Date: 2006-07-26
From: Mahar Tote Rd (White House Landing)

To: Rainbow Spring campsite
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: broken clouds

DAY 142 - After I went to bed last night (at WHL) a big thunderstorm came up. We heard it off in the distance and saw lightning for at least 30 minutes before it reached the camp, then it hung around for another half hour. All the noise made it hard to sleep, but being inside was comforting - except when that one bolt hit a few feet from my pillow. The rain last night will make the bogs and mudholes even worse, and the mosquitos will likely be numerous and active. With a late start, it could be a less-than-ideal day to make miles. The sky is clear now; looks like today will be warm and humid.Today I'm going to be walking in honor of parents, who tried to instill in me the values of respect, conservation, finishing what you start, and faith in God. They are my heros and role models.12:45 PM at Wadleigh Stream lean-to: Making good time - 7.7 miles in 3.5 hours. Need to push so I can get to The Birches camp area at the base of Katahdin tomorrow evening. Saw some merganser ducks in the lake and one in a creek. Also met some trail workers building rock steps and using a hoist and pulley to move big rocks into place. Would have been a great picture, but I forgot to get the camera out until I was a half mile away, and I wasn't going back.Weather is sunny and humid. When I stop the skeeters swarm - I must smell good to them. Forgot to mention another instance of Trail Magic this morning. Crafty offered me the use of his cell phone to call Jane, so I was able to visit with her and get the airline details.I'm now in my tent listening to loons and some other bird or critter at a distance. This tentsite is right on Rainbow Lake. Four SOBO section hikers are here, one solo guy from Atlanta and three friends from Grand Rapids, MI.Had two more Trail magic encounters today. First, the Rowley family left a bag of assorted goodies near a road; I took a pack of crackers w/ peanut butter. The second was at Rainbow Stream shelter 4 miles back. A SOBO thru-hiker named Tuxedo helped get a bug out of my eye. I hope I can repay him with TM down in Tennessee this fall.My strategy for summiting on Friday is on schedule. I pushed hard today to get here (19.6 miles in just under 9.5 hours) so that tomorrow I can reach the last shelter at the base of Katahdin (The Birches) by a reasonable hour. It's about 21 miles, but I can start 3 hours earlier than today, so it shouldn't be a problem.I've never met a porcupine, but I still don't like them. "Why?" you ask. Here's why. Because supposedly they like to chew on everything with salt in it, which includes boots. So, to keep them from chewing on my boots, I've brought them into the tent, where the odor is strong and most unpleasant. That's why I don't like porcupines.If nothing drastic happens, tomorrow will be my last full day of hiking with the big, full pack. The Baxter State Park rangers have day packs on loan for hikers climbing Katahdin, so I won't have to carry the full weight up and back. From The Birches to the top of Katahdin is a 4,000 ft. climb - which I bet most NOBO's could do on adrenaline alone, especially with a small pack. Only 26.3 miles to go - seems impossible that I'm this close after starting so far away back in early March.