Date: 2004-09-30
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to 

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 22.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Me on Summit of Moxie Bald MountainStart: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to @ 0800 Finish: Monson, ME @ 1817Miles: 22Weather: Clear skies and cool temps.Breakfast: Chocolate CIB, Strawberry Poptarts.Lunch: 2 bagels w/ pepperoni and cheese, tortilla with Nutella, trailmix, honey roasted nuts.Dinner: 12¢ Pepperoni Pizza, 2 pkgs. Reeses Peanut Butter Sticks.Trail Conditions: Easy. Easy climb over Moxie Bald, 2 fords where I had to cross in sandals, trail followed Piscataquis River for several miles.Animals: Snake, Birds, Grouse, Squirrels, Chipmunk.People: Guy, Rooster, Momma's Boy, Dayhiker, Pie Lady. Today was the longest hike I have done since before the Whites and it was very easy and a great day to do high miles. Once again the weather was outstanding and there is a definite fall chill to the air. An Interesting Rock FormationThe day started with a climb up to Moxie Bald, which was really easy. The trail passed through some cool rock formations and under a cool overhang. I spent close to an hour sitting on the summit and vegging out on the 360-degree view of the Maine woods. Thick mist still covered the myriad of rivers and lakes in the valley below. From the top I could see exactly where I will be walking all the way to White Cap Mountain in the 100 mile. Moxie PondAfter my rest up top I stopped again at Moxie Bald Lean-to and chilled at the pond by the shelter. Finally I got into gear and focused on the hike ahead and getting to Monson before sundown. Bald Mountain Pond I took on my first legitimate fords of this entire trip today. They weren¢t anything arduous, or even dangerous. But, they did require that I take my boots off and put the Waldies on. I first crossed the West Branch of the Piscataquis River, which was only shin deep. The trail then paralleled the river for the next 6 miles, which made for gorgeous walking. I stopped for about 30 minutes and ate lunch along the rivers rocky bank. The second ford came at the East Branch of the Piscataquis River, which too was only shin deep, however, the forty degree water effectively numbed the feet in only a few seconds.After the final ford it was a straight shot into Monson. There is a huge abundance of slate in this region that composes the mountains etc. I think slate is cool particularly because it¢s breaking pattern (cleavage) is always flat. I think I should have studied Geology and not Criminal Justice. Anyways, along a road bed there was tons of slate, some of it in smooth sheets as thick as a foot and several feet long. I couldn¢t carry those, but I did find several nice small pieces that I packed out and will mail home tomorrow. ReflectionI met up with Momma¢s Boy at the road crossing to town. We weren¢t having much luck hitching, so we asked a couple of fisherman in the parking area for a ride and they helped us out. Thanks.We got dropped off at the Pie Lady¢s for the night. I¢ve heard Shaw¢s is an okay place, but the owner is a real jerk and is particularly mean and disrespectful to the Pie Lady - his only competition in town. There was no way I wanted to do business with someone like that.The Pie Lady has a real nice place. Unfortunately this is her last year running her hostel. I called up my folks and Ben and made final arrangements to meet them at Katahadin, got a pizza from Robinson¢s and now I do believe I will be going to bed.