Date: 2004-07-28
From: Mt. Wilcox North Lean-to

To: Upper Goose Pond Cabin
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: overcast clouds

For a somewhat rainy day, it was rather pleasant. I hiked most of the day with Raven over some easy ups and downs. We were hoping for a coffee shop at the road crossing but no such luck. Considering the short miles planned for the day, I had no reason to complain.It rained heavily all night which made sleeping comfortable in the shelter. This morning after donning my cold, clammy socks and boots (gotta love it!), I left the sleeping babes and headed into the rain. At times the slopes were slippery which got Raven and I talking about downhill and telemark skiing--the latter of which I have never tried but hope to someday.Along Upper Goose Pond, there is the haunting remains of an old house. You can see where the foundation stood and the trail passes through it as if crossing a ghost. The fireplace, sagging and crumbled, is the most prominent piece of the structure left. Made me wonder about its age and history, but no information was given.Shortly, I arrived at the Upper Pond Cabin where Catdog had already made herself at home. A group of hikers had zeroed there for the day. I had been reading their registries and now can put a name to the faces--Octane, Austin, and Caterpillar. Caterpillar enjoyed quoting lyrics to songs and then applying the wrong artist as the songwriter. This is merely to enrage hikers behind him, but most of us thought it was funny and clever.The caretaker, Wayne, gave me the rundown of the place--bunks upstairs, dishwashing in the back, and you can use the gas stove to cook dinner. But first, you must go swimming in the pond, he said. It was 60 degrees out, but I hadn't seen a swim hole in weeks and the patrons highly recommended it.So I went for a great wash up/splash around swim in the pond at the base of the hill. The water was warm and therapeutically pleasant for my aching muscles.Krispy Kritter had also zeroed at the cabin because of shin splints. Then Hot Rocks, a hiker I haven't seen since--gee, I don't know-- showed up. I think it was Atkins, VA when he decided to skip Trail Days. He took ten days off from the trail and wanted to catch up with Polar and Pilot, the girls I hiked with from Palmerton and Lehigh Gap.Then Raven showed up finally with a guy named Joker. A few southbounders and section hikers arrived as well including the first woman southbounder I had met on the trail (not necessarily the first one hiking south). Her name is Oatmeal Stout and she spoke of trail magic a few miles north.This trail magic turned out to be Rainy Jay's parents wishing him well and hoping to catch him on his journey. They did not know that Bilbo enticed him to Worcester and the Chinese buffet.The cabin became very crowded. People had to sleep on the porch and on the floor of the living room. I was very happy that I grabbed a spot early.A few of us tried to play five card draw poker but it wasn't the same without any wager. Diesel's 11 year old son, Sleepy, joined us as well. Krispy Kritter got a kick out of his card shark antics. We even tried Texas Hold'm but that was very lame without chips. Such is the life of a poor AT hiker.I think 20 people shared the cabin that night. The mosquitos still managed to find us through the screens and fire doors, though. I am still very impressed with this place and hope to return to it some day. I didn't know MA offered so much to hikers.