Date: 2008-09-20
From: Maine 15, Monson, ME

To: Stealth site @ Little Wilson Falls, ME
Miles today: 6.6

What a great afternoon yesterday. I ended up napping, and we just sat around, played some cards and watched pointless television. I felt like I could have slept for 2 more days, but we got up @ 7:30 a.m. and got all packed, took a final shower, drank coffee, and headed downstairs around 9'ish. There were some town regulars @ the bar drinking coffee, and while Karen paid for the room, I talked to the people, and ended up finding us a ride back to the trail! Score! So, Paul gave us a ride, and we were hiking by 9:45 a.m. A pretty momentus day, Karen has transformed back to Incessant, and it is the begining of the end for me, and she'l be with me all the way. It was cool but sunny and we headed off and first thing is the infamous sign warning you of the remoteness of this section. I couldn't believe I was actually here...the beginning of the 100 Mile Wilderness! We hiked past Spectacle Pond and then Bell Pond. Lots of water today, and not one freakin moose! We have 5 days of food, so of course our packs weigh a lot. Incessant, true to her name just kept plugging along today. See, the great thing about lower mileage, is that you can really stop and enjoy things. I'm so excited that I can do the lower days. I was pretty lethargic today, like sleep-hiking @ times. I think it's because of the big buildup to get to today, and now that I'm here, I'm coming down from the high almost. I can't describe how wonderful it is to have Incessant with me. Both of my worlds have colided and I get to enjoy both of my loves @ the same time...Incessant and the AT. We hiked on for another mile and arrived @ Lily Pond. All of these ponds are beautiful by the way. Then it was 1 more mile to Leeman Brook Lean-to, where we decided to stop and eat luch down by the brook. It got cool just sitting there. Highest temp I saw was 74, but that seemed a bit to optimistic. We sat on a big rock, enjoying the water rushing by, and ate lunch. It was beautiful. After lunch, we hiked up the bank to the lean-to, and there was a big group of thru-hikers there. There was also 1 guy already sleeping in the sheltr, it was 1:30 p.m. We hiked on and came to North Pond. It was a large Pond and perfect for moose, but nothing yet. We stopped for a few breaks, but met some nice people. Powder River (WY), 2 women Karyn and Lisa, from VT who are out hiking the wilderness as well. Oddly enough, Lisa grew up in the same town in Switzerland that Incessant lived next to for a few years. Crazy! We headed on, and around 3:30 I finaly got some energy. Next was Mud Pond, where we came down into a valey where those ancient ferns are but some were orange and it was beautiful. Next was up to Bear Pond Ledge, then down about 1 mile to James Brook, then up again and down towards Little Wilson Falls. I could hear the falls and was excited to see them. We got down and wow are they beautiful. A cool river with almost chiseled out levels like bleachers. We were headed .2 further, but when I saw this, I also saw what I thought would be great stealth site, so I recommended we go acros and camp on the other side. Incessant was totally into that, so we found a non-fording way across, and I found the perfect spot for us to hang. We can hear the waterfall, and it lulls me to sleep. I made shells nd cheese for our dinner and we hung our food by the river. Incessant is snoring so she's out. It's 54 very cold degrees, I've gotta get snuggled in. 107.9 miles to go!   ~Certain