Date: 2021-06-20
From: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to (mile 48.3)

To: Carl Newhall Lean-to (mile 78.6)
Miles today: 30.3
Weather: clear sky

This morning before leaving the shelter I christened Henry Moose Juice after his close encounter yesterday. He liked it. The shelter is by Potaywadjo Spring, an artesian spring that bubbles vertically from the ground and is crystal clear. The water was cold and delicious.Got an early start, aiming for 30 miles today to set up two shorter days into Monson over the Chairback Range. Didn't come out here to rush through Maine, but you gotta do what you gotta do when food is low.Cruised eight miles over mostly easy trail to Jo Mary Rd, one of two semi-public dirt roads in the Wilderness. Kept up the pace to Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to which has gorgeous cascades. And also a leech-filled swimming hole, one of the few I've passed up.Caught up with Johnny Appleseed, who I last saw on Katahdin. He's hiking in sandals to strengthen his feet for barefoot hiking eventually, and his feet aren't liking it. We chatted awhile. His name comes from trying his hand at homesteading on land in Nevada and North Carolina. He studied agriculture and has worked for years on farms, landscaping, permaculture and the like.By 11:30 I reached Crawford Pond, almost 15 miles in. It has an excellent beach which I took full advantage of to swim in the clear, cool water before lunching.Passed a northbounder named Braveheart getting towards the end of his last section to finish the trail. He tried to thruhike 5 years ago but lost 65 pounds despite eating lots of olive oil and honey, so he switched to sectioning. It looked like he could spare the weight, but losing it so quickly could be concerning, especially if too much of it were upper body muscle loss. He was, in any case, happy with finally nearing Katahdin.Met a couple when I took a break at East Branch Lean-to who are accompanying a SOBO friend through the Wilderness. Just then another SOBO, a young woman, showed up chatty and frazzled that her food drop hadn't appeared. She asked if she could have the food back that she had given the couple. Then the couple, contemplating a four mile climb to the next shelter, laid down for a nap.For the second day in a row I found fishing line strung along the trail, this time with a hook and sinker. I gathered it all up to pack out. Hikers have been getting tangled in it. Sorry there will be no "Trail Provides" moment for the aspiring angler who hikes along next. Someone needs to watch their gear more carefully.I continued climbing up to Logan Brook Lean-to to find a SOBO named Zach, the friend of the couple at the last shelter, and his girlfriend Stitches who is also joining him for the Wilderness. Also a young bearded guy I mistook for a youth group chaperone because his shirt reads "Trip Leader". An older guy and a younger woman trudged in soon after. The guy had a fishing pole sticking out of his pack, probably my culprit. His name is Trout, and he's caught and cooked fish each day in the Wilderness, often sharing with other hikers. Johnny and I pushed on through the last seven miles to cross the White Cap range. We were greeted by a 1300 foot climb that contained hundreds of boulder steps. I thought of that trail crew placing just ten or so steps. What incredible amount of effort went into this? The climb was tougher than anything since Katahdin, especially after already hiking 23 miles. We got a clear view of Katahdin near the top. What is that, like six or seven views since Abol Bridge? This is probably the last. The weather was pleasant, not too hot or humid and an occasional breeze, but not enough to staunch the sweat.The last five miles were up and down over Hay, West Peak, and Gulf Hagas mountains. It was almost more than I could take after this long of a day. I finally reached the Carl Newhall shelter after 8, a 13.5 hour hiking day. There was a fun crew here of Gambit, a Freeport, Maine native out for his first section, two girls Jinx and Onward, and Kevin who I met coming down Katahdin. They all seem in great spirits. Hopefully I see more of them after Monson. Johnny staggered in as darkness fell, his feet howling. Time to rest up from this marathon day.