Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Finally brought myself to pack up leisurely after a long breakfast. Wonderful stroll through the lowlands along the lake. Three miles out of camp, came by the next shelter. Whoa -- weather had brought down a tree on the shelter a few days before. Man, am I glad I didn't plan on staying here, or be here when the big fella came down. I need to get a move-on.
Great terrain all day - Nahmakanta Lake, Wadleigh Stream L-2, Nesuntabunt Mountain (fantastic stealth campsites on top with a view, for future reference). Then Crescent pond and its evil boot-trapping roots. Four miles later just after sunset, wandered into Rainbow Stream L-2. The Bumbling B's were camped out already. No one else made it this far from the feed-a-thon. Wow - a 21.7 day! Still have twenties in the legs, nice.
J: 10/5 - Morning at Rainbow Stream L-2. The brook babbles thirty feet away. The ground is carpeted with pine needles. Cold and brisk, overcast. The poplar and birch have mostly lost their leaves - mostly. This is my 6 month anniversary on trail. Six months ago today I went up the approach trail. Wow. It's been a long time coming. Thirty miles remain. The stream sings to me - so why rush back to my stereo? What could it say that this can't? Sunshine just snuck in from a break in the clouds. Time to move on...
Evening camp - Pine point. Baxter Park is less than a mile away. I am stealthed outside of the boundary with a few other hikers nearby. Section-hikers, looking to bag K after finishing the Wilderness jaunt. We all cooked dinner, chatted with excitement of the coming day, and bid one another goodnight with the plummeting temps after sundown. Will sleep to the sound of falling water tonight - water is very important to me. Only nineteen point one today. Broke twenty yesterday accidentally. Views of White Cap and Katahdin from the ledges of Rainbow Lake. Great views. K has been shrouded in clouds for days now - since Mariner and I saw her from Gulf Hagas. The rumors are that no one has climbed since 9/30 due to weather. Hmmm, we will see about that.
Treated to my last 'rocking chair' forest today. As the trees sway in the wind, they creak. I feel as though I were a cat with a timid tail sometimes - glad I'm not camped beneath creaking sentinels tonight. Remember: good camping along Rainbow Lake - many sites. And Pine Point here, too. And Antlers... the list goes on and on. I should climb tomorrow - so better rest tonight. Don't know what to do if I have to climb Friday...
Cross that bridge...