Date: 2004-08-11
From: Ellis River

To: Bemis Mtn Lean-to
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: light rain

Fortunately, by 8am the rain had stopped. It was a gray day but who could complain after the weather in the Whites and Mahoosucs.Wet Tent:Getting out of the tent while it's raining is nearly impossible. The mind is willing but the body isn't. It's so much easier to just go back to sleep. Of course, with the drippings from the trees it was always hard to be sure. Packing a wet tent is no fun either. Carrying it is even less. It takes a little extra time but the pack towel does a great job of drying a tent off. Hall Mountain Lean-to was a good place for a little lunch and shelter from a few showers. The journal indicated that Roadrunner was just ahead of me. That's not to say there was any attempt to catch him. There was really nothing driving me but the desire to complete the adventure at my own pace. In fact, having advertised to so many friends my planned summit date, it behooved me not to get there early. It would be sad if friends showed up after my adventure was done. That's not to say there was any reason to believe anyone would actually show up. Katahdin is a long ways from anywhere and it would be the middle of the work week.This may have happened late yesterday or even tomorrow. A couple of guys were upon me southbound carrying just a little day hike gear. The guy in front looked familiar. It was Trunks! I was confused and it was obvious. The last sighting of Trunks had been on South Twin in the middle of the White Mountains. He was waiting for his dad to climb the incredibly steep section of trail to that summit. He explained that he was doing some slack packing out of The Cabin in East Andover. The guy there was real helpful with shuttles and the food was good. Slack Pack Facilitators:This is not meant to judge. By all mean, hike your own hike. Here's a guy who is determined to hike past every blaze. He gets 1,900 miles into the trail and some one talks him into slack packing. Not that there is anything wrong with slack packing. It's just, why start now. Trunks was obviously happy about it and that's all that really matters. I later heard lots of praise heaped on The Cabin and many stories of slacking there from folks that surprised me just because they hadn't slacked till now.There were 2 brooks to be forded today according to the Handbook but it is possible they were passable with rock hopping. Maine is known for fords. Surely there would be more to come.After 900' in 0.6 miles followed by 1300' in 2 miles to climb up Old Blue, a break seemed in order. the views might have been nice but not on this cloudy, cool, damp and windy day. It was time to huddle with lunch part 2 in a rock clearing nestled among water laden dwarfed spruce trees. It was about 5pm.By 7pm the trail had lead me another 4 miles to the West Peak of Bemis Mountain. From here it was less than 2 miles to Bemis Mountain Lean-to. No problem. The shelter brought the end to a 19.6 mile day. This was the longest distance day since before hitting the White Mountains. It felt good. The shelter journal showed that other folks were finally getting back to long days too. That was kind of a relief. This was a nice log shelter and it was all mine tonight. That would mean a good nights sleep.