Date: 2007-08-12
From: Sidney tappan Campsite, ME

To: Barren Mountain, ME
Miles today: 19.5

19.5 miles todayTentingBarren Mountain, ME.I was a little slower waking up this morning. It was 6:15am before I rolled over and opened my food bag. I made 1 1/2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast and topped that off with a 12 ounce can of Coke. :-))It was 7am by the time I packed up and was walking. It was another very wet day from the heavy dew and humidity overnight.My wet clothes that I put on this morning got even wetter if that was possible. Walking over the summit of Gulf Hagas Mountain was overgrown and everything that I was pushing through was dripping wet.It was mostly downhill all the way from Gulf Hagas Mountain to the West Branch of the Pleasant River.I had stopped by Carl Newhall Lean-to and signed the register and got to use a smiley face sticker. Most lean-tos haven't had registers here in the Wilderness this year.I walked through The Hermitage, a stand of trees that at one time was used for sailboat masts because they were so tall and straight.I got to the West Branch of the Pleasant River and didn't lose my stride fording that river. That's one of the great things about wearing running shoes to walk in...they dry out within the hour after walking through water.I took about a 30 minute break before starting the climb into the Barren Chairback Range...a part of the AT that I consider to be some of the hardest walking because it's so choppy...up a 6 foot rock, then down a 12 foot rock, then up a 9 foot rock...for miles and miles including the normal 2,000 foot climb and a bunch of 500 foot climbs that are pretty steep.It takes a long time to travel a mile in this section.I ran into Second Wind on the way up. He had walked 300 miles of the AT back in 1974 and was out this year finishing up the last 1800 miles. Maybe that's how he got his trail name.He had talked to Von Moose earlier and gave me a package of bandages to give him when I caught up to him.It had rained a little, but was still very hot and humid. I was still drinking a lot of water and still feeling dehydrated.I ran into a couple more nobos that are almost done...Tin Tin and Paglius.I stopped on top of Chairback Mountain and tried drying my shoes and shirt out, but they didn't dry much even in the sun because it was so steamy, so I walked on.I got water from a small flow of water that didn't taste real good...a lot of iron in it I think. That was just before Chairback Gap Lean-to.I took another short break there then walked on.I climbed Columbus Mountain, then Third Mountain, then Fourth Mountain. I had figured I would tent about half a mile before the side trail to Cloud Pond Lean-to.I was surprised when I got to the side trail. I didn't think I had walked quite that far already.I kept on walking and looking for a good flat spot to set my tent for the night.I got to the summit of Barren Mountain and found a small place to set the tent, so I took it.It was getting late and I was pretty tired, so I did something I don't usually do...I ate dinner in my tent.I had Ritz crackers with sharp cheddar cheese and a small can of Thai tuna. That turned out to be a very good dinner.I turned out the headlamp and fell asleep without even writing my journal for the day.Another great (but steamy) day on the Appalachian Trail. :-))