Date: 2013-09-07
From: Campsite near East Flagstaff Rd, ME

To: Pleasant Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 26.1

Interesting Facts: The 5 steepest half mile climbs on the Appalachian Trail are all in the White Mountain National Forest. Of the 5 steepest miles on the trail, 4 of them are in the WMNF, the third steepest mile is on the ascent to Mt Katahdin summit.Woke up at 5:45 so we could get a early start. There is a canoe ferry across the Kennebec River because it is too dangerous to ford. Someone died in 1987 trying. The ferry is on a strict schedule from 9 to 11 and then 2 to 4. We would have to hightail it up the trail to make it. The trail magic guys were up cooking egg sandwiches and making coffee. They had oj and cereal with milk! Shout out to one of the guys, FIG, who has hiked the AT 3 times and plans to do it again in 2015. He loves the culture of the trail. He's also hiked the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT). He vouches for the fact that they are easier but also beautiful. Just wanted to let FIG know that the part of the trail he actually maintains was perfect. We loved it. No problems. Really all of the Maine trails have been really fantastically maintained given the conditions and the remoteness of this wilderness paradise. Since we were 20 miles from the ferry we had a big day ahead of us to make it. Sherpa slacked our packs to 3.5 miles before the ferry. We got to the bags around 2pm. We had no more than 2 hours to hike 3.5 miles. We weren't sure how rough the trail would be (it is Maine so it wasn't easy) so we rushed it and were able to do it all in under an hour. The canoe guy, Hillbilly Dave, quickly spotted us and impressively maneuvered the canoe over the rapidly moving water. He faced upstream and paddled furiously in a diagonal line, landing exactly next to us. The girls went first. They loved the blaze painted in the bottom of the canoe. It's the third most photographed blaze, Springer and Katahdin before it. Badonkadonk had to paddle. Good thing she knew how. The guide was impressed at our canoe skills. This was easy, there was no Moli to tip the canoe and no gators to dodge. I had trouble sitting in the front and trying not to guide the canoe. Hillbilly Dave said to remember he was able to do it so no J strokes for me! I told the girls to go ahead and get some money out for a tip while I crossed. When I arrived they said the money was nowhere. PANIC! We took every single thing out of our backpacks and went through it all...tent, sleeping bags, pockets of clothes. No luck. I called Blueberry and informed him of the bad news. Now he has to go into action. We have no money and no way to get any. We do have enough food to last until Monson where Blueberry is sending us a package. Hopefully he can get the ATM card and credit cards to me. The girls were great, saying "if that's the worst that happens that's not so bad". We decided to really work to get to Monson by Monday because our food will only last until then and Blueberry got us a place at the hostel. We walked an additional 6 miles up to Pleasant Pond shelter. It started to rain but we made it before getting soaked. A man was by himself in the shelter. He turned out to be a very fascinating person to talk to. His trail name is Fast Eddie. He'd had a great day with a little dog following him all day. He even named it. It followed him to the shelter. He called his wife and asked what he should do and she said "Bring it home". He tried to call the local vet. All of a sudden two labs came bounding up...with the owner of the little dog. Later we found out we were all Jewish. He told us about the only Jewish family in Monson. They drive an hour and a half to go to Shul. The mom apparently bakes amazing challah. We are really hoping to meet them and play the tribal card. Later Beer Goddess showed up and joined us in the shelter. We were all warm and toasty. No mice showed up though lots of bugs did. They were mostly moths but that is hazardous when wearing a headlamp. A mouse does live in a Pile of shredded toilet paper in the corner of the privy. Cub thought it was cute. It entertained her while using the privy which she detests.