Date: 2004-10-05
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: broken clouds

Cooper Brook FallsStart: East Branch Lean-to @ 0832 Finish: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to @ 1612Miles: 19.5Weather: Rain in the early AM and cold (at or below freezing). Scattered sprinkles and snow until noon. Clear skies rest of day w/ steady winds. Temp in low 40¢sBreakfast: Strawberry CIB & Chocolate PoptartsLunch: Pizza Combos, Snickers, fudgerounds, Chex mixDinner: Chicken Stew, 2 Starcrunch, fudgeround, Hershey barTrail Conditions: Super easy. Small climb over Little Boardman Mtn. Flat as a raceway the rest of the dayAnimals: Birds, Squirrels, MoosePeople: Sunshine, Big Stick, Coyote, Brood XToday was a great day on the trail and I had two important first time occurrences: (1) I saw snow! (2) I saw a moose!I awoke around 0400 because I was cold and I heard the sound of rain pattering on the shelter roof. I was mentally getting geared up for a long very cold and wet day. But, as luck would have it, the rain dissipated to scattered patches of sleet and snow by the time I started hiking. The day started with a small jaunt up Little Boardman Mtn. It was on this climb that I got my first glimpse of snow on my hike. It was so awesome. I let out a big yell and just laughed to myself. I love Maine.Today was a total cakewalk and after little Boardman Mtn. The trail was literally flat as a pancake all day. I couldn¢t resist the temptation to walk fast and easily averaged 3mph throughout the afternoon.The trail has been so incredibly beautiful these past few weeks. At the present time it is peak color change and nearly all the trees are a shade of color other than just bright green. The trail is covered in bright red, yellow and brown leaves and when the wind blows leaves come sprinkling off the trees and gently fall at my feet as I walk. It is so calming and serene. I feel very blessed to be caught in such an incredible place at such a perfect time. Autumn TrailAbout one and a half miles from Cooper Brook Falls lean-to I had my most dramatic wildlife encounter this whole trip. Not even 10 feet off the trail, to my right, a full-grown moose was lying down resting in some leaves. I had no idea that it was there and as I came hiking up the trail I startled it. I stood not more than ten feet from the moose. Time seemed to go into slow motion as the huge animal righted itself. When it stood all the way up its head was at eye level with mine. I was spooked and my heart was racing a million beats per second. I was finally seeing the animal I¢d wanted to see for so long on such a spontaneous occasion and so close. My mind literally went blank on what to do and the moose and I stared directly at each other for about 5 seconds. The moose began shuffling about in the brush and I backed away a few feet. The moose slowly turned around and nonchalantly walked into the woods out of site. I just stood on the trail for a few minutes trying to digest what had happened. It was incredible. The experience put me in the best mood I had been in weeks. It was so cool.I rolled into Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to and rested by myself for about 30 minutes. This is definitely going down as one of the top five shelters of the trail, simply because of its great location. There was a gorgeous brook about 40 feet across running in front of the shelter with a great swimming hole, that I would have hopped in had the ambient temperature not been only 42 degrees. A few hundred feet up the brook was a splendid cascading waterfall with five or six distinct layers to it. All in all it was just a great location along the trail.I pressed on along the trail making great time. The trail crossed several major logging roads and I was mildly irritated to hear the sound of chain saws in the distance and logging trucks driving by. Not so wildernessy if you ask me.The trail skirted still more inland lakes and ponds today. I rested until cold at Crawford Pond and listened to the water lap up against the small sandy beach on which I sat. It reminded me of home. I later passed Church Pond, Cooper Pond, and Lower Jo-Mary Lake. They were so nice and the water is so crystal clear. I would love to return some day with my scuba equipment and dive some of them.I was crossing my fingers that I would have a day in which I didn¢t see any other people, but it was not to be. At Lower Jo-Mary Lake I crossed paths with Big Stick and Sunshine, who are part of the huge herd ahead, that I have been skillfully avoiding. We exchanged brief introductions and I continued on my way.I stopped at Lower Jo-Mary Lake along a nice beach area a couple hundred feet off the trail. I stared at the water and watched the reflection of the sun glisten of the lake surface. An occasional breeze rushed across my face and stirred a bright red maple tree along the shore. I just listened to the water and stared at the rolling hills along the horizon. The sounds and sights and smells reminded me so much of home and my favorite hiking area through the Saugatuck Dunes. There was something about that moment that just hit me. I was overwhelmed with emotion and almost began crying. I just turned around and left. Jo-Mary LakeIt seems to be hitting me more and more each day that this amazing experience is going to end. It is going to end so much quicker than it began. No planning or preparations or thoughts of what might be. With one final step to the A-frame atop Katahdin this journey will be done. All done. I don¢t know how to even begin putting this experience into perspective. I suppose I never will. This has been an incredible chapter in my life and I hope that as I age with each phase of my life I glean something new from this journey. Maybe this is what this has been all about ¢ not a challenge to myself but a discovery of myself. All I know is that in four days this is done. Georgia to Maine. Maple Leaf in WaterI composed myself and headed off too Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to and my final destination for the day. I ran into Big Stick and Sunshine again and also met Coyote for the first time. We all chit chatted and they seem like nice enough people. I definitely will be seeing them again before this is all said and done, but they had more miles to go so I was by myself again at the shelter.I claimed my corner of the shelter and setup for the night. It was already shaping up to be very cold and the thermometer was below 40 degrees. As I was cooking up dinner Brood X came scampering in. He had already hiked over 20 miles and was planning on putting down another 10 before calling it a day. He is trying to catch up with his buddy Tarzan before the end so that they can summit together of the 7th. I shot the breeze with Brood while he made up some tea. He is a funny kid and I was glad to have met him before the end. As dark settled in he headed out.Once again I spent the night alone which was very enjoyable. I have been glad to have had some good alone time this past week to think on things. As I near the end of the 100-mile I am feeling more ready to join up with the group ahead, or just with a few other hikers and celebrate. The big day draws nearer.T-minus 4 days¢¦..