Date: 2004-09-30
From: East Chairback Pond

To: Logan Brook Leanto
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: few clouds

Start: East Chairback Pond @ 7:30. Stop: Logan Brook Leanto @ 5:15Mileage on Trail: 14.4; cum. 371.0. Off trail: 0.2; cum. 13.5Weather: Cool, sunnyMajor Landmarks: White Cap Mt.Major Milestones: Completed over 2100 miles of the ATWe got some good views of Katahdin today and it looks within reach, although it also looks awfully big. But that¢s for another day.It was another cold night, but we had decided to get an early start, so I set my watch alarm for 6:00. I got out to get my food bag and got right back into my sleeping bag to eat breakfast. Then it was on with the shorts and tee shirts before packing up to leave.We had a 2.7 mile downhill to the West Branch of the Pleasant River. On the way down we met a caretaker/ridge runner making her last trek of the season between Logan Brook Leanto and Long Pond Stream Leanto. We had a nice chat and later saw one of her register entries where she was extolling hikers to clean trash out of the fire pits, that aluminum doesn¢t burn.When we reached the river, it was another ford, not a very ¢pleasant¢ experience. Soon after entering the water my ankles went numb, but I managed to get across without slipping. It was sunny on the other side and we tried to soak up some heat while changing back into our boots.Then began the 11 miles climb to White Cap Mt. The first 3.5 miles were a gradual climb up to Carl Newhall Leanto. We passed the Hermitage, an old growth forest area, and Gulf Hagas, a 5 mile side loop through a slate canyon with many waterfalls. We learned later that several through hikers had actually done the loop and said it was beautiful.I was feeling a real lack of energy through this whole easy climb, so when we stopped for a break I stoked up on food and felt better. We had lunch at the shelter and then began our climb over four mountains. Coming off Gulf Hagas Mt, the first one, we got a good view of Katahdin.At the campsite after Gulf Hagas Mt, there were a bunch of Eureka 4-person tents similar to one we own, plus what looked like a kitchen area set up. I assumed it was Boy Scouts, but as we headed up West Mt, we could hear voices shouting and soon came across a Maine Conservation Corps crew working on the trail. They were off to the side of the trail digging out rocks, which they then transported by cable to the trail. They have been building rock stairs and rock lined drainage ditches and we have seen a lot of evidence of the fine work they do. We thanked them for all their good work as we continued our climb.Once over West Mt, it was down again, then up Hay Mt, then down again and up White Cap Mt. White Cap was largely open and we got some good views in all directions. The last 1.5 miles to the shelter was ¢relentlessly down¢ as described in Blue¢s hikers guide, but it certainly wasn¢t as bad as some we¢ve done. It was just tiring at the end of the day.Finally at the shelter, we pitched out tents, knowing they would be warmer than the shelter on another cold night. Then after a hot meal, partially by headlamp, it was into our sleeping bags to get warm.Just 71 miles left in the Big K Kountdown. One of the shelter register entries said ¢What if when we did get to the end there was just a big K there?¢ Now we know there is a big mountain there for sure.