Date: 2008-06-19
From: Stratton ME

To: Spaulding Mt.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

And then we were 4...Everyone in the hostel was up at, or before 5am. The house was quiet, all but the sounds of zippers and people going over gear. I was in the kitchen powering down as many cold slices of pizza that I could stomach.At 6:30am the hostel owner came to pick us up for a shuttle to the trail head (5 miles out of town).We could fit 3 in the truck at once (including her large Standard Poodle named "Knuckle Head"). On our way out the door I told Will that we are good traveling company and our group is always looking to expand. I offered for him to walk with us. I told him he would have to settle with less than 20 miles per day. Surprisingly he began to nod his head yes and told me he would stay at the lean-to with us tonight.Will is quiet, young (19 yr.) and so determined to finish this trail quickly. He can move pretty good through the mouintains but seems to be starving for some social interaction. After he agreed to meet us later in the evening I told Mango and ATG. They were very excited that I had said something as they also wanted to.Will cought up to us at 10ish in the morning. As soon as he came on board we included him in a game of "catagories" that we were playing. Someone would pick any catagory and we would all name off as many items within that catagory that we could tink of. The order was the same as we were hiking. First me, then ATG, then Mango, then Will (aka, "Rock Layer"). The first catagory was gear manufacturers. It went on for some time... I think Will was pleased with his decision to join.The 4 of us hiked 13.5 miles over several mountain tops. It was wet and foggy and rainy all day long and has been this way for... I can't even remember, but something like 4-5 days. The most exciting part of the day was our crossing of the South Branch of the Carrabasett River. The hostel owner warned us that the river is not passable in high water. Long before approaching the river we all agreed that we would be finding a way to get across... no question about it.The river was raging. It wasn't more than 30 feet wide but the center of it being 3-6 feet deep and exploding with white water. There was absolutly no way anyone was crossing... Unless a bridge was constructed that is. Alex and I retrieved a long 2"x8" peice of wood (10' long). The hostel owner (Sue) was telling us that people had tried all sorts of things to construct a passable route over the river. The wood was left from one of those attempts. Mango and I jumped out to the exposed rocks within the rapids. We managed to swing the board around in sucn a way that it cought between two fairly level rocks. It was shakey but was our best and only option to pass. We put our gear back on and signaled for the group to pass one by one. Rock Layer went first and when he got to the other side he stood on his end of the board for better stability. ATG went next and made it across safely, then Mango and finally myself. We all slapped hands once across and celebrated as we began to clim!b 2000 ft. straight up Sugarloaf Mt.I am in Spaulding Mt. lean-to at the moment. It is 10:30 pm. I just woke up from a nap. Everyone is sleeping. After setting up and getting some dry clothes on I made Ramen Noodles with a pack of tuna mixed in it. 26 grams of protien and over 350 calories... not a bad trail combination and it tasted outstanding.I'm about to head out in to the pitch black, cold, rainy woods in order to pump some drinking water from a near by spring. I am thirsty and want to have it all done when I wake up to prepare my breakfast (oatmeal and a Pop Tart).Mango wants to rename me Santana. He says it has allot to to with the stories that I tell while walking. The name is based on a character from a book. I can't argue if people rename me to a better fit than Phoenix. We will see if this one sticks...~Santana~ (formerly known as Phoenix3)"by myself but not alone"