Date: 2008-07-05
From: stealth campsite

To: bemis mountain lean-to
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: clear sky

As we were going to bed last night, we heard some sticks break and ascertained something large was moving through our camp. TBear looked out and saw a bull moose pretty close. It booked shortly thereafter.Up and out early again today. We were really going to try to make our goal today. Three days of falling short is a little demoralizing, though yesterday wasn't really our fault.Nice easy long climb up the first hill to the shelter we were going to stay at. We could have made it, but it didn't matter.Going down the hill, Stovie twisted his ankle or something. He was still able to hike for the moment so we kept going.Came to a "ford" and I pioneered a path across some rocks and a very small log. We were all able to cross the stream without getting wet.Climbed Moody Mountain. Very steep going up, but there weren't many of our favorite rock slabs, so we made it up pretty quick. They had drilled into the rock and attached rebar steps in a few places that would have been otherwise difficult to climb.Top wasn't marked and we weren't sure where it was. Eventually we just started going down. The downhill was much easier, and we cruised down it.Managed to rock hop another stream we would have had to ford and got to a road. After much deliberation of our final destination for today, we decided we would stick with our initial plan. This put us at half way at ten something. Took lunch anyways since we had a really long climb ahead.The climb was 2200 feet, and about half of it was very steep. The other half wasn't a walk in the park either. Interestingly, about a hundred yard section of trail was completely covered in moose poop. Started and stopped abruptly.Got to the top of Old Blue and took a siesta on some flat rocks. Nice warm day with the sun out, quite relaxing.Unfortunately we had to move on and we headed back down.Dropped a few hundred feet and ran flat across some boggy stuff for a mile or so. Came to a nice stream and filled our water bottles. A warm one today, drinking lots of water.Headed back up from the stream towards Bemis Mountain. Lots of small ups and downs before we got there. I had very little energy left at this point. Probably because of all the climbing we did today. The last few miles dragged on. Just as I was about to give up hope, we came to the shelter and I laid down for a while.I added up the climbs today, and we climbed an astounding 7200 feet. No wonder we were exhausted. I think I start to lose energy when I have climbed a mile or so. Can't believe we climbed that much.My wrist has been bothering me for the past 3 days. Minor sprain or something. Surprisingly, the pain seemed to lessen as the day went on even though I was constantly using it. Thought it may hurt until I finish the trail.Maine has been exhausting so far. In the Whites, I ate all I could stuff in my face and still lost five pounds. I had gained some weight back over my vacation, but I can tell I'm losing again. I've eaten a lot since I've been back on the trail. More than a pound of noodles each night and all that. Don't know what else I can do. Still eating as much as I can. Just not enough.Should be a little easier day tomorrow. We hope at least.