Date: 2018-08-17
From: White House Landing

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: overcast clouds

I was up at dawn and all packed up by 0530. I walked up to the porch of the main building where breakfast would be served at 0700. The door was locked, so I sat on the porch and just took in the wakening of Pemadumcook Lake. Two hummingbirds made multiple visits to the porch to drink from the feeder and suck up the nectar from a pot of Pansies sitting at my feet. My phone/camera was still at Bill and Linda¢s place being charged.Bill showed up at around 0630, put coffee on and started breakfast¢farm fresh eggs, bacon and AYCE blueberry pancakes. It was all very well prepared. There were four of us catching a ride back to the trail after we all settled our bill. Unfortunately, one of the NOBOs was having trouble with his credit card and it was well after 0900 before he got everything in order and was ready to go. It was a quick 10 minute cruise in the Lone Star to the dock and we were all hiking again. The trail crossed a couple of streams in the first few miles that were listed in AWOL¢s Guidebook as fords. However, I was able to rock hop over both with ease. It wasn¢t long before the trail came to another large lake. The path circumnavigated the south shore of the Nahmakanta Lake. The trail was headed east to west here. Early on, the path traveled along the gravel beach shore of the lake. Then it began cutting along the side of the mountains just above the lake. This meant lots of little dips and rises and the return of Maine roots. Just as the trail started climbing from the lake (elev. 650¢) to the summit of Nesuntabunt Mountain (elev. 1,522¢) it came to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to. I had originally considered stopping here for the day, but it was only 1230 when I arrived. So, I filtered some water, did some stretching, ate lunch and moved on. The path was full of roots and rocks as it for most of the day. That¢s more like it! Large boulders were randomly strewn throughout the forest keeping the scenery interesting. The trail cut back to the south through a deep ravine, then turned back north following the steep ridge to the top. A 200 foot side trail led to rock outcropping with a stunning view across the lake to Mount Katahdin. It stood just 16 mikes to east, but was still 35 trail miles away.Not long after I started down the mountain I came across a SOBO Flip Flopper. He asked where I lived and I responded that I had just retired 30 years in the Army and that the AT was my home now. He said, ¢I recently retired after 30 years in the Army too.¢ He went on to say that he spent most of his time at Fort Bragg, to which I responded that I did three tours there. He mentioned that he lived in Pine Valley. I told him that we lived there from 2001-2006. I asked ¢DJ¢ his real name and then I asked him his wife and kids¢ names. I recognized the name of his wife and daughter. I had signal and called Which Way. She immediately knew who I was talking about. Our daughters were friends and Which Way served on the PTA with DJs wife. Big trail, small world! DJ is hiking to raise money for the Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund. The fund supports surviving children of fallen Soldiers. DJ flipped at the Bear Mountain Bridge in NY. He appeared to be struggling a little and said that hiking for the fund is what keeps him going. Please keep DJ and the cause he is supporting in your prayers.A little further down the north slope of Nesuntabunt Mtn the trail came across a rock providing another great view of Katahdin with the lake in the foreground. After clearing the lake, the AT worked its way its way around Crescent Pond. From there it rose along the rim of the Pollywag Gorge and crossed the Pollywag River on a logging road bridge.The final two miles were along the cascading Rainbow Stream. I arrived at the lean-to at 6PM. Three other NOBO¢Windjammer, Dirty Girl and Valkyrie¢were already settled in when I arrived. Dirty Girl and Valkyrie are a mother and daughter from Denmark that I ran into way back when. Big trail, small world! It was dark by 7:30. That is when the rain started falling. Three other hikers rolled in well after dark. Just a bit annoying. Enough said.Just 15 miles until I rendezvous with WW and 30 mikes to the top of Katahdin. Unbelievable!Peace and Blessings! Next StepElevation Data:Ascent - 2,250Descent - 1,770Grade - 4.9Weather:Day - 76 / Mostly SunnyNight - 59 / RainOver The Horizon: Baxter State Park, ME