Date: 2007-07-30
From: Mt Wilcox South Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: light rain

Do the CanoeLast night was definitely top 5 worst nights of sleep on the trail. The sketers were biting through the netting so I had to stay wrapped in my sleeping bag, which made me drip sweat. It was very unpleasant and I contemplated hiking out at 3am. Instead I suffered until 7 and got up and packed up. I ate pop tarts for breakfast and drank some yerba mate and was walking by 8. My pack felt so much lighter without those beers in it, I cruised the first 2 miles to the north shelter. Shortly after the shelter trail I found moose tracks in the mud on the trail! I didn't think moose came this far south! They looked like deer tracks, but 4 times the size. They were almost as long as my 1L nalgene bottle! I took some pics and continued down the trail, through the tyringham valley, and back into the mountains. The next 5 miles went smoothly, but I could tell I hadn't gotten much sleep. I was dragging, and was relieved to see the sign for upper goose pond cabin. I walked the .5 down the side trail to the cabin and met Peggy the caretaker. There were about 10 other hikers there, all of whom I had only met briefly before. I checked out the bunk scene upstairs and decided to hammock. I don't know what I was thinking, there were cushy foam mattresses on the bunks, but I knew I'd sleep like a baby in the hammock. Plus I didn't feel like listening to old men fart, burp, snore, and toss and turn all night. I went and set up camp then went for a swim in the pond. The water was very clear and a perfect temperature. After swimming, I asked Peggy if I could take the canoe out. She said of course, so I signed the waiver and picked out an oar. I grabbed the oldest, most beat up wooden one, because I knew many thru hikers before me have used the same paddle to navigate the pond. I asked the other hikers if they wanted to use the canoe and they all replied no. Score! I could stay out for sunset, nearly 2 hours! I went down to the small dock, jumped in the old metal grumman, and took off gliding across the water. It only took me a min to get the hang of paddling and I felt like a pro. I followed the north side of the pond all the way to the opposite end, where there was a thick marsh. I followed the channels into the marsh, paddling backwards so I could get out easily. I scared up a great blue heron and a funny looking duck that I had never seen before. I let the canoe drift into some ! pond lillies where it stayed put. I sat there and watched the sun start to set. A light fog rose off the still water that was as smooth as glass. There were cattails and all kinds of colorful flowers lining the water in the marsh. Eventualy I paddled back along the south side and went to the island. I parked the canoe on a stone and sat on the rocks watching the purple and orange sunset mirrored off the water. When the color show was over, I paddled back to the dock and flawlessley pulled into the proper spot. I couldn't think of a better way to unwind after a day of hiking! I returned the oar and life jacket then went back to my camp to cook dinner. The skeeters were swarming, but by now I can tune them out. At least when I'm not trying to sleep. I ate a thai noodle lipton and some hummus then jumped into my bug free oasis, aka the hammock.Today's StatsStarting Point:Mt. Wilcox South Shelter Ending Point:Upper Goose Pond CabinMileage:15.8Elevation Gain:3030ftElevation Loss:3230ftHiking Time:9:23Weather:80's humidPain Factor:3 (right quad tight)