Date: 2005-07-10
From: Logan Brook Lean-to, ME

To: Cloud Pond, ME
Miles today: 24.0

24 miles todayCloud Pond, Maine It was a long day that lasted from 5:30am when we started hiking to 10:30pm when we finally got to Cloud Pond and set our tents up. It was still raining when we left the lean-to. The first mountain of the day was White Cap, a favorite of mine but it was raining, so no views. It was cold in the wind at the summit. We went over Hay Mountain and West Peak, then on down to Sidney Tappan Campsite. There was a complete set of hiker's gear that had been there for a few days. We had heard from another hiker that it was there, but no one was around. We climbed Gulf Hagas Mountain next and then stopped at Carl A Newhall Lean-to and took a short break. There were 4 hikers still there and they had a nice warm fire going. I stood in front of the fire and the steam started coming off my pants because they were soaked from all the rain. I almost never get to be around a fire and I never start one myself. This one really felt good. We left heading on down the mountain bypassing the Gulf Hagas Trail this year and getting to the West Branch Pleasant River. I saw two nobo hikers, Chino and Ice Bound. I had last seen Ice Bound last year in December on the trail in Va.  Hippie and I had been hiking for about two months without seeing another thru hiker and then we came up on Ice Bound, a nobo and Dude, a sobo, standing in the trail talking to each other. What's the chances of 4 thru hikers meeting up at the same time in Va in December?? We had a knee deep ford of the river and then started climbing again. A sobo by the name of Lovevoy crossed the river at the same time. We got to the top of Chairback Mountain and stopped for a while to dry out. While we were sitting there I saw a hiker coming towards us. As he passed he looked at me and said; "Stumpknocker!!...I thought I was going to pass by a couple of tourists who was going to ask me all kinds of questions about hiking and how long have I been on the trail and where do I get my water...hey,you put on some weight...you lost your beard, you look like a tourist." Thanks alot for all the compliments Big Daddy D. Where'd you get that lump on your head?? ;-)) He stood around insulting me and making fun of me for about half an hour before he hiked on. It sure is good to see old friends, but sometimes it's good to see them hike on. ;-))) Quincygirl seemed to think all the things he said about me were funny. We hiked on, but I hated to leave that spot. The sun had come out and a nice cool breeze was blowing and heck, someone else might have stopped by and insulted me!! I stopped at Chairback Gap Lean-to and read part of the register that went back to last year. Saw lots of old friends that had signed in. Quin and I hiked on climbing Columbus Mountain, then on down by West Chairback Pond, then up to Third Mountain. I saw Early Bird and another nobo by the name of P J coming towards us. I had met Early Bird last spring hiking in Va. She said that she had heard I was back on the trail again, but thought I was moving slow. She thought she'd see me way before now. Hey, I just started...cut me some slack!! Quin had hiked on and when I caught her we saw P J's dad hiking. We were just getting ready to climb Fourth Mountain when I saw Jukebox hiking towards us. I last saw him eating at The Home Place in Catawba, Va. He said his hiking partner stayed at the last shelter, so we'd see Running Moon later on. Jukebox had hiked with Moosie and Goldilocks earlier this year and asked where they were. I said they should just be getting into NH about now. He asked me what was taking them so long. I said; "Moosie." ;-)))  Uh oh, I'm going to get in trouble for that comment!! We hiked on and it got dark. Quin had accidentally left her headlamp at the last lean-to when it got pushed in with another hiker's stuff. She used my small reading light until the battery gave out, then used my headlamp. It wasn't the brightest headlamp because it accidentally got turned on in my pack during the day. We needed the light because their was no moon to help light the trail. We both stepped in a few mud puddles and kicked a few roots and rocks we would have tried to avoid if we could have seen them. We finally got to the blue trail to Cloud pond Lean-to at 10pm, but that was a .4 mile long side trail. We set up our tents at 10:30, I cooked our dinner and went to sleep.