Date: 2009-09-08
From: stealth

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The deep sleep felt so good! I didn¢t want to rush myself into getting up, as my body needed the rest. However, this was to be one of my last mornings on the trail, and one of my final chances to see the sunrise. When I got out of my hammock, I was amazed at the light on a tree near me. It was one of the prettiest sights I had seen on the trail! I almost couldn¢t believe it! I made my way over to the lake and watched the sun rise over the water. I was so glad I decided to camp here, especially when I made it to the shelter, which was in the woods with no view, as I had expected. I took a half an hour break to read through the registry. It was already 8:30 and I had barely started my day!       I had a nearly 1000 foot climb up Nesuntabunt Mountain, and it was not easy for me! The insides of the backs of my shoes had been wearing down and were rubbing against my heels (they had rubbed holes into my socks), so I stopped at the top of the mountain to layer on some duct tape to my shoes. I decided not to climb to the real summit, off the trail, because I just didn¢t want to expend the energy. I did take the sidepath to Pollywog Gorge, however, as I thought that view would be more worth the effort. However, the tree foliage didn¢t allow for much of a view.    I followed Pollywog Stream to the logging road bridge, and eventually made my way to Rainbow Stream Lean-to, where I found a totem pole (something I had just been thinking about!), and a homeless person¢s belongings inside. No one seemed to be around, though. I snacked and read the emotional thoughts of the thru-hikers about to end their long journeys. I could see that my next steps would be across two thin tree trunks placed across the river, and felt a little worried about the crossing! But, when I was ready, I just took it slow, and made it across with no problems. I walked past Rainbow Lake and suddenly I was on the final page of my guidebook! A mere 26 miles lay between where I now stood and the summit of Katahdin! I met a southbound couple who had just started their journey and they told me about the huge crowd of hikers that was ahead of me. I was glad to be in the position I was in. I knew of only one other thru-hiker who planned on summitting on the 10th. His name was Iron Man and I had never met him. But I had heard good things about him and knew that we would be meeting soon!   My final climb of the day was up to Rainbow Ledges. It sounded so beautiful and dreamy! It was another granite mountain top. I reached the summit and looked around for Katahdin, but didn¢t see it. Then, I moved on, and was stunned when I did see Katahdin in all of its glory, standing before me, on the others side. It was a special moment. I called Erik and found out that he was close to Millinocket! I had another 2 and a half miles to get to the shelter, which would leave about three and a half miles to get to Abol bridge in the morning! How exciting!      At 5:30, I hit the trail again and came to the stream before the shelter. I stepped onto the large rocks to get to the middle, where I could set down my pack and collect water. I sat down to steripen my water, and saw a bearded man coming down from the shelter to collect water for himself. He didn¢t see me at first and got a bit scared when he noticed me. I asked, ¢Are you Iron Man?¢ This scared him even more! ¢What else do you know about me?¢, he asked, a little unnerved.I explained that I had been reading his register entries and knew that he would be summitting on the same day as me. He informed me that a homeless man was staying in the shelter and that he welcomed my company.   I collected another liter of water and headed up to the shelter. I walked past it looking for a place to set up my hammock, and the direction I was going happened to be the path of the AT. Iron Man thought I was moving on. ¢Did I say something to offend you?¢ he asked, hoping I wasn¢t leaving! When I told him I was looking for a spot to set-up, he gave me a tour of the ¢property¢, leading me up a hill behind the shelter, where some camp spots were. We chatted as I set up my hammock, and then he decided he better let me concentrate, and hoped that I would come down to the shelter to talk afterwards. He was growing tired of the homeless man¢s chatter.      I cooked and ate my dinner in the dark, and the homeless man lit the candles he had placed on a shelf in the shelter. ¢Look! You get to eat dinner by candlelight, Wendy!¢, Iron Man said. The homeless man (Chris, I think his name was) was fascinated by my steripen and wanted to get one for himself. Another hiker came in in the dark, set up his tent, and joined us for awhile, waiting to read the register. He had just finished hiking the PCT, had climbed and descended Katahdin today, and then walked an additional thirteen miles to spend the night here. I could not even imagine doing that... He planned on walking home to Pennsylvania. Poptart later came in, as well. He and Andy planned on zeroing in Monson before they climbed Katahdin, so would not be joining me and Iron Man on our final climb.   I went back up the hill and retreated into my hammock for a peaceful night¢s sleep.