Date: 2006-08-13
From: West Carry Pond lean-To

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Mountain Goat and I were joined later by several more NOBO thru hikers, all known to each other. First came Master Plan with a very light pack containing just a sleeping bag and food ¢ he was putting in very big miles. Then came Billy Goat and Nifty ¢ a nurse ¢ all more or less hiking together. Nifty was a barrel of laughs, with constant recollections and stories that she had collected over the course of her 2000-mile hike. Although they had missed the burgers at least they had the sodas as a consolation. We kept the fire going until late. I like it when the smoke blows into the shelter, makes everything smell of wood smoke and the outdoors. Power Stroke left to make some more miles and to camp out on the trail.   A quiet night with a starry sky, and a remarkable amount of light from a fading full moon. I was up and out early, with Mountain Goat stirring, and all else abed. Started off in the cool of the morning with my rain jacket on, along the shore of West Carry Pond. As soon as the sun rose, I was able to take the rain jacket off and hike on in my shirtsleeves for the rest of what turned out to be a great day to hike. Low 70¢s I would say, with white clouds and blue skies.   The trail here is the path traveled by Benedict Arnold during his ill fated attack on Quebec ¢ getting bogged down in the marshes and swamps ¢as many a hiker has¢ to quote the Companion. The trail is actually very nice with only the occasional muddy or rocky spots and it was possible to make good time ¢ even for me! I crossed over Arnold Swamp on a series of log plank walkways. Some of these log planks are in fact floating, and if you don¢t know that the plank is free floating you can easily take a boot full, or more, of water, as Mountain Goat told me he did, when we met at East Carry Pond. I used my hiking poles to test each plank before trusting my weight on it ¢ yet another reason to use hiking poles!   East Carry Pond was beautiful this morning. Mountain Goat had availed himself of a small sandy beach to take a swim ¢ didn¢t dry off ¢ just put his hiking gear back on over his wet underwear ¢ undeterred by the leeches. He even pointed out to me, one large leech swimming close to the shore. I had seen medical leeches before ¢ small 1-1.5 inch long black threads, but this thing was 4-5 inches long and swimming powerfully through the water like a little black snake.   On the shore I also found a note left by NEFFA dated 8/12 bearing greetings to various friends and a request that it be placed in the register at Pierce Pond, where I subsequently placed it.   Just north of the pond I stopped for my midmorning break, and was surprised to get a good cell signal ¢ even though no mountains or antennae were in sight. As I chatted on the phone with KT, Nifty, Billy Goat, and Master Plan all hiked by. They all looked pretty miffed to see me on the cell phone and I recalled a conversation they had all had last night in the shelter as I was dozing off to sleep about their lack of appreciation for all cell phone users on the AT. I believe that one of them said that if you use a cell phone it is as if you are taking a dump at that spot on the trail.      I wonder a little at the validity of that comparison, but I do acknowledge that, although cell users have a right to use their phones, they should do so in a way that respects the rights of others to as pristine an enjoyment of the trail as possible. I certainly did not intend to invade their space with my cell conversation, but I was in fact on the trail when they marched by, so I was using a public space. I guess that I was as embarrassed as if they had found me taking a dump at that very spot!    I arrived here early in the afternoon. This shelter does face the pond which is very nice, but the wind blows in off the water pretty strong. Since the wind is coming from the SW I have had to abandon my usual spot near the north wall and am now set up near the south wall ¢ with the opening of my sleeping bag against the wall.      About 3PM, Kay, a professional photographer happened by. I heard a noise outside and stepped out of the shelter to find myself trapped by her lens ¢ she thought that I was a moose! That makes two women who have mistaken me for a moose this trip ¢ I need to change my cologne. Key is from Texas, but is thinking of moving here to live because she likes the area so much.   Just now I have been joined by ESP, Hinds Feet, and Tinkerbell ¢ of whom much was said by others of his tendency to pink blaze. They tell me that they are with a total of seven people in their group, who are staying here tonight and are planning on a big breakfast at Harrison¢s Camp at 7:30AM. I am torn with indecision. Should I start early as is my usual custom, or should I stay and partake of the famous 12 pancake breakfast? Decisions, decisions! Thought for Today ¢Conflicts arise because of the clash of Legitimate Rights of People.