| September 05, 2005 |
|
I couldn't finish tapping yesterday because
I needed to change batteries. Most of the day fairly level
hiking, easing hiking beside having some big rocks and a lot of
roots in the trail. I had a lot of boardwalk hiking, but I did
make it across all the streams. There was probably 10 or 12
streams that I crossed not counting the swamps, but the water
had receded enough that I was able to rock hop most of them. I
saw a lot evidence of moose and bear activity in the area. Saw
a lot bear dunk in different places. |
|
I met Rag Man and Corporal on the trail
whom I had hiked with down in NC. They were with the Model T
group at the time. I got into Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to.
about 4:30pm and it was full, so I set up my tent at one of the camp
sites. |
|
September the 5th is a beautiful morning.
Cool, but the sun is beginning to come out. So I looking
forward to a nice day! I'm going to be climbing a little
steeper hills today. In the 2 to 3 thousand elevation range I
think. Last nigh I had a chipmunk get into my food bag and ate
my bars of candy. I just took the ends of them off and threw
that over to the side and ate the rest of them. |
|
I came up on a log bridge and was getting
ready to put my foot up on the bridge my foot got caught on a twig
and caused me to stumble down into the mud. I'm still seeing a
lot of wild pachysandra that I didn't see in any other state.
Looks like it's bloomed and is seeding. |
|
The trail that I've been on since I left
the shelter appears to be an old log road. I'm going up the
hill gradually, but still easy hiking. Mostly mud. A lot
of ferns in this area, some of them are taller than my waist.
Actually the trail is following Cooper Stream south. I not on
the water's edge, I'm about half way up the mountain, but I'm still
close enough that I can hear the water cascading over the rocks.
Very loud. |
|
You won't believe this pile of rocks I have to go
over. I'm right at the stream crossing, it's piled full of
rocks, the blaze is right in the middle, and up against that rock is
nothing but brush where the beavers have dammed up in there.
I'll be lucky to et across the one. Made it across OK without
falling down through one of the rocks. |
|
I've left the roaring stream behind.
I don't have deafened ears now, but I hiking right up to the side of
beautiful lake. The water is clear, deep and dark blue in
color. Surrounded by pines, hills and some aspen trees here
and there. I'm just behind the pines, probably about 10 feet
away from the water's edge. The pines are very dense and it is
fairly dark. That's Crawford Pond I've been going by.
I'm 47.2 miles from Abol Bridge. |
|
The trail is now starting to ascend.
Before long I'll be going into Little Boardman Mountain. I'm
in all hardwoods. Getting into some bigger rocks in the trail.
Larger roots. I must nearing the top of Little Boardman
Mountain. The terrain has changed, getting into some larger
boulders in the trail. Nothing that you can't get over.
The hardwoods are oaks, maples, beeches, birches, and very few pine.
I just came across a tiny little brown guarder snake crawling up the
trail in front of me. It's been so long since I've seen a
snake that I forgot what they looked like. I must right on top
now, I hiking on solid rocks. You can a little bit of a view
into the distance. Just the mountain ridges. I look out
and these mountain just keep getting bigger and bigger. A lot
of spruce on to of the mountain. I standing on a big old flat
rock where I can look out over the mountain ranges and that is all
I'm seeing. |
|
This woods is nothing but dense spruce
undergrowth with mature pines looming at the tom. All the
lower branches are dead. Little Boardman Mountain wasn't very
high, but at the same time it was also big boulders. I'm sure
glad they were dry. I certainly have fallen down enough of
them, I didn't need any more. |
|
Coming through the pine woods right by a
small pond getting ready to cross the stream that the beaver also
have dammed up. Going toward the east branch of the Pleasant
river. It's not very wide but it's running steep the rocks are
a little bit to far apart for me to rock hop. I got across Ok
without going into the drink. I waded the first 2 rock over
and the I was able to get up on the rocks and rock hop the rest of
the way. |
|
I am now leaving East Branch Lean-to.
This is one of the nicest lean-to's and camping area that I think
that I've seen in Maine. I've seen quite a few moose droppings
today coming off the mountain. |
|
Ever since I left the river crossing and
the last lean-to it's been nothing but mud, swamp and roots.
Roots, mud and swamp. The trail is really narrow and twisty
making it difficult to get through. I fell once, tripped on a
stone and couldn't hold the weight of my back pack so I just fell
down. Didn't get hurt. I had a heck of a time trying to
get back up. |
|
It looks like the ground has been covered
with bumpy green carpet. I hear turkey clucking in the woods.
I just met an older gentleman that is a north bounder his trail name
is Choo Choo. He's from Tenn. This is certainly a
straight up 2 mile section. Up over ridge and rocks. very
narrow rouged trail. A lot of big boulders in this area cover
with moss and ferns. |
|
Got into Logan Brook Lean-to about 5:00pm
and decided to stay. Better to stay here than on top of the
mountain where it would really be cold. Talk to you tomorrow. |
|
Swing'n Jane |
|
Back To Top |
Next Page |
