Date: 2005-09-13
From: Rainbow Stream Leanto

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Last night¢s sleep was inhibited by 3 factors: my aching ankles, clogged nostrils, and a mouse problem. I finally put 2 and 2 together on the ankles. Rainbow Steam is right in front of the shelter, right? So at 9:20, I arose and soaked my feet in the stream for 15 minutes. That did the trick - why didn¢t I think of this sooner? Meanwhile, I watched a mouse, in response to my flashlight, calmly walk up the string, over the tuna can, and continue up the string to wait out his turn at my pack. So I decided to bearbag the entire pack which wasn¢t easy in the dark. I didn¢t lift it very high off the ground but it was far enough from the shelter such that the mice didn¢t find it. However, I had to brush the mouse off my back where he had leapt after I began carrying the pack. The only damage was loss of my dwindling supply of gorp.CycleHiker was up early and out before 6. Cheshire Cat left at 7 and I was gone before 7:30. The morning was not particularly scenic by Maine standards. Parts of the Trail were easy, part had rocks/roots. The morning followed Rainbow Artificial Lake which true to its phony nature, was much less picturesque than Nahmantka or Jo-Mary or Pemadumcook. After lunching at the Beaver Pond trail junction, I welcomed the ascent to Rainbow Ledges where perhaps I¢d get another glimpse of Katahdin. Sure enough, Rainbow Ledges was interesting with flat rock at reasonable angles, mosses, blueberries, and views.As I¢m approaching what appears to be the high point of Rainbow Ledges, I see 3 people and one strides towards me. Northern Harrier! First reaction relief that our logistics worked out. He had taken the train to Boston then a bus to Pinkham Notch to pick up my car and drive it here. So glad there were no snags. He spent last night at Hurd Brook LT and met Pacman, Vapor and Yard Sale. Also met Cheshire Cat earlier today.Critter and her Dad were also on Rainbow Ledges - glad their rendezvous worked out. We lounged around the Ledges for a while before starting the final few miles to Abol Bridge.Now it¢s decision time. The plan all along is hiking straight to Katahdin and summitting the last day which is Thursday the 15th. Weather realities dictate otherwise. Harrier¢s got the forecast - nice and sunny tomorrow, rain Thursday. Talking with a Baxter Ranger we met at Abol Bridge confirms this. So the decision is easy - we¢ll camp at Katahdin Stream for two nights, summit tomorrow, then I¢ll hike SOBO from Katahdin Stream Thursday with Harrier picking me up at Abol Bridge. The ranger made campsite reservations for us using her radio (thanks!) and we were off to Katahdin Stream.Our campsite is a leanto with the AT in front and the stream in back. We¢d only been there a few minutes when Vapor and Yard Sale walked by. Great to see them. They¢re summitting tomorrow also.As much as my feet craved some relief, the absolute frigidity of Katahdin Stream was a stinger. About 5 minutes was all I could manage but it proved sufficient. We cooked dinner and were in bed by 7:20 with thoughts of tomorrow. From the campground looking up, Katahdin seems forbidding indeed.