean-to in literally less than an hour. Unbelievable! I haven¢t done that type of speed since way back in probably Virginia! It felt good to actually be able to stride out. I love this part of Maine!While relaxing and enjoying a snack in front of the large, clear and cold swimming hole conveniently located in front of Cooper Brook Falls lean-to I had quite a surprise. As I was reading some of the previous entries in the register from days and weeks gone by I came across one that almost made me choke. First, choke, then laugh and then happily cry. Amongst all the other entries was a recent one written by Spike, a former hiking partner from ¢01! This was the guy that was instrumental in getting me off the trail when the leg snapped. He was back out here on the trail and only a week ahead of me! Not only Spike but also his first hiking partner in ¢01, Hopper, whom I met at Laurel Creek in southern Virginia! It would be fantastic to actually walk up to a shelter or campsite and see him. My fingers are crossed but with his date being a week earlier, I¢m not going to hold my breath. But wouldn¢t that be a hoot? So cool! Spike!Coffee was feeling like hiking today so he took off and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll with Thirsty Boots and Tom the rest of the way to the campsite. It was a wonderful hiking day. The company was fantastic, the terrain phenomenal and the weather perfect. There was even a trail angel act by the Wench family along the way. Unfortunately other hikers had already eaten the sodas and snacks but the thought was certainly appreciated. This was the road crossing, Jo-Mary Road, where Wench and Hotdog were being picked up for a couple of days off the trail while Wench attended a wedding. It¢s nice of the Wench family to think of the others still on the trail. Anyway, it was that type of day ¢ wonderful. Most of us are camped at Antlers Campsite this evening. This is one of the spots that Pizazz highly recommended and I will second that and tell any future hikers that this is a must ¢ absolutely gorgeous. Most of us are camped down along an edge of the Lower Jo-Mary Lake, which is breathtaking in its own right. As I arrived I found Coffee comfortably sitting buck-naked on a large rock out in the lake. That was a surprise! As I quickly drew my camera Old Corpus gave me a warning that he was headed for a skinny dipping bath so I could either stand there or cover my eyes. Cover my eyes? Is he nuts? I now have pictures of two of the most wonderful guys on the trail in their¢¦ uh¢¦ birthday suits! I don¢t know for sure if you¢ll get to see those or not. Thinking that the water might be a tad bit warmer on the sunnier side of the peninsula, Thirsty Boots and I tried for a ¢bath¢ there. These people are crazy! It took at least 30 minutes for me to finally get in above the waist! Why is it that the further in to cold water a person goes, the higher their hands are raised? As a former lifeguard watching people enter a pool, I was always fascinated with that act. Now I find I do the same thing! It was damned cold and I¢m just guessing that something says that the longer you can keep your hands out the warmer it is. Forget the thighs, crotch and waist; it¢s the hands! So silly! Anyway, it took forever before I took that plunge and came up screaming. I love the Maine ponds and lakes but Jiminy Cricket they¢re cold! My trail hubby Coffee was feeling the need to put on some mileage so he¢s left us this evening to move on to the next shelter, another 3.5 miles away. Now and then hikers either need or want to do a ¢big mile¢ day and since Coffee has been playing with us he¢s really not had the opportunity to do so. This was the perfect terrain for it so he¢s gone. We¢ll catch up to him tomorrow at the White House Landing so he¢s not gone for good. He¢s just getting a night out! It¢s been an enjoyable evening with Gutsy, Old Corpus, Thirsty Boots, Tom and Vermont Pete. The moon and Mars are glowing brightly on the eastern shore and the distant loons are lulling us to sleep. This is a perfect site. I could probably say without a doubt that Antlers Campsite is my favorite campsite of all throughout the trail and I¢ve camped at many wonderful spots. This is one that I would come back to. I¢m telling you, don¢t miss this one. It¢s gorgeous. Okay, as usual, everyone¢s headlamps are out and mine should be also. Besides that, this is one of the few times I actually get to star gaze without trees obscuring everything. We¢ll chat again tomorrow from my next Wilderness experience ¢ the White House Landing. For now, if you listen carefully I¢ll bet you can hear the loons too. So neat. Good night.Blood, Sweat & Tears: I think notAches & Pains: Nope, not reallyMoans & Groans: Not being 20 and able to dive right into freezing pools of water anymore¢¦ waah!Critter count: 4x red squirrelsCountdown: 51.8 miles