Date: 2015-07-23
From: Moxie Bald Shelter

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

7/23/2015Treadway: 9/10Weather: Overcast and light rain in the afternoon 4/10Stats:18.98 mi8:57:292.1 mph2549 cAvg hr 93 bpm3825 ft up4389 ft downSteps: 36882Narrative:Productive day. Up at 4:00 am, on the trail at 4:50 am. First day on the trail since 7/15/2015 that I did not put tape or moleskin on my feet. Immediate uphill and was on top of Bald Mtn by 6:07 am. Great views and dramatic clouds in all directions. John, the healer I met on Abol Bridge, told me about these views. I felt a little stiff going down, but my legs loosened up later in the day. I skipped Bald Mtn Shelter and took a break in a meadow/swamp about 4.6 miles in the hike, then took another break under the power lines about 6.6 miles into the hike. Soon after that, I began the long but generally steady climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain. At the beginning of the climb, I met MacGyver, a NoBo from Atlanta who has been hankering for a California burrito for the past 5 months. He said he peaked midway and no longer has the energy to power on like he used to midway through the trail. At the top of Pleasant Pond Mtn, I ran into Butter, a SoBo from Alabama I met back at Wilson Valley lean to and then at Shaw¢s. Butter gave me two water purification tablets. After seeing Butter, I called Eric at Sterling Inn from the top of the mountain and got the low down from him about how to call for the shuttle when I got in town. The descent was not too bad, and the last 6 miles were relatively easy. When I got to the Post Office it was open and I met two young NoBo¢s outside, Superman (wearing a superman tee shirt) and Muscle Man, an odd trail name for such a skinny-looking kid. The stop at the PO was incredibly productive. Here¢s what I accomplished:1.        Got my resupply package and mailed back my old map and trail guide pages.2.        Mailed back my defective Steripen so Donna can return it to REI.3.        I also intended to mail back the camera I dropped in the ice water while icing my feet on Monday, but when I turned it on, it worked! So now I'm calling my camera Lazurus.4.        I got my AT Passport stamped.5.        I powered up my devices with the electrical outlet outside.6.        I scored a Keebler Cheddar Cheese Crackers with Real Peanut Butter and an artificially flavored Chocolate Tootsie Roll Pop from the hiker box. Eric's son, Zach, picked me up and took me to Sterling Inn and set me up with a Sawyer filter. I met Blueberry (who stopped treating his water back in North Carolina and claims to have stayed healthy), Clincher (who got his name in the Smokies while making it just in time to the privy) and Chicago (a young woman from that town). Eric took us to a store down the highway, and I bought some junk food to tide me over before the hamburger special and some ice for an ice bath for my feet (see photo). When I asked Zach to take the photo, he said ¢Why?¢ and Eric said ¢Why not?¢ Butter made it to Sterling Inn too, and we had good conversations about the trail and Joe Montana. I noticed a big tear in the seat of my pants- that must have happened on one of my many ¢no shame in butt-sliding¢ moments on the trail so far. Another good reason to pack duct tape.