START LOCATION: Pierce Pond Lean-to
FINISH LOCATION: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 18.7
TRIP MILEAGE: 2,042.6
MILES TO GO: 136.5
I was treated to a gorgeous sunrise at Pierce Pond. We didn't face the sunrise, but it illuminated the clouds over the pond a bright pink and orange. I was excited for the Harrison Camps breakfast. I was packed up by 6:30AM and awaited the 7AM rendezvous at the shelter for our .4 mile pilgrimage to the camp. There we met Tim the camp owner, a Mass native and North Reading resident once upon a time. We waited quite awhile to be served, but once we did, was it worth the wait. Before us stood a giant stack of 12 pancakes stuffed with raspberries, apples and blueberries... Red, white and blue fruits. He calls them his "patriotic pancakes" in honor of Labor Day. They were dusted with confectioners sugar and served with 3 sausage links and a side of scrambled eggs. I devoured the whole thing and even had room for another cup of coffee. My colleagues Michael J, Marty McFly (yes a separate hiker named Marty McFly) and "IAT" southbound thru-hiker Fudgepacker (don't ask, but I assure you, it's not what you're thinking) all finished eventually.
Yes, Alaska resident, Fudgepacker, is an IAT thru-hiker. That stands for International Appalachian Trail. He's hiking 4,600 miles from deep in Quebec to Key West, FL. This makes his stint on the AT less than half of his entire trek... And you thought we AT thru-hikers were crazy. But, what really makes him crazy is keeping that trail name.
Michael J and I rolled the easy 3 miles to the Kennebec River. Many people think the entire 2,179.1 miles of the AT can be hiked. It can't. There's .04 miles (70 yards) of that total that are officially sanctioned by the ATC as a canoe ride. The Kennebec River crossing at mile mark 2,027.5 is it. It is a dammed river that is volume controlled. It is shallow enough to be forded or swam, but at enormous risk. If the dam is opened, water levels can rise quickly enough to overcome anyone attempting a vessel free crossing. After a tragic drowning of a section hiker in 1985, the ATC instituted a ferry service during hiker season operating 4 hours a day... 9 to 11AM and 2 to 4PM. Our ferry skipper was Craig, a class of 2005 Nobo thru-hiker and Maine Appalachian Trail Club member. He was very engaging and gave Michael J and I lots of great history and info regarding the river and upcoming trail conditions.
After some nice trail magic left near US-201 in Caratunk, Michael J and I cruised the next 6 smooth miles to Pleasant Pond Lean-to for lunch. There we crossed paths with Able, Deja Vu, El Flaco and Hedgehog. At 2 PM, we began our only climb of the day... A 1,150' ascent of Pleasant Pond Mountain. The views up there were beautiful. We could see the Bigelows, Sugarloaf, the Crockers and Avery Peak to our southwest and Moxie Bald Mountain to our northeast.
I let Michael J lead the last 7 easy miles to Bald Mountain Lean-to. We are tenting here tonight and hoping to be up early for our big miles into Monson tomorrow. Our goal is to be on the trail by 6AM for what will be our last hotel stay and major resupply of the entire hike.
-natedog
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