Date: 2006-08-19
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-To

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To
Miles today: 13.0

Well as it turned out, I had plenty of company last night. A group of 11 boy scouts, with three scoutmasters, arrived after hiking up from the road - taking three hours, on the first day of a six-day hike. Even though they arrived at 5:30PM, they were seriously considering going over Moxie Bald Mountain, and on to the next shelter ¢ an additional four miles to the next lean-to. A little discussion with the senior scoutmaster soon persuaded them otherwise. They were an interesting group, being made up of parts of three distinct and separate scout troops. The senior scout master did a good job, but the leader of one of the other troops ¢ wearing blue jeans ¢ decided to take three of his scouts on ¢a little hike¢ to the top of the mountain, to collect blueberries. It was well after dark by the time that the exhausted hikers returned, with a sum total of 10 blueberries and a newfound respect for Moxie Bald Mountain ¢ they never did make it to the top. Many of the scouts were on their first hike and were totally unfamiliar with their gear ¢ How to light a sterno stove? ¢ Butane stove? ¢ How to fix a freeze-dried meal? [The directions are on the packet] ¢ Can you cook beans in the can? The scout master said that they had done a lot of preliminary planning ¢ but I was a little taken aback by the parade of dirty food-caked pots and dishes that were taken off to be scrubbed with Brillo soap pads in the stream! Slept well ¢ starry night. Out early and started on Moxie Bald Mountain at 6AM. It was a steady uphill slog with a little scrambling towards the top. There were great views in 360 degrees from the summit ridge. The summit marker had Tibetan prayer-flags flying from it ¢ neat! No cell signal here despite assurances in the register that there was. There is a lot of burnt spruce on the top, which, coupled with a shower of rain, soon had me back down in the trees again. It was a steady, but fairly even descent down to Moxie Bald lean-to. I just got water from the creek for a second breakfast, and did not bother to visit the lean-to itself ¢ no white blazes! Miss Fortune - get it? ¢ passed me. She was the first of several NOBO hikers who had tented out at Bald Mountain Brook campsite last night to avoid the boy scouts ¢ all heading on to Shaw¢s Boarding House in Monson for a zero day. The trail then skirts around Bald Mountain Pond, pretty flat but still rooty and rocky. Bald Mountain stream was an interesting crossing. There was a partially submerged skinny tree limb, and a hand rope, to help you get across. I came near to a boot full of water, because I tried to use both my poles and the rope at the same time. The NOBO hikers who followed me learnt from my mistakes! Then it was a long and easy hike to the ford of the West Branch of the Piscataquis River. There were two separate channels to ford today ¢ I used my fording technique again, worked great, but the muddy Crocks do stain up the sides of the pack! From the river crossing to this lean-to looks realy flat on the profile, along the banks of the Piscataquis River. In fact the trail flirts with the river ¢ rejecting its company to run 70-100 feet up the side of the canyon, only to forgive it and return to the river¢s side once more. It went on like that for three miles. It was a very spectacular however ¢ especially the other bank, which consists of sheer cliffs plunging down to the dark and white foaming river, with conifers clinging precipitously to its rocky slopes. I arrived here in good time and have already had a ¢ very late ¢ lunch. So far Mud Diver and Cookie NOBO thru hikers have passed thru on their way to Monson. I have been joined by Easy, SOBO from NC, who tends to call me ¢Sir¢ No sign of the boy scouts as yet!Thought for Today ¢ If you must, then criticizeBut always be helpful!