Date: 2006-07-16
From: South of Moxie Bald Mountain, Me

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 22.1
Weather: few clouds

It took me a short while to fall asleep last night, but when I did, I slept well even though I was sweating for about an hour after I got into my tent..I woke up at 4:40 this morning and started thinking about that German coffee that Shortcut had sent me, so I went ahead and started brewing a cup and had 2 apple pies for breakfast. Thanks again for the coffee Shortcut. :-))) While I was enjoying my coffee, I heard Mrs Gorp shaking her ground sheet and in a few minutes she walked over to my tent and said she was all packed and ready to walk.It was 5:20am when she left and I was still enjoying my coffee. :-)))I got a move on and packed up and was walking 25 minutes later.I passed by the side trail to Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to without stopping, then started the climb up Moxie Bald.For some reason, whenever someone talked to me about Moxie Bald, I could never remember which mountain it was or what it looked like, but when I got near the summit I remembered it well.It had a fire on it just before I walked through in '02 and was still smoldering the day I walked over it back then.It's recovering nicely and is a very beautiful mountain...I love the views and the smell of the fir trees on the way up.When I got to the summit, there was fog laying in the valleys below and it was clear on the summit. That's always one of my favorite things to see.It was nice a breezy on top, but I quickly lost the breeze as I descended.I stopped by the spring not far from the top, but it didn't look too good and wasn't flowing, so I walked on.I came up to a nice stream just as I was getting near the bottom of Moxie Bald Mountain and filled my water bottle and tanked up. It was a very humid day and I was soaked early today.I stopped at Moxie Bald Lean-to and signed the register. Mrs Gorp signed in 50 minutes ahead of me.I guess I stopped to much to take photos up on the mountain. :-)))I came to a stream that I had to ford and like always, I just walked right in with my shoes on.That's one great reason to wear trail runners because they dry out so fast.I was surprised when I came around a bend at 9:15am and saw Mrs Gorp up ahead walking. I didn't think I'd see her today until I got to Monson.When I passed by her, she admitted that she lied in the register when she said she was at the lean-to at 7am. I can't believe anyone would could do that...except maybe Lieshoe. :-)))I did a double ford at an area where two streams converge into one.I saw Mrs Gorp just getting to the first ford when I was walking away from the second one.I passed by the side trail to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to and stopped at the spring just north of the lean-to.I got water and ate a few snacks. I had been there for 30 minutes thinking Mrs Gorp would come by.Just before I left, a sobo by the name of North Wind came down from the lean-to to pump some water.We talked for a little bit. I had met her in the 100 Mile Wilderness.She was taking an easy day because of blisters.It's a beautiful area to walk...about 5 1/2 miles along the West Branch of the Piscataquis River.There's lots of whitewater and boulders in the river to look at along the way.Today was a little different though. I was getting tired from the heat and humidity and the bugs were fierce. Gnats had been dive bombing my eyes so I finally put on my headnet. The mosquitos wanted a piece of me too.The deer flies were buzzing me most of the day. I would flatten a couple just to have a couple more start buzzing me in less than a minute.I saw Marta walking south with two other sobos. She had a big bruise on her lip from a face plant she did in the Barren Mountains.I forded the fourth river of the day not long after they passed by.I kept walking and finally got to the Monson trailhead. I had a key to Mrs Gorp's car, so I stuck my stuff in the back and left the doors open to let the heat out...it was hot!!I went across the road and found some shade to sit in, but after a while, the bugs chased me away.I sat in her car and I just started to fall asleep when I heard her coming.I have always said that walking in the summer is my least favorite season to walk in. I had been thinking about not walking anymore for a while.Mrs Gorp didn't want me to leave, but I didn't want to walk the higher mileage in the intense heat and fight the biting bugs all day.I went to bed thinking that I was done walking for now.