Miles: 8.1 (plus 0.8 sidetrip)
Today was a good day. We let ourselves sleep in and took our time getting ready this morning. After such an icky day yesterday, we wanted to spoil ourselves. We only had 8.1 miles to go. Sweet.
The morning went quickly. We treated ourselves to a long pack-off break at a beautiful overlook of a gorge. I though we were never going to reach it, but then it popped up unexpectedly.
We took the afternoon slowly and took lots of break. (Do you notice a recurring theme here?) On the way up Nesuntabunt Mountain (don't ask me to pronounce that one), we saw a guy flying down. I don't think I've seen anybody hike that fast with a full pack. On the top of the mountain, we took a long and well-deserved break... it was a "slightly difficult" trail up. Maybe a 6.5 on the 1 to 10 "Mary's Scale of How Hard a Mountain Is to Climb."
We got into the shelter around 5 - after I fell on my butt going down the mountain. Such class. After putting our packs down and meeting the shelter-mate for the evening, Kevin (as if there weren't enough), we decided to go for a swim!
It was an easy .4 mile to the sandy beach on a beautiful lake (they're everywhere around here). However, when I got into the water, it was FREEZING! So, we washed up a bit and then sat down to purify water and make dinner. Got a cute picture of Kwicky helping us out (my 2-ounce koala that is with us on the trip).
We walked back to the shelter where we were joined by four more guys from New Jersey. Definitely seemed like city boys (they were carrying a 5-pound axe!), but they're doing pretty good mileage - more than Kevin and me.
Sitting down around the shelter, we talked about White House Landing. It's an old camp that's a little out of the way of the Trail, but they serve beer and Ben & Jerry's!!! I was all about stopping in, but Kevin wanted to keep to schedule. I also figure we need another day or so of padding time for when the mountains really kick in. Katahdin was a bitch, but we didn't have to do it with a full pack. For White Cap Mountain and the Barren Chairback Range, we have a full pack on! Not looking forward to that at all.
Today's list of aching body parts is the usual, but in much smaller degrees than previously. I think my feet are getting the gist of things. A good bit of news to them is that we finished the chicken! (Yes - I do talk to my feet regularly now. They need the encouragement.) No more canned goods. That was a pretty stupid thing to take along, but I guess we're learning. At least we left the axe at home!
- Happy Bobo