Date: 2005-07-10
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to

To: Moxie Bald Lean-to
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Lopsided had gotten up early and made his way to Harrison's for breakfast. I guess Marty and JR were there. After I had gotten up, ate, chatted, I moved on, crossed the short little dam at the outlet of Pierce Pond, and wandered down the side trail to view the magnificant waterfall raging - which was going to be the theme of the day.Ran into Lopsided at the trial junction that leads to Harrison's and we both proceeded north towards the Kennebec. There was water EVERYWHERE. Gushing down hillsides, into the valley and the canyon below where there was a great river gathering. Feet on damp pine needles, feet splashing through puddles with pine needles floating on top. In places the river was one or two feet above the trail. There was a lot of water, but it was so beautiful. Everything felt washed and new and fresh, even if the day was darkly overcast. Steve "The Ferryman" Longley got me safely and swiftly across the Kennebec in the canoe. I walked up the road to "Rivers and Trails", Steve's little store and campground situation. Steve eventually showed up and I resupplied, he gave me a ride back to the trail, and off again. Towards Pleasant Pond and Pleasant Pond Mountain. Again, lots of water over the trail. Grabed and drank some that was running down the hill towards me.Sat for quite some time on the public dock on Piece Pond, in glorrious sunshine. There was a southbounder there and we chatted a bit, and I tried to get my socks and shoes dry. Especially I was trying to dry out the big hole still in my ankle left from the slide down North Carter. It is still big and gapeing.The climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain is difficult because it's completely slate. Creating both jagged and slick conditions, especially with all the water that had fallen in the past 48 hours. Passed several overburdened southbounders. Crossed uneventfully Baker stream and made my way to Bald Mtn. Brook lean-to where I had a snack, swatted some mosquitos, and decided (against the advice of the section hiker in his bug-netting in the shelter) that since it was only 6pm at the latest, I could surely make it to Moxie bald Lean-to.So I did. And the dimming light, filtered through high layers of dark clouds on top of Moxie Bald were exquisit. It was a fantastic climb, and the ledges on the top of the mountain were beautiful and unique. There had evidently been some fires on the top of the bare mountain in a recent year, many scortched shrubs etc. I sat alone in the silence, the wind gusting from the south. Then, scampered on down.There was quite a crew of folks at the lean-to. South bounders, one of whom had a guitar and a great voice. They sang some good stuff - they sang some great Dylan. I cooked my dinner on a large flat rock at the edge of Bald Mountain Pond. The sun set nicely, but not spectacularly. The sound of the loons was haunting. I set my tent up, and ate Velveta shells and cheese on my big flat rock, only inches above the water, watching a pair of leeches sniff around the edge of my rock, wanting to get at me, but only slightly out of reach. Some fish jumped in the lake. A toad jumped up on the rock next to me and stared at me for quite some time. I slept.