Date: 2007-09-02
From: Pierce Pond lean-to

To: Little Bigelow lean-to
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: clear sky

After a fairly brisk night that actually required me to half zip my sleeping bag for the first time on the trip (up to that point I had been using my 20-degree bag as a blanket) the northbounders in the shelter starting packing up at 6:30. That was a bit early for my liking so I stayed in my bag waiting for the weather to warm until 7:30. I went up to the shelter to cook breakfast and Spyder was the only one left in the shelter. That didn't surprise me because he usually gets a late start. I packed up and started walking at around 8:30, eventually catching up to Otter who was chilling by East Carry Pond with his dog Max. The walking was pretty level the whole way so I decided to press on, eventually taking a 15-minute break on the other end of the pond where there was a sandy beach. I resisted the urge to get in the water, intending to take a swim four miles down-trail at West Carry Pond lean-to. About a mile from the shelter, a sign pointed to my right stating Arnold's Point was a mere 50 yards away on a side trail so I decided to check it out. What a waste. 50 yards turned into 100 which turned into 200, and about 1/2 mile after crashing through the most overgrown trail I've ever seen, I came to the end of the line with water surrounding the end of a peninsula. I had lost a gatorade bottle that I had attached to the outside of my pack. Overgrown may be a slight understatement, the trail was just for my feet while my upper body crashed through a rather thick jungle. After being pleasantly surprised by absolutely nothing at the end of "the side trail," I decided to cut through the middle of the peninsula to see if it was easier walking back to the A.T. That was an even bigger mistake than taking the side trail. I wound up stepping into a mud hole up to my shin with both feet, nearly losing a shoe in the process. Figuring my feet were already soaked, I hopped across "the trail" into the pond with my shoes on and started wading along the shore back to the A.T. Halfway back, I got back onto "the trail" and headed back to the A.T. with my feet making a lovely squishing noise the whole way. I rolled up to the shelter where I found Otter and Spyder eating lunch, both of whom were surprised I came in behind them until I told them of my great "side trail" experience.I decided I was in the water enough for the day and decided to take a nap instead of swimming. Otter and Spyder did the same and we all went comatose for three hours. When we all woke up, we were kind of surprised Highlife and Ragnar hadn't shown up although both were sound asleep at 8:30 when I rolled out of camp that morning. I packed up and scooted up to Little Bigelow lean-to, arriving around 6 p.m. A woman (Em I believe) patching together the A.T. (south from Damascus to Springer, north from Killington to Katahdin, and south from Killington to Damascus) was already there so I grabbed the opposite corner in the shelter. Aside from the hellacious side trip earlier in the day, it was a pretty good day of walking.A couple of northbounders rolled in a little later, and just when I had given up on Otter and Spyder, they rolled in around dark and set up tents. As I was drifting off to sleep who rolled in but Ragnar and Highlife, headlamps ablaze. I just rolled over and drifted off to sleep.