My last camp chore before shouldering my pack is to put on my cold wet clothes from yesterday and I'm on the trail at 6:30.
Like so many other mornings leaving the shelter, the trail goes uphill for two miles to Moxie Bald Mountain. This morning I welcome the incline because I know it will warm me up. It starts out steady and gradual for the first half mile before the slope increases, but it's still a short hike up.
The trail is on the leeward side of the mountain and goes through an extremely thick spruce forest. The rocks become quite big and I walk by a moss covered rock wall. I can hear water gurgling from springs hidden underneath the rocks, full with yesterday's rain.
The trail goes under a really cool rock feature that's called a cave but it really looks more like a huge rock ledge balanced on another rock and resembles more of a mushroom. Just after the cave, the trees part in a rocky area for a really gorgeous view to the west. I can see Moxie and Pleasant Ponds to the right, and The Bigelows and The Crockers to the left.
A short time later I arrive at the top of Moxie Bald Mountain, which is a very open expanse of rock ledges. The vegetation caught fire in the early 1900's, which is unfortunate, but the views are beautiful as a result.
Going down the mountain on the west side I pause to check out the amazing view of the lake below and the mountains in relief to the north and east. I open PeakFinder to identify Barren Mountain, which is 40 miles away in the 100 Mile Wilderness.
The descent down Is pretty easy and I stop at the Bald Mountain Pond Lean-to, near the edge of Bald Mountain Pond. Warm sunlight is dappling the shelter the area in front of the shelter so I take off my socks and shoes and lay them in the sunlight to dry a little while I rummage in the bear can for lunch of cheese and sausage with some dried pineapple.
I relax for far too long at the shelter, but I enjoy sitting here and reading and doing nothing, feeling the warm sun on my white and soggy feet. I should get going so that I will have longer to chill in camp tonight. I set about repacking my bag and then hit the trail.
Unfortunately the trail doesn't go close to the lake. The best views were at the lean-to, for sure. Today is turning out to be perfect with the sun shining with the mild temperature and the light breeze, making for a wonderful walk in the woods.
About a mile after leaving the lean-to I cross a stream that comes off the pond. It looks like it could be a little hairy in higher water, but I rock hop over it without issue.
The next couple of miles the trail is very rocky and rough, even though it is relatively flat. Many rocks are like stepping stones that would be amazing during periods of high water, but hopping across them for so long creates a deep ache in my bad hip, which is killing me by the time I cross a dirt logging road and the trail finally becomes a nice dirt path for a little while.
The trail crosses the West Branch of the Piscataquis River where there are no stepping stones, so I will have to ford it. I don't have water shoes so I will go barefoot. I take off my shoes and socks and shoulder my pack and wade carefully into the cool water. It's not very far and the highest the water gets is to my knees. I emerge on the other side a little more refreshed for the effort, and my feet are nice and clean.
After the river crossing I expect the trail to be a nice stroll along the river, however that's not the case. The trail leaves the river and goes up and then comes back down again to cross a stream and then goes up and down again and on and on. This is like a mini roller coaster! Instead of 500 foot climbs I'm only doing 75 feet at a time but it's tedious.
I'm really losing steam when I start to look for campsites. There really isn't anything along the water. The shelter is four miles from the river crossing but per the FarOut comments it looks like there are a couple of campsites before the shelter so I plan on stopping at the next available campsite.
A half mile before the shelter I see a woman relaxing in a hammock on the side of the trail right on the river. She said it was just too good to pass up, and I absolutely agree; it's a beautiful spot. But I'm muttering an epithet to myself under my breath, hoping I can find another spot so I don't have to go to the shelter. Just a tenth-mile later I come to the perfect clearing right next to some cascades and a huge pool of water. I drop my pack and claim the spot.
After setting up my camp and starting my dinner, I walk down to the big pool of water with my water bladder and filter and soak my feet in the wonderfully cool water while I filter water. I needn't have worried about competition for campsites because I don't see another person for the rest of the day.
I eat dinner and tuck into bed just as the sun goes behind the hill on the other side of the river.
Today's Stats: 12.8 miles, 1,978 feet gain
Trail Stats: 2,074 miles, 417K feet gain
Miles to Katahdin: 123
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