Date: 2006-08-28
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: Pierce Pond Lean-To
Miles today: 22.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night ended up being very rainy at Safford Notch Campsite and this morning was not much better. From all the rain through the night most of our gear was completely wet and quite a bit heavier than yesterday. Much like the time at Rausch Gap Shelter back in Pennsylvania everything was drenched. Not up for breakfast and wanting to get moving to knock off the chill we broke camp and packed up quickly. On the way out of Safford Notch we passed the two groups of college kids that had camped there over night on the platforms and they were just as wet and miserable as we were. The only difference is they were starting to cook breakfast and the thought of a good warm breakfast as very tempting. The thought of making some miles and warming up was better so we set out for the day. Just out of the notch I enjoyed a few handfuls of blueberries to get the day started and crossed a huge milestone on the trail. It was the 2000-mile marker. What a feeling, now I can say I have joined the ¢2000-miler¢ club. Not many can post that on the refrigerator as an accomplishment but I can. About five miles into the hike we all met up at Little Bigelow Lean-to to take a break and finally have a little bite to eat. While there the Jersey Boys showed up and joined us to celebrate the accomplishment. If I¢m not mistaken they celebrated with a cold refreshing beverage and a fresh rolled cigarette. For the next several miles across Bog Brook Road and over to Long Falls Dam Road the trail was nice and flat for the most part. When crossing Long Falls Dam Road the accomplishment earlier set in as there was a big ¢2000¢ painted on the centerline of the road in bright yellow. I had seen pictures of this previously and heard a few others talk about this wonderful art of graffiti, but I was finally getting to see it with my own two eyes. Baro and I stopped for pictures first and shortly behind were Shasta, Jangles, and H-bomb. We set the auto timer on the camera and all posed for a group shot as we stretched out across the road just behind the numerals. Later in the day our group of five found ourselves spread out just a bit. As the light of day started to dim we pushed on to the next shelter still some 5 plus miles ahead. Jangles and I was hiking together but H-Bomb and Shasta were quite a bit ahead of us and Baro was somewhere behind. Around sunset we skirted around the waters edge at East Carry Pond and continued for about 4 miles into Pierce Pond Shelter where we planned to stay for the night. There we met back up with H-Bomb and Shasta who had only been a little ways in front of Jane and I all afternoon. They were just about to head over to The Harrison Camp to reserve space for breakfast in the morning when we arrived. Since it was already after 8:15pm, dark, and we had to be over at Harrison Camp by 7:00am tomorrow to eat breakfast we all choose to stay in the shelter. Shortly after getting set up Baro came strolling in and joined us for the night. Shasta and H-Bomb returned from making reservations and turned the lights out. With the shelter over looking Pierce Pond and the moon rising there was a light fog drifting its way across the water making for an eerie setting for the night.Tonight at Pierce Pond Lean-To; Baro, Jangles, H-bomb, Shasta, and I