Date: 2006-07-15
From: Gull Pond Lodge

To: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 18.7

No one slept well last night. OUr room was so freakin' hot. So we all woke up for breakfast which Bob had ready at 5:30am. Restless was up before breakfast was ready, but 2 Shoes and I waited till the last minute to crawl out of bed. I was still stuffed from yesterday's chow fest but still managed to shovel the goods in.After we finished breakfast and were packed up, Bob drove us back to the trail. There, we siad thank you and started our hike for the day.The first climb was Saddleback Mt. whiched turned out to be a pretty easy climb. We were above treeline up there but since it was so humid we had no view at all, which is a shame. Supposedly, it was one of the better views in Maine that we missed out on. So we continued on the ridgeline to "The Horn" and then next up Saddleback Junior Mt. Again, not too tough.I thought today was going to be a bad day for me because on my way up to Saddleback I stepped in a mud hole that was 2 feet deep, yet it was so thick with mud that on the surface it looked like normal, solid ground. On top of that it was suppose to be 90 degrees with high humidity. Put it all together with a lot of climbing and you would normally have a bad day. But, a cloud covered the sun, the humidity was lower than anticipated, the climbing wasn't bad, and, even better, my sock somehow stayed dry after I fell in the pit.So after lunch at a shleter, we all went downhill and then up Lone Mt. for our final climb. Most of the day we all hiked alone and at this time I was in the back because I took a longer lunch break. So I started up Lone Mt. when out of the corner of my eye I notice a large mass of something rustling in the woods not far from me. I look up - it was a moose!I freaked out. In the few first seconds of mindless thoughts racing my energized mind, I couldn't decide on whether to get my camera out, put my poles down, or get the heck out of there because this sucker was enormous and only 15 feet from me. Finally, I settled down and took some cool pictures. Mom will finally be satisfied that I saw a moose. I was able to get pretty close to it too, and it didn't seem to mind, probably because it knew it could kill me. I only got scared once, when the moose started walking right at me. I was like, ok, since when to wild animals walk towards humans? They only run away from them or run at them and kill them. Whatever. Needless to say, I moved.So I finished up my moose encounter with more pictures and then I started hiking again. The last bit of Lone Mt. was pretty steep. Eventually I made it to the shelter and just in time to miss the rain.There, I ate, then rested while listening to some praise and worship. I tell ya, I can't get enough of David Crowder Band's "All I Can Say". The first lines are, "Lord, I'm tired, so tired from walking. And Lord I'm so alone." I am tired of walking, sick of walking more like. And I do feel like I should be somewhere else spiritually and that God is a bit distant. My physical tiredness seems to hinder my walk a bit. Since I'm always tired I feel I can't focus on my studies, or pray full out during the day. I'm just beat down. I hope God sees my heart and knows I'm trying. I want to further His Kingdom and I want His blessing.God, bless me tomorrow in some new and fresh way, if it be your will. Tomorrow, town day.raisin brand, fruit loops, OJ, waffles x3---tuna, creamy peanutbutter, tomato basil, chedder cheese---spanish rice x2, chicken