Date: 2010-06-01
From: Upper Goose Pond Cabin

To: Kay Wood Lean-to
Miles today: 19.1

1. CPR.  Mea culpable again.  I forgot to mention Memorial Day yesterday.  I thought about it after my post. Thanks to all who have sacrificed so much that we all can do the things we enjoyAlso, the Upper Goose Pond cabin is made from American chestnut wood. There is a small stMd of chestnut trees around the cabin and last week's caretaker is a major proponent for the tree. Word is that there is some promising developments for restoring this magnificent tree2. Report. If yesterday was the treat, today was the trick. We all got up early and Jim had the coffee and pancakes going. I took the prototype plate of pancakes and had two more.  Hen I finished off the coffee. I was first out and said goodby to Jackrabbit and Almost There.  I also requested they not try to pass me on the 1/2 mi blue blaze leading back to the AT. Jackrabbitt passed me first at the Mass Turnpike. I was really blazing this am. I'll mention my hiking attire in future post. I soared by October Mtn Lean-to. About 1/4 later was a major thunder bolt and the heavens opened up to rain in another 1/4 mile. The trail was quickly turned into a swamp and I chose to retreat to the lean-to. There was a day hiker and Almost There sheltering on place.  all my external clothes were soaked and my boot patch did not hold water. I poured out about 1/2 cup of water out of each boot. It rained hard for about an hour. I was really at a dilemma. Stay the nite at the lean- to, hope the rain clears up and have a long hike Wed into town. Or try to hike on to the next shelter and spend the nite there with a short hike Wed. I finally decided on the latter. I started out on good shape co sidering everything was soaked. It started to clear up, I hiked over a couple of loco roads and saw steam rising off the pavement. Hen back into the woods and the rain started again. The trail were litttle ponds. The springs were flowing strong, even in places where no springs were marked. Since my boots were already soaked, I quit trying to stay out of the puddles and just hiked thru the middle of the trail, regardless of howMuch waer was in the trail. I passed another road and stopped to try to get my bearings. A car stopped (Bronze Medal license, thank you for your service) and the driver helped identify the road and offered to drive me to town. I declined be ause I was enjoying hiking in the rain so much. I had a little less than 4 mi to the next shelter and was pretty much committed to hiking that far. It would be much better than trying to put up a tent in the rain. The wx would rain one moment then try to clear up. Even when it wasn't raining the wind would blow all the water off the trees. There was one livhting strike realative close  myind sometimes gets stuck on a couple of songs and now it was "Close to Thee".  I was slugging it out when I came upon one of the joys of hiking the AT - Trail Magic. There on the side of the trail was a cooler full of water, juice and snacks with a signfor thru-hikers to help yourself. Now I was certain to be able to make it to the shelter. Just before reaching the shelter, Almost There caught up with me. Here was a father-son section hiker couple already bedded down. ALmost There and I watered up,  fixed dinner and now getting ready for bed.Life is Great