Date: 2007-09-22
From: Antlers Camp - 2122.2

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2135.8
Miles today: 13.6

Day 171 ¢ 9/22/07Start: Antlers Camp - 2122.2End: Wadleigh Stream Lean-to ¢ 2135.8Day Miles: 13.6We have cell service out here in the middle of ¢The Wilderness¢ standing on the edge of the lake. I called my wife and my brother trying to finalize plans. There was a slight chance my brother might try to summit with me if he got out of the back country out in the Yellowstone on time. I got his voicemail which tells me he is still in the woods working as a guide. Shadow and Numbtoe are able contact friends and family to slide their summit date back so the pressure is off of them to race to the finish. I need to see clients in Boston and want to visit 2 of my daughters that are both in New York but need to see them on the weekend. I start doing the math and realize I do not want to spend a whole week in a hotel in Boston so I need to slow down some as well. My wife is booking me a flight home for a week from Wednesday. We talk about heading for Rainbow Springs Lean-to but decide to see how the day develops. There is a chance to go to Whitehouse Landing, a private camp, for a 12 pound hamburger and that seems to be where we are headed.We head down the side trail about a mile or so to a landing where you blow an air horn and the camp sends a boat over for you. Sure enough, a few minutes after we blow the horn ONCE, just ONCE and not twice, we get picked up by motor boat and transported across the lake.Here we find Philmont, Brisk, and Side-Show who have been hanging out for awhile. They had camped further up the trail and across the lake from us last night. The burgers were great but taking the last bite I shattered a front crown in a dozen pieces. This was the second tooth in less than a month. Dental work is going to cost more than the hike when I get back. Now I need to get to my friend the dentist in the Boston area before I see clients since I now look homeless and toothless. Back on the trail the five of us wind up at trail magic put on by finished thru-hiker Wolf-Tapi on the shore of Lake Nahmakanta. It turns into a long lazy afternoon of hanging out and I feel the need to hike. It is almost dark and I decide to head out to the next lean-to. Shadow tells me that they are going to go there as well. I have no doubt since they are famous for hiking late into the night.I almost walk past the shelter in the dark. I thought it would be on my right and I just happened to catch the glow of the roof in the moonlight off to my left. I did not see the sign until morning which was at knee height.As I came around the corner of the shelter I spooked up a huge moose that was just standing in front of the shelter. He went crashing off through the brush. I dropped my pack and gathered firewood and started a huge fire just to light the ¢porch light¢ for Numbtoe and Shadow so they could find the shelter. I have hiked at night quite a bit lately and it is nice to have a fire going at a shelter as you approach. You can often see it or least smell it for about a 12 mile and it makes that last stretch fly by. I always try to build a fire if I know someone else is coming in behind me.Before I even start to get out my food the mice are out so I scout for tent spots and water. Numbtoe and Shadow show up and we decide to setup tents. After dinner we hang out at the fire for awhile and then turn in.