Date: 2005-08-25
From: Monson, Me

To: Long Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: broken clouds

Monson to Long Pond Lean-toWoke up to a 6am breakfast prepared at Shaws. You order by saying if you wan a 1x1, 2x2, or a 3x3, meaning 1, 2 or 3 of everything - eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and servings of potatoes. Danger and I both went for the 2x2. Even after all this time we just aren't hiker enough for a 3x3, and Danger couldn't even get all of her's down. Then they shuttled us to the trailhead. Hiking by 7:30am. YES! A very good start from town...The beauty of the trail today was simply amazing. First we went by several serene ponds, just perfectly quintessential Maine. Then, around lunchtime, we got to a stunning 60' water fall. The rock over which it tumbled to a pool far below was slate, which broke at hard angles and really lent a new dimension to the falls which we hadn't seen to date on the trail. We ate lunch #1 there and really enjoyed the view of the falls.After Little Wilson Falls we came to Big Wilson Stream, yet another ford. We have done several of these to date. most of which we have been able o rock hop across without dipping so much as a toe in, but a few of which we have actually had to remove our shoes. This one was definitely going to our feet wet. No problem for Danger, who has a pair of camp shoes perfect for the task, but I stubbornly carried nothing ("too much extra weight!") To date I had simply gone across barefoot and had no problems, so once again I removed my shoes and started across with shoes in one hand and my remaining unbroken pole in the other (I had broken the other pole a few days previous in a fall)! I know this was going to be a tougher ford as the rocks were super slick and tended to roll under foot, but I stubbornly (notice a pattern with this stubborn thing?) continued. About 10 feet out and kneed deep a rock shifted under my foot. I tried to move the weight to my other foot and the one pole, but my other foot slipped on a slick rock and I jammed my big toe against a large boulder. Ouch! My balance was off, I was moving my feet around wildly to find good purchase but I just kept slipping off rocks and banging my toe or heel. Finally, the inevitable happened, THUNK! I was in the water. I stood up, slipped again, down again. Both shoes in my hands were wet, I was wet, my pack was 1/2 submerged. I admitted defeat and slunk back to the shore from whence I came. Danger heroically tried not to laugh and even managed a few sympathetic sounds even though I could see the mirth in her eyes. She made it across without incident as did I once I put my trail runners on my feet. Danger couldn't resist one last dig - "So, don't you wish you were carrying a pair of camp shoes now?" Some people just can't help but say I told you so.The rest of the hike was less eventful, but still very scenic with two more amazing water falls and one more ford. I really enjoyed following the river today and now we are listening to it rush by a few hundred feet away as we slowly settle in to our dry (thank goodness! The trash bag inside the stuff sac really works, even with full immersion) sleeping bag and start to snooze. Less than 100 miles left to the end...Gravity