Date: 2004-08-08
From: West Branch of the Pleasant River, Maine

To: Cloud Pond Lean-to, Maine
Miles today: 11.3

11.3 miles todayTenting on the point at Cloud Pond Lean-to, MaineThere was alot of rain last night. I woke up at 5:40 and it was still raining. I went down to the stream that was about 15 feet from my tent and got water for coffee...wish I'd done that last night. I made coffee and ate a couple of breakfast bars. I decided to let the others sleep. We were going to hike out by 7am, but I didn't have the heart to wake them up and get them to walk in the rain. I started hiking at 6:40am after packing up in the rain. My tent weighs about twice it's normal weight.I started right out climbing a mountain. I love walking in the rain, so I was having a good time. The forest is extra beautiful during a rain. I summited Chairback Mountain and had to stop and take a picture. I didn't want to bring out my camera in this weather, but I had some beautiful views of the distant mountains with low clouds and rain. Marathon came walking up while I was taking pictures. He was going to walk right by without saying anything. I don't think he was enjoying the weather like I was. I hiked on to Chairback Gap Lean-to and saw Sloetoe's twin boys in there. I asked where Sloetoe was and they said he had gone to the privy. We talked while we waited on him to come back. It was good seeing him again. They are summiting Katahdin on the 13th and need a ride back to Gorham, NH on the 14th. If I'm still in the area, I'll give them a lift.I started chilling down because I was wet and it was only about 50 degrees out. I'll never complain about that kind of weather though because it's 10 times better than high humidity and hot temperatures. I had to start hiking to warm up again.I climbed Columbus Mountain and took more pictures.The terrain was alot of steep little ups and downs today. I passed Gerald and Mark going up one steep hill. They hiked until about 9pm yesterday and weren't moving to fast.About 2 miles before I got here, I ran into the Mad German. I was hoping I would see him. I gave him your message Chief. He had called and talked to Mailar, so he knew I was out here. We only talked about 5 minutes and he said he would call Chief as soon as he got to a phone.I hiked on and got here at 1pm. I strung out my bear rope and dried out my tent in the breeze...a cold breeze, but again it feels real good. We had plans on swimming here, but I think I'd freeze if I did, so I'll just enjoy the views and hope I see some moose in the pond. It's been in the 50s all day today.I got in my tent and crawled in my sleeping bag to warm up. I fell asleep. Nothing like taking a nap on a cool afternoon.Around 5pm, I boiled water for another Mountain House dinner. I really like their dinners. I sat in my tent and ate.After dinner, I went down and sat by the pond until the clouds rolled in again. It got to cold to sit there, so I came back up by the tent and I heard Hippie coming. She got here at 6:30pm and then John Galt and Coughdrop got here just before 7.I'm glad I didn't wake them up this morning because they said they stayed in their tents until 10am.They went up by the shelter to cook dinner and I crawled in my sleeping bag to get warm. I guess I'm in for the night.Another great day on the A.T.