Date: 2006-06-26
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

June 26, Upper Goose Pond CabinWoke up early to the sound of rain. It really never did quit. It means nothing got dry. Then again nothing will be dry all day. So, breakfast and put on wet clothes. At least I heated my socks on top of the pot before I put them on. And off I went. The rain jacket warms me up and dries my clothes. Boy, am I glad I didn't do the last two miles to the North shelter. It's a climb and I'm an old lady feeling very tired. Most of the morning is going down hill. The day is dreary and misting. The forest almost feels oppressive. Then the trail opens up onto a field. I'm almost glad to see the cows. But then the trail veers off and I'm walking on a not as pretty boardwalk over swamp. Then through fields. I spot some new flowers. Finally see one of the lilies blooming. And a pink-purple flower that looks like a daddy long leg spider, called Ragged Robin, carnation family. Very intriguing. Wild roses and a shrub that has flowers that stink. Some white flowers that remind me of sparklers. Explosive. White Baneberry they are. Orange Hawkweed, yellow inside changing to dark orange. Little Forget-me-nots. Can you tell I have my hands on a flower book? Fungi galore with all the rain. It was a nice reminder to see Indian-Pipe. A lunch break at the base of Baldy Mtn. This will be my biggest climb today. Almost thousand foot elevation change in one mile. At least it bumps in two separate hills. Of course I'm not sure if that makes it easier, but it helps mentally. The rain is measly. It doesn't keep the mosquitoes away but enough to wash off the repellant. It's a fight to not stop and scratch. But if I do, the mosquitoes swarm. So I keep moving. Finally the boys come up from behind. SherpaChef tells me I get up too early. I tell him it's the only way an old lady like me can make miles. Barefoot is next, no shirt dancing in the rain. I tell them both to have a good hike and they are gone. Later comes Snickers and PondWater. I'm perplexed now. Before the boys showed up, I'd noticed that there is a set of boot prints before me. Since it rained all night, I know these were made today. I thought Snickers and PondWater had gotten a head start on SherpaChef and Barefoot. Now I'm wondering who's ahead. I will never know. But it is intriguing.   At Goose Pond Road, Snickers and PondWater are taking a break. I join them for awhile. We whine about the mosquitoes. I look at the topo and realize I have less then three miles to the cabin, so I say my farewells. There is a little hill before getting to the pond. The rain has let up but everything is messy. The stepping stones are under water. The trail is mud. I'm having to struggle with my attitude between the mud, the mosquitoes and my left foot. I can feel a hot spot. I finally get to the cabin. The caretaker is Nancy. What an interesting place. A two story cabin, no electricity. No plumbing inside. But a great view of the lake. Nancy explains the rules and situation here. I walk down to the lake and wash my socks and feet and mud off my legs. It appears I got a blister, it popped and there is grit under the blister left over. I come back here and end up cutting the skin off so I can clean the toe. It hurts.And there is more rain for tonight. For now, the cabin's only guest is me. Talking to Nancy, I find out the Friary Boys were here last night. Must have been a blast. Nancy is from Maine. She is normally a boarding school teacher. She likes the outdoors so she volunteer one week to do the care taking here and then the rest of the summer hikes different places. It's getting chilly out here on the porch. I think I'll go in and fix dinner. And Nancy has a book of flora, fauna and animals book of the New England area that she shares with me.Namaste'