Date: 2008-09-21
From: Stealth site @ Little Wilson Falls, ME

To: Stealth site 1.2 miles before Long Pond Stream, ME
Miles today: 6.7
Weather: overcast clouds

Brrrr...chilly nite. I woke and had to get into my sleeping bag after peeing @ 4:30 a.m. I helped Incessant make an adjustment on her underquilt then too. She's still learning how to mix and match her gear to stay warm but not sweat to death. She's a much warmer sleeper than me. It was great hearing the rush of the water fall all nite though. I had a hard time going back to sleep but finally did just before 6 a.m. Apparently I went into my deepest sleep, because I totally slept thru my alarm...whoops, and woke an hour late @ 7:30 a.m. Hate that. It was 43 degrees when I woke....brrrrr.... I woke Incessant and we got up, ate breakfast, packed and headed out. While we were packing, a group of men came down to the river for water. They didn't know we were there till I went to say hello. Nice men out to do the wilderness. We headed out @ 9:15 a.m., late start thanks to my sleepy self. We got about .2 down and Incessant realized she didn't feel her brand new prescription sunglasses on her head, then realized she thought they were on the ground @ our campsite. I dropped my pack and ran back real quick, and there they were on the ground. Funny, before I leave camp, I always look and check nothing is left. I usually look @ the trees though, since I don't keep anything on the ground. I missed her glasses this morning. I ran back and we headed on, very relieved she noticed it when she did. It was .2 down to Little Wilson Stream where a campsite is. Someone has taken the time to build little chairs out of the slate in the area. Pretty funny. We hiked on, rock hopped across the stream then headed up for our first climb of the day. It was a cool day, cool enough to want long sleeves, but not when climbing. It was about 1 mile up, and you go around a boggy pond as well as some railroad tracks. The view from the top was awesome, you could see the trees starting to change color as well as that pond down in the valley. The sky was grey though, so it had a definite feeling of fall. We took a break up there, ate a snack and headed on. It's that verticle bladey slate up here. Not too bad to hike on though. It was a giant switchback though, so we did a 180 degree turn back and headed down the moutainside for 1.5 miles. Parts were a bit steep, but nothing too bad. At the bottom it's literally flat for alost 1 mile. You are following the banks of the Big Wilson Stream, which was definitely a freakin river. It was almost noon, and there was a giant rock slab on the shore, so we stopped there for lunch. So gorgeous, a site to remember. It gets chilly when you sit still, so we added some layers. A perfect lunchspot for sure. We moved on and crossed Thompson Brook, then came to the Big Wilson Stream, which was a significant ford. There was a rope tied bank to bank, so I switched to crocks, rolled up my pants and made my way slowly across the knee-deep river on smooth slick rocks. It was the hardest ford yet, but I made it across. Next was to watch Incessant, and      she forded wonderfully, her first ford ever! We got dried off and started up our second climb, a 2 mile climb, taking you past Wilson Valley Lean-to. We hiked past it, and soon found a railroad crossing then headed up again. Lots of climbing today, but none so bad. Finally the sun had come out too, but it was in the low 60's at best. We started the descent down towards Wilber Creek. It was slow going and parts were bouldery like PA could be. That's hard stuff to tackle @ the end of the day, but Incessant stayed the course. I want to write about hiking when there are people of varying backpacking levels. As the more experienced one, there are things you can do to increase the other people's enjoyment as well as things you should do to be considerate. Too tired to write about it now though. We started passing water, so @ 5:30 p.m., I found a stealth site, ran up .1 and got water, and we put up camp. Both tired today. Incessant was a trooper and I'm proud of her. We got dinner made, threw my bearbag rope on first try too! It was 8 p.m. when we crawled in, and I've been hearing snoring from you know who for an hour straight! I knew she'd sleep well tonight. One funny side thing, as Incessant was getting into her sleeping bag (inside her hammock) I hear all this moving and then suddenly hear, "Alright bag, I've got a Ph.d.!" Well she told it didn't she? LOL Gotta water the leaves again. It's 9:13 p.m. and supposedly 64 degrees, but there's no way. I'm thinking mid-fifties. Well good nite. I put my watch on my jacket so I'll hear the alarm. Ugh......   ~Certain