Date: 2006-08-06
From: Spaulding Mountain Lean-To

To: Crocker Cirque
Miles today: 6.2
Weather: clear sky

After Boogy Man left last night, his two companions arrived. First came Bison, 10 minutes later, and then Swiss Miss 30 minutes after Bison. All bound and determined to go on to the summit house, and to finish the trail in two weeks ¢ 200 miles in 14 days!   As darkness was falling and I was settling in for the night, a young couple from Bangor arrived and set up their tent ¢ professing a preference for ¢soft ground¢ but I suspect that privacy was the real issue.   A cold night ¢ had to put on my wool cap and pull the hood of the sleeping bag over my head for the first time this season. Awoke early, even though it was going to be a short hiking day. The young couple was likewise astir, and more talkative then last night. They intend to go to Popular Ridge today and admitted that they miscalculated the difficulty of the 13+ miles from Maine 27 to Spaulding Lean-To, and were happy to have made it here at all. In fact they said that if they had found a flat spot during the last few miles, they would have tented out.   So the morning started out with the ascent of Spaulding Mountain ¢ steep but regular, so an easy rhythm in the cool of the morning, watching the sun rise. Over the top of Spaulding Mountain the trail wanders along the crest with great views of rockslides on the surrounding mountains ¢ and one that passed over the trail itself. I took a long morning break sitting in the warm sun, listening to the buzzing of the insects and looking way, way down to the valley below, with the miniscule South Branch of the Carabassett River running along the bottom.   It is a very, very steep and rocky descent down off of Sugarloaf Mountain to the river, with steep rocky faces and difficult going. I was happy that I was in no rush and that I had plenty of time, because this was no place for hurried footwork. As I approached the bottom, a youth group started up, undetermined by the climb ahead and heading on for Spaulding Mountain Lean-To. I am continuously amazed at how much these young people can cope with and overcome, in this difficult hiking country.   The Carabassett was a dry foot crossing this day. It was rock hopping on both edges of the river and a careful gingerly walk over a single plank that bridged the 10-foot wide gap in the middle. I don¢t suppose that that single plank will survive the next flood, but for today it meant dry feet for me.   After crossing Caribou Valley Road it was a pleasant and easy ascent up here to the 0.2 mile off the trail campsite. I have set up on a platform ¢ there doesn¢t seem to be any other place to pitch the tent ¢ and I have a good spot. I am close to the stream and am enjoying the sound of the running water and the warmth of the sun, as I write in the mid afternoon.      As I was describing my hiking philosophy to the young couple this morning, he said ¢hiking the AT is not a race¢ His comment came to mind as I was thinking about the rampant materialism in the world. Maybe one of the reasons that we are so into materialistic consumption and acquisition of money and property and ¢stuff¢ is that we are competing with each other to see who wins the race. The guy with the most toys wins.   Thought for Today ¢       Life is not a Race!