Date: 2005-10-02
From: Bald Mtn. Brook Lean-To

To: East Branch of Piscataquis River
Miles today: 15.3

Last night was the warmest night that we have had in a while, it made for a great nights sleep for both of us. It was easier to get up today because it was warm and the sun was shining. We all ate breakfast together and were headed up Moxie Bald by 8:30. Nothing but blue skies and sunshine. We knew that we were going to have a great view from the bald. The guys started out ahead of Dready and I. Sampson cruised back and forth between the guys and the girls. As we were chatting & climbing we walked up on Blaze and Piker stopped on the trail. They had just seen a cow and bull moose. Sampson had chased them off!! We were so jealous. Neither of us had seen a bull moose. Dready and Blaze decided to leash Sampson so that if we saw a moose he wouldn't go running off into the woods after it. Blaze and Piker jumped ahead of us again and Sampson pulled Dready up the hill. He wanted desperately to catch up to the guys. We were talking about how it was so unfair that the guys see all the moose & how we should have them hike behind us. Dready couldn't deal with Sampson yanking her up the hill so she let him off the leash. He went galloping up the trail and out of site. I said, "I always just say that I'm going to see an animal. I know we'll see a bull moose." About 20 seconds later we both heard a loud snap to our right. Dready turned around and we locked eyes, "Did you hear that", we both said. We turned around and in the woods about 50 feet from us was a huge bull moose. Immediately we got a huge adrenaline rush. He was massive. We were standing in awe as the moose stopped right before the trail. Dready reached for my camera with shaky hands. The moose stared at us for a few moments and then began running again. I was trying to get a picture but couldn't take my eyes off the moose. He ran and lunged across the trail right in front of us, we had a perfect view. He was beautiful, huge and healthy with an amazing tan colored rack. He went crashing through the woods and was gone. Dready and I were all smiles, jumping up and down. It was such an exciting moment. We flew up the hill on our adrenaline rush so that we could tell the guys all about it. What a great way to start the day. We caught them right before the top and bragged about our sighting. We all climbed the bald together and got our first good view of Katahdin. It was early and perfect weather up on the bald, we enjoyed an amazing 360 degree view of Maine. After a break on top we got movin'. The terrain was nice and we were able to pick up the pace. We stopped at Bald Mtn. Stream for lunch. There were rocks covered in sunshine right by the water. As we basked in the sun and ate we started getting really warm. Piker said that he wanted to go swimming. He was wading around in the water and I said, "If you jump in I will too". And that was it, he did a shallow dive immediately. He came up like a shot and rushed to shore. Good on my word I jumped in next. Well actually as I was walking in I slipped on a rock and fell in. Then I did an awkward jump into the water and also bolted out immediately. Its hard to beleieve that we went swimming in Maine in October. Crazy!! We lounged on the rocks for a while drying out. The first thing we did after lunch was ford the stream. It was minor but very slippery. The next section was muddy and flat. Every terrain that we have gone through is worse in Maine. The mud, the rocks, the roots. But its all worth it because Maine is definitely my favorite state and a huge pay-off for all our hard work.Our next ford of the day was the West branch of the Piscataquis River. This one was more complicated because we had to ford two rushing streams with a grassy island inbetween them, similar to a median. It was really fun. I am starting to like the fords, it is an entire event. On the other side we put our shoes back on and continued pushing over continual PUDS to the East Branch of the River where we are camped now. Saxy Lady was here chatting with us before she took off on another night hiking adventure. When she forded the river she yelled from the other side that there was trail magic over there. Sodas & Fruit. There was no way we could sit on the other side of the river and know about a stocked cooler and not do anything about it. So Blaze forded the river and brought back Mtn. Dews, Rootbeer, apples, and oranges. It was a nice end to an action packed day. A few other strange things happened today. Our Aqua Mira mixture began smoking. Maybe it was the chemical reaction, although we've never noticed it before. Very strange. Also tonight after dinner Piker gave Sampson the last few bites of our meal. I moved the bowl a little and Sampson picked up the pot between his jaw and moved river side. It was so funny, he wanted to get far away from me so I wouldn't get his food. Its another warm night. The sound of the river will put me right to sleep. We are all really excited to get to Monson tomorrow, our last trail town. We're planning on taking care of business and then darting off into the 100 mile wilderness. We'll see if that happens. I still can't believe that we are about to enter the wilderness. We're enjoying every last second out here.                                 Ms. Mileage