Date: 2018-07-05
From: Cranberry Stream Campsite

To: East Carry Pond
Miles today: 25.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a good day. Hot but good. I woke up around 5 and got out at 6 ready to tackle some of the last tall mountains between here and Katahdin. I'm sure I'll regret saying that. I ascended the Bigelow's! The first knoll I hit had a great view of the various peaks as well as Sugarloaf across the way. It wasn't an easy climb but it was fun and I was glad to be up high in elevation. Another scorcher!I got up to the main peak and made a phone call, ate a snack and drank as much water as I could. I'm not kidding when I say I can't drink enough. At Avery Peak (named after Myron Avery who was a lawyer and essentially formed the AT with Benton Mackaye) I took in the views then went back down hill. I honestly would have rather kept climbing or walking a ridge to avoid the heat below but it was inevitable. I began the climb to little bigelow peak (seems like an oxymoron) and guess who I met! Hungry Cat! He was feeling the pain of the heat too. We chatted for a few minutes. I let him know I've been fangirling over his journal for a while and that my mom reads it. I did my best to not be creepy, although, let's be honest--- it's pretty creepy. We parted ways and I hiked down to the shelter for lunch where I sat and ate alone, again, guzzling water.After lunch the terrain got a whole lot more forgiving. Still rocks, roots and plenty of mud but bearable. Miles went by a bit quicker but the sweat dripping on every part of my body moved quicker too. Hungry Cat had had his mosquito net over his head and after lunch I did the same. I swear I wasn't just trying to be as cool as him. Seeing him do it though did make it cool. The mosquitoes were bad. I had even considered picking up one of the large frogs I see on trail every 10 minutes and placing it on my pack. That way they could chill, get a free ride and eat a ton of bugs for lunch. Haven't done it yet but I am beginning to highly consider it.At the next Shelter I ran into Hungry Cat again as he had passed me during lunch. Honestly he's the only northbounder I've seen all day and the only one in a few days aside from Two Clicks. We chatted about our plans for Monson coming up then I pressed on. I hiked another 3.7 before it hit 5 o'clock. Kind of my unwritten stopping time. I just like to be in camp and chill. I found a stealth spot as I'd hoped to right next to the pond. A massive pond at that! I set up shop then grabbed my stuff to go swimming. It was THE BEST beach area. Soft sand for 20 feet out and nice refreshing water to cool me off, clean my legs and get the gross, sweaty feeling off me. The breeze off the lake dried my clothes too! It was funny because as I was nearing this lake with plans to stealth, I had asked a few southbounders if they had seen any sites. All of them said no but I was sure I'd find one. It's ok, they're just starting so I'll give them a break. Honestly, props to them for starting up here. It's not easy!Hungry Cat passed by as I was getting out and he let me take a picture with him as a souvenir for myself and to send to my mom haha. Hes a cool guy but he pressed on another 6 or so miles to the next Shelter so that he would be in a good position for town stuff. I think we'll see each other again! The evening passed quick and I was ready for tomorrow when the heat quit even if that meant rain.