Date: 2009-07-20
From: Hurd Brook Lean-To

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-To.
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

09-61-2-ME, Hurd Brook Lean-To to Rainbow Stream Lean-To (11.5 Miles) SBWeather: Partly cloudy, Day 2 of a five day backpacking hike.Good night of rest in the Lean-To. Awoke early and got packed and had my cold cerial. Off on the trail at 6:45 AM. Have 11.5 miles to the next Lean-To. Trail got even more treacherous with mud, roots and rocks. The overflowing stream became harder to cross either by rock hopping or balancing on hiker made logs placed across the stream and anchored with rocks on the ends to keep in place. I am beginning to think that this backpacking trip was not such a good idea, especially hiking solo. If a solo hiker fell off a log crossing a stream onto the large rocks below, there would be a sure injury and the only help would come when another hiker came along on the trail. I am very careful when crossing the streams. The woods are dense and the trail cuts a thin line through the overgrowth so that as you hike along, the tender branches of young saplings brush up against you. I continue to see many mushrooms. One old tree had at least a hundred mushrooms growing up on the bark.Met a ridge runner named Dave from MATC who has the task of hiking along a section of the trail to offer advice and answer questions regarding anything about the area or on the upcoming hike to and up Katahdin. He was very friendly, helpful and seem to enjoy his duties.My hike bordered along the side of Rainbow Lake, but while I could see the reflections from the lake, it was hard to see the actual lake due to the deep forest. Went over Rainbow Ledges where I got a good view of Katahdin and the lake. Once I descended off Rainbow Ledges, I passed by Rainbow Springs Campsite. MATC and ATC have been good about placing campsites between the Lean-Tos for hikers who want to go past the Lean-Tos. All the designated campsites have water sources and a Privy. Many have good views of the lake and even a nice gravel or sand beach for swimming.One thing is becoming common on my hike so far, that of having to cross many mountain streams, wet bog crossing on logs, tree roots, rocks and mud pits. There is also the ever present mosquitos who will swarm all over you even if you have applied a ton of insect repellant. Arrived at the Rainbow Stream Lean-To first, but soon a group of Scouts arrived and set up camp in tents near the Lean-To in the surrounding campsites. The Scouts were making their way northbound and were hiking across the 100 Mile Wilderness with their goal of climbing Katahdin. This was their seventh day and they looked tired, but seem to be enjoying the experience in a painful sort of way. The Lean-To was very nice, situated next to a rushing mountain stream that you had to cross over a narrow placing of three logs to get to the Lean-To. That night I fell asleep to the sound of rushing water as it passed by the Lean-To.My backpack still feels heavy, even though it only has a weight of thirty pounds. My hip joints are sore from the impact of stepping down or stepping up onto rocks all day. I am beginning to wonder even more if I should continue to backpack and especially in the New England states. I may restrict my future hiking to only day hikes. I will have the remainder of this backpacking trip to reach a conclusion about more backpacking or just day hiking.