Date: 2007-09-29
From: Chairback Gap Lean-to

To: Sidney Tappan Campsite
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: overcast clouds

September 29, Are We There Yet?Today was one of those days that should have swept me off of my feet. I should have been floating down the trail rejoicing in the flatness and the beautiful colors of the leaves. And I tried to do that as much as I could but I was preoccupied for most of the day. Each night, Melk, Ronin and I decide what time we'll leave in the morning and lately it seems each morning we leave 30-45 minutes later than that time. Today I was so frustrated that all day I've been weighing the option of hiking on by myself. With less than a week left on the trail, it seems silly but at the same time I have reasons for trying to finish when I do and I get concerned that we won't make the miles or get to enjoy the views when we leave late....We left camp at 8:45 a.m. and climbed up Chairback Mtn. We descended sharply at first and then there was a nice, gradual descent to the west branch of the Pleasant River.When we got to the river, there was a large group of college students fording so we waited our turn. There was a parking lot nearby and there were several people out for a day hike. It was crazy! The instructor for the class had just lectured the group about the proper way to ford when he bit it - right into the shin-deep water. A bit funny, I'm embarrassed to say. We all crossed without incident and took a break on the other side.After that began the dreamy ascent of Gulf Hagas Mtn. It was five miles of bliss as far as terrain goes. The most gradual climb I've seen yet on the trail. We went through trail covered in leaves and trail covered in pine needles. We crossed several streams and even had lunch at the stream. It was awesome.But I was in a lot of pain. The pads of my feet and toes apparently became pretty irritated the past two days walking in wet shoes and now they are swollen and feel like they are burnt. Each step I took hurt more and more as the day went by.I made it to the top of Gulf Hagas Mtn. at 4 p.m. and to the campsite at 4:30 p.m. I ate dinner early and got in my tent early too - it's wicked cold and windy outside tonight. I hope I stay warm tonight!- Sound of the wind blowing everything around.Post Trail Thoughts:This day just started off bad. Ronin and I fought even before we left the shelter area. All of the tension had finally come out. The next couple of miles were almost silent as the three of us hiked together. At that point, I really wanted to get to Katahdin and be done worrying about it.I remember how my feet hurt from the wetness and, luckily, it was something I had never experienced along the trail before. It did, however, add to my grumpiness about the overall situation.One thing that did cheer me up that day, though, was Gulf Hagas Mountain. There were beautiful stairs going up the mountain and once I got to the top, I had decided it was a glorious place. It reminded me a lot of many dreams I'd had in the past - a lovely place, especially with the fall colors.Shortly after that, I got to camp where we met Step Small and Cheeks, and spent a frigid night on top of the mountain with them. Melk and Ronin stayed off along the trail and I knew that I needed to prepare for going ahead without them the next day if need be. That night was in the thirties and I remember having to get up in the middle of the night to take care of some things...nothing like getting out of bed right into the frozen night. Just nothing like it!