Date: 2014-09-03
From: Sterling Inn

To: Bald Mountain Brook Lean To
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: broken clouds

Was up early again - maybe that's what my trail name should have been "Early Riser". Well after this many miles I'm not going to change now. Had another great breakfast of bagels, fruit and juice. Eric got me back to the trail by 8 and it was a fairly easy hike as the trail was well sloped for the most part with only rocks and roots here and there. After Pleasant Pond Lean To it got quite a bit steeper with a number of rock climbs. Usually when faced with a number of these steep rock climbs I get into a zone and just keep grinding it out until I'm to the top. Normally this works very well for me but it didn't in this case. When I got to the top I was perplexed to see double white blazes and the trail leading back down the hill. It was perplexing because this was suppose to be a bald (rock covered) mountain. Well being the good hiker that I am I trusted the blazes and followed them down the mountain and right back into the trail I had come up on. So intent and focused on my foot placement as I grinded out the rock climb I failed to see the sharp turn off and went up the old trail the maintainers had failed to block off. So back up I went and when I got to the section where I got turned around I could see where they blocked off the top which would have been noticed by a South Bounder but was useless to a North Bounder. Then to make matters more confusing the trail that did lead up was not marked for over 200 yards and left me wondering if I had gotten off the trail again. I finally did make it to the top and took a very warranted break after all of that scrambling. Talked to David B. about visiting him after my hike and look forward to spending some time with him and Kathy. Also talked to Leo who is meeting me at the end and hiking up Katahdin with me. It will be so great to have him and possibly my son Joel along with me for the final summit. I had a long downhill climb that was pretty rugged. Because the rocks were still damp there was a lot less traction and I ended up falling twice, but there were no major injuries though my left foot is a bit sore and beat up. I saw another snake and some more toads which was interesting as we move into September up on the mountains. I also ran into a number of flip floppers and SOBO's who congratulate me on my hike. As of today I will only have 136.5 miles left. I got to the shelter and set up and then filtered some water. With this done I had a snack and read a book I had gotten from the Sterling Inn. Then I did some journaling and had some more to eat. I was able to do this because it was such a short day and had gotten in early. The rest of the evening was spent reading. More people showed up Hard Head and Guitarzan who played his trail guitar and was pretty good. Then 4 others came in and they are staying in the shelter. One of them also played the guitar and they had themselves a little jam session. This was a lot better than the sound of a nearby lumber operation which we could hear nearby buzzing up logs.Follow up for my cousin Kim in Georgia. When I was up on Bald Mountain taking my break and talking to her brothers I watch a humming bird flit about looking for a last minute snack I presume before heading south. To see a bird like this way up on a mountain was very different.