Date: 2018-09-28
From: Blue Blaze Mt Success

To: US RT2
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: overcast clouds

It was just me again today. Papa Big Swig drove me in the rain to my blue blaze starting point. Another 2.4 miles I¢ll hike back up Mt Success to get on trail. Those miles will not count. Neither will the elevation gain. But trust me, my body counts it all! Extra mileage or not, I started this day with a renewed burst of energy. This always happens when I cross into a new state.  I enjoyed my blue blaze this morning. These fall colors are a sight to behold. I also followed fresh moose tracks for the entire last mile. You guessed it...NO MOOSE!  Shortly after getting back on trail I summited Mount Success at 3365ft elevation. I actually climbed it twice. Once yesterday to get to my blue blaze and again today to get to the summit. Double the fun!  My Mount Success view was cloudy, but pretty awesome! By now the rain had stopped and I watched the clouds moving across all of the mountains in my view. I could see peaks here and there, and it was pretty.  Coming down Mount Success was a nice grade in the beginning. There were many boggy areas though. One wrong step and my left boot was ankle deep in mud. It wasn¢t too long before my right boot was too. I just kept sloshing along until I came to a steep rock slab slanted down. I did my usual grab a pine branch and try to move slowly, but I had no control. In the end I bushwhacked around it. I hate doing that. Just before I reached the bottom I saw a familiar face coming towards me. It was Freight Train! I¢ve thought about him many times out here. He¢s such a good kid, and only 3 or 4 miles from Maine! He¢s got about 265 miles to go. Get it Freight Train! We talked way too long really.(but it was nice) I was starving and about a mile from a lean-to.  I hurried on down and kept my eyes open for the blue blaze. Eventually I knew I had to have gone a mile but never saw the blue blaze. One quick Guthook¢s check and realized I was 0.3 miles past it. UGH!!! With all of this rain everything is soaked in the woods. I finally found a suitable rock and used my sit-upon. It was a quick, damp, cool, and uncomfortable lunch.  There were white flying insects all over today. They were like microscopic moths. Sometimes I was cautious taking a deep breath for fear I would breathe them in. They were worse around the muddy bogs, and there were a lot of muddy bogs! The trail after lunchtime was pretty much a solid muddy bog for 3 or 4 miles. The trail was also obscure in several places. I had to figure out my direction too many times for my liking. The only cool thing I saw during those miles was a little chipmunk. He was proudly carrying a completely intact BIG white mushroom through the woods. He was struggling.  I felt like I should applaud his efforts...so I did! I had a lot of UPs today. I¢m not good at exactly calculating the amount of feet I climbed, but I know this is THE most I¢ve ever climbed in one day. I¢ve done more miles, but on easier terrain. Terrain matters.  Speaking of terrain, it did improve just as nightfall came. The sun sets so early now. I pulled out my headlamp and prepared for darkness. I was on my way up for one last view, and got it just in time! These views are just glorious!   I started down and flipped on my light. There were lots of fallen orange and brown leaves right there. There¢s a definite scent from fall leaves on the ground. I love it. Sweet nostalgia. As the last drops of light were disappearing I listened to birds saying goodnight. I heard the most unique bird call I¢ve ever heard. It sounded like a young girl was startled by a mouse or something. Woooo! Wooo! Then the forest fell silent and I could not see beyond the perimeters of my headlight. I embrace night hiking. My dad was a hunter and he hunted at night. I couldn¢t tell you how many nights I¢ve spent out in the woods. Without concern or fear I just kept on hiking. I had about 1.5 miles left to go when Papa Big Swig sent me a text. He was hiking in to meet me with a soda! Yep! My hero!  I had about a half mile left when we met. I guzzled my orange crush and lead us back down the path he came up. There was a campfire burning below. It was  drawing me down like a beacon. I jokingly yelled to the hikers below that I was coming for supper.  That¢s when I heard ¢Blue Raccoon is that you?¢ Yes, who are you? ¢It¢s Reflex!¢ Yay! I hustled on down.  She¢s hiking with Stranger, stayed NOBO, and will be in Maine tomorrow! Rock on sister! She¢s another really awesome young person I¢ve met on trail.  I gave them what water and snacks I had left. A little embarrassed I grabbed my tiny daypack and said goodbye. She laughed and took a picture! Okay, I know I¢m princess hiking!  Planning to leapfrog up for Mount Washington tomorrow. Can¢t wait! Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?