| September 10, 2005 |
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Bald Mountain Pond 15.9 miles,
hopefully I'll get in that area sometime today. Moxie Bald
Mountain is 20 miles. Enjoyed my stay at Shaw's boarding
house. Got everything done yesterday that I needed to get
done. Washing and the Post Office and re-supplied. I
certainly have a heavy bag going out this morning, but that always
the case whenever you re-supply. |
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It's sunny this morning, but it's very cold.
I may have to stop and put on my gloves, my fingers are already
cold. I'm going through a swampy area. It sure is muddy.
While I was at the boarding house I met several northbound hikers
that I had hiked with earlier. Noodle, Newman I saw in
Gatlinburg. I saw Steps who is from Ohio in the yellow Springs Area.
I saw Thumper who is from NJ. There was another young guy
there just out of High School that I didn't know. |
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Since I've been on the trail this morning
I've seen 3 going into Monson. They were going to the White
Blaze Festival. At the beginning I was hiking mostly in pines,
but now the trail is surrounded by hardwood trees. A lot of
beeches in this area. |
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These awful mud puddle are a nuisance
today. Easy hiking, but the mud really slows you down. I
just went over my second criss-crossing and the beavers have cut
down the bridges and they have just laid them over the stream.
I didn't think there was any Popular trees in this area, but that's
what these 2 logs are. I just jumped to the bank on that side.
The little stream I just crossed takes me through a real wet area.
I see a large pond. The water is really clear and blue.
I don't see any wild life except of loons on the east side of the
pond. I'm right beside the pond waters right now. |
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Back into somewhat of a pine forest mixed
with hardwoods. Come out to a logging roadway. I've also
been hiking along the side of a snow mobile trail. I see some
purple asters still blooming. Nice big tall ones. Stone
fence property lines here too. |
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I've just met Apple Pie and Prune, 2 north
bounders. I had not hiked with them previously. I'm
hiking on a road right now, going through a pine forest that is
completely cleaned out. All the spruces are planted in rows on
both side of the trail. |
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Getting into some large boulder areas,
granite boulders as well as slate in this area. These are the
first boulders that I've really seen today. None in the trail.
The Moxie Bald Mountain is 2,630 feet and 13.7 miles. From
Maine Highway 15 I've already come 6.3 miles. It's now
10:30am. |
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I am now sitting beside the east branch of
the Piscataquis River. I have to forge this river. I
decided I'd sit down and rest for a little while and get a bite to
eat. I have to change my shoes. I don't want to get my
boots wet. Also secure everything in case I fall. It
doesn't look to deep although it's running swiftly. |
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I made it across OK. In one place it
was almost up to my knee and then when I got closer to the south
side of the river it was about ankle deep. Cold however.
I got my boots back on and loaded up again and I'm on my way.
I got so cold that I had to put my jacket back on and my gloves.
One finger has already turned white. |
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I must be following the same river only up
stream. This is a pretty little area along side of this river.
It's a all hardwoods and real open. This river has a strong
current. It has white caps on it. |
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I'm at Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to.
Leaving here at 1:30pm trying to get to Moxie Bald Lean-to today.
I also have to cross the West Piscataquis River. It's going to
take me a little time through there. |
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I can see why they call it the Canyon
Lean-to. I'm still hiking along the river, but I'm way up high
looking down on the river. It's not so wide up here. The
one whole side is nothing but stones. Then the side that I'm
on is just a regular mountain with trees. This canyon gets
very narrow and more rapid and the falls in this area are just
churning. The canyon wall on the east side of the river must
be at least 30 feet. Where as on this side I'm right down on
the water. |
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I'm still hiking above the river about half
way up the mountain going around the side of it. There are
some very large trees in this area. White pines and large
maple. I'm also in an air traffic pattern here or else EJ has
his warriors out looking for me. I thought I must be coming
close tot he river; it was getting briary and weedy. Here I am
and the river is divided into 2. and goes around a little island.
I have to cross the first part and then I have to cross over the
second part. Then back into the woods. I have to change
my shoes and figure how I can get down off this bank. |
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I just crossed the west branch. The
first section was up to my knees, but I was able to cross easily.
The water was swift, but not very wide. Then on the little
grass island and the next section was very swift and wider. I
tried to pick an area where there was a lot of ripples, hoping the
water wouldn't be quite as deep in those areas. I crossed Ok,
but the water was up to the pockets of my shorts. It was also
swift too, I could feel the current wanting to wash me down
the river. I made it safely. It should be my last river
crossing. The next one I ferried across. So at least I
have all the rivers done now so I don't have to worry about any
forges. That's a bug worry off my mind. |
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I'm going to go on to Moxie Bald Lean-to
however it's still 5 miles away and it's about 3:50pm.
Depending on the terrain as to weather I make it that far or not.
I may have to tent camp if it gets to dark. Since I've left
the river I've had 2 terrible streams crossings, plus a swamp that
was wide and I couldn't hardly get across without sinking deep down
into the mud. Did some fancy foot work and held on to some
trees and bushes and stuff and got through without getting my feet
to wet. I'm going into a pine woods and it looks like I'm
starting up the hill. |
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The trail runs on top of the ridge above
the stream. U see evidence of moose in this area. A very
dense pine forest. This is the smoothest trail I've been on
since Conn. No rocks, no roots; mostly soft mud or pine
needled covered and leaf covered. I have some swamp land and
stream crossing that have been muddy, but the trail sure has been
nice. |
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Came out a gravel logging road. The
trail is still running on the east side of the Piscataquis River.
Now I'm back through rocks, roots and mud. It is awful through
here. It is level though at this point. I'm still in the
pine woods. A very thick pine woods. |
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Here is a stream crossing that I didn't
anticipate, It's Bald Pond outlet. The pond is full and
overflowing. The water is rough and swift through here.
There is a little bit of a water, so I'm going to try to cross at
that water falls. Wish me Luck! Made it across the dam
ok and came out on some big solid rocks. Tried to dry my feet
off a little bit before I put my shoes on. It's 6:00pm and
still have a few miles to go. |
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It's 6:50pm and I coming into the
Moxie Bald Lean-to. It's right on the lake. It's been a
good hiking day. I've made pretty good time. Tune in
tomorrow! |
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Swing'n Jane |
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