Date: 2004-09-19
From: Bemis Mtn Lean-To ME

To: Little Swift River Pond ME
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: light rain

09/19/2004Gather:Wake up, cold and nippy this morning. I think my sleeping has dried out some from my body heat, guess I¢ll have to sleep it dry!!Cook, eat and head out north, always north on the trail. Cross by Maine Hwy 17, that¢s the road going into Oquossoc ME, we keep pushing, we think about going into town to dry our gear, but it¢s 11 miles and our luck would have it, there would be no Laundromat there, so we keep pushing.Pass by Moxie Pond, hear a loud noise and see a moose and her calf running off, I have the utmost respect for those fellows since the run in with the one at Osgood back in the Whites. Fact is I had rather deal with bears than moose any time.We finally make it to Little Swift River Pond Campsite, we call it a day here. Still some daylight left. We build a fire, rig up some poles and try to dry our sleeping bags some more.I can hear moose off in the distance, hope they stay there, those are ornery mean things. They scare the hell out of me.I set up my tarp, cook, and eat. Put on my rain gear again and crawl in the damp sleeping bag. It¢s not far to Rangeley, maybe I can get everything cleaned up and dried out there.Bemis Mountain Lean-To ¢ to ¢ Little Swift River Pond ¢ 12.9 miles09/19/2004SlimerI¢m in Stratton Maine at the White Wolf Inn. Looks like a pretty day today, I go settle up with the Inn Keeper. Go over to the hardware/grocery store to say goodbye and buy a few things. Set around and talk a while, everyone wishes me luck.Catch a ride back to the trail head and head into the green, heading north towards Katahdin.Pass by Stratton Brook Pond Road, go across Stratton Brook 1,230 ft. Pass by Cranberry Stream Campsite 1,350 ft, keep pushing.Come to Bigelow Range Trail, meet two ladies, stop and talk a while. One of them hiked the A/T in 1999, and has hiked the Pacific trail. She¢s knows Nimble Will Nomad very well, Nimble Will Nomad is a retired Doctor, has written several books, good ones too.I read part of one I found in a shelter down the trail. Dad has communicated with him via e-mail. Nimble Will has hiked almost all the trails, he has a nice website.Push on, pass by Horns Pond. Come to Horns Pond Lean-To 3,160 ft. This lean-To has a care taker, her name is Alice, very nice lady indeed.Alice the care taker lives in a small tent beside the Lean-To, she is employed by the MATC (Maine Appalachian Trail Club) Alice lives in the tent, she has to back pack all her food in. I set and talk to her a while. She tells me she has a 4 year college degree in forestry. She loves her job out here. Alice said there¢s a huge long waiting for the care takers jobs here in Maine. Alice lives in the tent by herself, but she looks like she could hold her own in any kind of situation. Gotta be a special person, and tough to work out here.¢Beppe¢ ¢Podini¢(girl) ¢Poky¢ are here tonight. It¢s getting cold, real cold! The wind is blowing off the pond. Alice said it¢s supposed to get down around 18 degrees up here tonight.I cook, eat and set up, go to bed thinking about Gather ¢¦¢¦¢¦.Stratton Maine ¢ to ¢ Horns Pond Lean-To ¢ 11.4 miles