Date: 2018-08-20
From: Poplar Ridge shelter

To: Carrabassett River tentsite
Miles today: 13.1

River's alarm went off at 5am but she hit snooze twice and I took advantage of it. At 5:30 I went to Knots and Earth Heart's tents to be sure they were up and they were. I made my oatmeal and packed up before grabbing my trekking poles for a .10 trek south to the privy which was thru a mud bog and most inconvenient for a nobo hiker. Blueberry watched me and thought the trekking poles were overkill but confessed to wishing she were me after her round trip to it. I did sleep well last night. It's amazing that I can sleep in shelters now and actually sleep...thru snoring, farting and thunderstorms. But I did dream that I came across a huge mud bog for as far as I could see on the trail. In the center was a neat clean row of stepping stones. Cool, I thought. But as I went to step on them one rock ducked under the mud and when I retracted my foot it came back up all clean like it never happened. It was as if the trail was alive and totally screwing with me. I wondered what was in store for me today. I left camp at 7, after Knots and Earth Heart and before River and Dr Who. Most of the first 3 miles were a descent. I came upon the rock slabs and navigated most successfully. I have a good relationship with my shoes now, we've passed the courting phase and I felt like we'd "stick" together, but we didn't and I instantly found myself in my best upside down turtle pose. I shouted " Oh gee golly what an unfortunate incident!" But it sounded exactly like "F#CK!". From my vulnerable position I noticed Dr Who standing at the top of the rock slab above me. I quickly righted myself to the sitting position and slid the remaining few feet down the rock and brushed myself off. Then I watched him with his extra long legs take a small slip but expertly navigate thru it remaining upright all the way. I let him pass by me. I could never match that stride! I walked navigating mud and roots falling again by root instead of rock and being uninjured. I was so banged up bruised and bloodied between the Wildcats and Grafton Notch that my legs could have auditioned for a victim scene on CSI. They are finally healing so I'm not embarrassed anymore and I'd like it to remain that way so some day I can shave them again. Having to do my #2 business but not wanting to leave the trail in this very dense forest with tons of undergrowth I took the opportunity to walk down an intersecting old logging road out of site of the trail but where I could easily get back to it. It was the perfect place and just before the next climb. All was successful and I returned to conquer Lone Mt. The climb honestly took me by surprise. That's happened a few times, these peaks no one talks about because they aren't 4k mountains but sometimes they're worse climbing. I drank more water today getting over having to carry it. It's too important. I stopped at Spaulding mountain shelter for lunch and met Handyman from Meredith NH and Chemist from Michigan. Ironic as I'm from NH and River is from Michigan. River arrived and we finished lunch together. I hiked out ahead for the 1 mile to the Spaulding summit and stopped at the plaque dedicated to the completion of the final section of trail connecting it on August 14, 1937. Very cool! I passed up the extra half mile to summit Sugarloaf not feeling the need to bag any peak that adds to my day but the hiking was pretty good here. I was feeling pretty relaxed and good. I texted my Mom and gave her an update on my journey and let her know I'm thinking of her and love her. Then therere it was. I stood at the top in disbelief just looking. What would be a half mile of cliff hanging boulders and extremely steep descent to the Carrabassett River where we'd make camp. I was suddenly wishing I'd made use of the really nice stealth site I saw back a ways. I took a few minutes to absorb the idea that I am strong and I can do it. Just do it slowly. And that I did, letting other hikers pass me as they came up behind me I picked my way slowly thru, even the poorly marked areas. I made it to the safety of still steep but much smoother trail and settled into the rest of the descent, letting the stress hormones go. I very much enjoyed the conversation crossing of the Carrabassett River and found the campsite on the other side where Handyman was setting up. I grabbed a nice flat spot and set up then wandered out and hung a bear line to share with River when she arrived. I washed up at the river and felt really good being clean and refreshed. I washed out my boxers, bandana and pee rag too. All fresh and clean I decorated a bush with them to dry. When River arrived she set up near me. She was extremely frazzled having fallen off a boulder on that steep Cliff and narrowly missing an additional fall down the cliff. An extremely stressful day for her.We had dinner together and hung our Bear bags. I crawled into the sanctuary of my tent which I haven't slept in since the Monday before I went home for my back injury, below Zeland Falls hut. It was nice to be reaquainted with her! The sound of the river is bliss! I texted with my hubby and our friend Deb B. I'm amazed I have such great signal in this valley. There are 5 of us tenting here tonight. Tomorrow is a shorter 8 miles to Stratton.