Date: 2015-09-28
From: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

To: East Branch Lean-to 
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Maine has extremely feisty red squirrels, and they let hikers know loud and clear that they do not like us in their territory. They run around, loudly chatter at us, and make such a ruckus in the trees above our heads that things fall out of the trees as if the squirrels are throwing things at us.This morning the red squirrels were particularly active. First there was a loud chattering squirrel just behind my tent. Then, as I was packing up, I noticed a squirrel high up in a very tall evergreen tree. The squirrel was thrashing about and chattering like crazy. At times the squirrel slid way out on a thin branch and almost fell out of the tree, only to dive back in close to the tree trunk for more chattering and thrashing - with debris from the tree flying out from all directions. I watched the squirrel and laughed for several minutes, waiting for it to fall completely out of the tree, as I finished packing.The AT passed close to the shelter, which thankfully was now empty and quiet. I stopped to read a sign on a wooden post and noticed two red squirrels getting busy on the sign post right in front of me. It reminded me that my 22nd wedding anniversary was coming up - October 2nd. I was looking forward to meeting my husband in Vermont once I finish with Maine, and celebrating our anniversary. Today was a tough day with several long steady climbs. First there was Gulf Hagas Mountain at 2700 feet. Then there was West Peak and Hay Mountain at 3178 feet and 3244 feet, respectively. Finally there was the long climb up White Cap Mountain. At 3650 feet, the summit was above treeline.I was growing concerned about the weather and I wanted an updated report. There is no wifi in the 100 mile wilderness, but cell coverage can usually be found at the mountain tops. I previously sent my husband a text requesting a 10 day weather report. I was looking forward to checking for his text.Unfortunately, shortly after I reached the summit of White Cap, my phone quit working. The screen just went black. Although it was a beautiful day, at the summit the wind was blowing like crazy and the temperature was dropping. I tucked myself into the limited ground cover to get out of the wind and tried to get my phone to work. I was not successful. I was worried about getting safely off the summit before dark, so I moved on without a weather report.I took a short break at the Logan Brook Lean-to, where I ran into Moxie. She and I hiked together a few more miles to the East Branch Lean-to, talking non-stop which made the miles pass quickly.When we arrived at the shelter there was already a nice fire in the fire pit. Two men section hiking were settled into the entire shelter and had started the fire. They were flown into the middle of the 100 mile wilderness by sea plane. One of the men had thru hiked the AT in 1973. The other man was into snowmobiling and dehydrating food. I enjoyed talking with both men while I made and ate my dinner. But I was glad I stayed in my tent rather than in the shelter. Besides spreading their gear from one end of the shelter to the other, one smoked and they both snored like wild boars.The AT is calling. I am almost half way done with the 100 mile wilderness, and tomorrow I will find out whether the partiers ate my food drop.