Sep 12 - Maine

DAY #153
START LOCATION: Carl A. Newhall Lean-to
FINISH LOCATION: Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 18.9
TRIP MILEAGE: 2,119.4
MILES TO GO: 59.7

It was another Minnie Mouse 500 at the Carl Newhall last night. Casper and NLC's feedbags were just about to be nibbled through once again. But, Casper caught them at 10:45PM before they did any damage. Casper's become quite the mouse behavior specialist. Once again, my foodbag was spared.

Today's jaunt began with a gradual 1,800' climb under overcast skies. The climb wasn't as bad as the profile made it seem, mostly because it was 5 1/2 miles long. After setting out, we caught up to Sideways and Moonshine just departing Sidney Tappan campsite. The mountain we were climbing was Whitecap. Like the day before at Barren Mtn, we assumed the overcast sky was a low lying cloud that would burn off by the time we'd summit. No such luck. We reached the summit and were in the thick of the cloud. It was just viewless, misty, windy and cold. We were disappointed because the guidebooks indicate it yielding an excellent view of Katahdin. But, like our other opportunities, we were skunked again. We didn't stay there long. Casper and NLC made a few phone calls and we were out of there.

The rest of the morning was a breeze. We flew down Whitecap and enjoyed lunch at a flat mossy spot near an intermediate lean-to about 8 miles from Cooper Brook Falls. The afternoon featured another easy climb, but the trail was smooth and fast for the most part. We gave up hoping the sun would come out. It peeked through a few times, but my hopes of getting my river soaked boots dry were dashed. I hiked with damp feet the entire day. My hope now is that the rain forecasted for tomorrow will hold off long enough to keep the drying action going. We'll see.

With under 60 miles to go, we are starting to get excited. Casper, NLC and I were chatting up all the food we'd eat, the plans we had and the new lives we'd begin when our hikes are completed this week. I'm really looking forward to these last few days and all the new opportunities "normal" life holds in store for us. I'm also looking forward to spending time with all my new hiking friends beyond the AT.

-natedog