Date: 2012-09-30
From: West Branch Pond Road

To: Katahdin Ironworks Rd
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light rain

Eric shuttled us early at 6 am to the West Branch Pond AT trailhead for our 14 mile hike to Katahdin Ironworks Road. It was just barely twilight enough to see the trail in the misty rain. We were wearing our rain jackets and rain pants to keep us dry. We hiked steeply up White Cap Mountain for 3 miles. We met Keystone heading down. He has a journal on trailjournals.com also. By the time we got to the first shelter on the way, we were warmed up. There we met Sicilian Gypsy and saw Chief Sherpa and Hill Billy just getting up for the morning. We passed several northbound hikers during the day including Bear Field, Apollo, Radio, Hashbrown, Palm Tree (HI), and Lady Fish (FL). It¢s amazing how thru hikers are willing to stop and chat on the trail even in the pouring rain!It got wetter and colder as the day progressed. I was getting colder as I tried to get cell coverage on West Peak to contact AMC re a shuttle at the end. By the time we got to Gulf Hagaas Mountain, I was able to get through. They were short staffed and unable to meet us so we¢d have to add 2.5 miles to our 14 mile hike. In the afternoon, the rain changed from intermittent drizzle to a down pour. Our last 6 miles of trail turned into streams. I started chanting ¢it doesn¢t matter any more¢ as I stepped into the unavoidable water drenching my shoes and socks. Instead of worrying about the upcoming river ford over the W. Branch of the Pleasant River, we struggled to stay afloat and upright just on the trail. The sounds of the rainfall rose to a crescendo and stayed there, competing with the loud sounds of the waterfalls and cascades along the side of the trail, and the newly created trail cascades. We had difficulty hearing each other with the rain drops pounding on our hoods. We both walked as fast as we could to keep warm and to get the hike completed as soon as humanly possible.When we got to the river crossing, we raised our pants legs (as if it mattered any more),and plunged into calf deep water, slipping and sliding on the rocks beneath the freezing cold water. When we reached the other side, the water was pouring down the trail into the river we just forded. We finally reached the road after about a mile.We were supposed to follow the Henderson Brook Trail to get to the lodge, but all we could see was the rapidly flowing brook. So we decided to take the road even though it might be longer. As we walked we saw several forest service trucks and an ambulance going the opposite direction. When we arrived at the lodge, we learned that a thru-hiker named Cokapella had fallen and injured his knee and was on his way to the hospital for an X-ray in Greenville.Josh at the AMC Gorman Chairback Lodge was so helpful, showing us how to operate the propane heater in the cabin and taking our wet clothes to dry in the dryer. We set up our shoes, packs and raingear to dry in front of the heater. We took a warm shower, ate a hot bowl of chili while staying in the cabin til Josh brought our dry clothes back. Dinner in the lodge was yummy! Rice, sweet potatoes, perfectly cooked crisp asparagus, salad, homemade bread, and raspberry cream flan for dessert. We met the hikers who helped Cokapella down of the mountain¢Load (Lloyd) (Pittsburg, PA) (section hiking during his vacation), Train Wreck (MD) (who we wished we could have given a ride home to Annapolis because he was ending his section hiking due to the rain), Masshole (MA) and Last Out. We chatted with short term guests out from the New England area--one couple who were into scrabble and board games, and another couple who were into hiking and photography. We had a great night¢s sleep.