X was responsible for both of today’s highlights: First, she yogied us an early ride back to the trail. We had two scheduling problems conflicting with our ideal starting time of 6:30 a.m. – the hotel’s free shuttle didn’t leave until 9:00, and the dining room didn’t open for breakfast until 7:00. We decided a big breakfast would be worth the wait, but that as soon as we finished eating, we’d go out to the road to try to hitchhike. However, walking through the parking lot, X struck up a conversation with some members of a big bachelor party who’d come to eat at Northern Outdoors before heading off to do some Maine white water rafting. The next thing we knew, the four of us were in the back of a big pickup zooming the two miles back to the AT. Right then, we knew it was going to be a good day!

The second highlight was the stream at the south end of Moxie Pond, which our guide book said we’d have to ford. However, once again, X took the lead, rock hopping from one to the next, reaching the other side with dry feet before anyone could pull out a camera to document the event.

Otherwise, it was just another great day of hiking the AT. The rain we’d worried about overnight never materialized, and by mid-morning sunshine dominated the scene. We had a 1,900′ climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain, but only parts of it were especially steep, and the scenery on top more than made up for the brief sweat we worked up on the climb. After passing Moxie Pond, we ran into a group from the University of Maine Outing Club, who were out for their semi-annual trail maintenance day on their section. Many freshly cut small branches on the ground, and white blazes shining like new money.

The forecasted low for tonight is in the 30’s, and although there is a good crowd in and around the shelter, it had gotten quiet really early, as everyone is trying to bed down to stay warm.

Tomorrow we hope to go over 2050 miles, and see our first view of Katahdin from the top of Moxie Bald Mountain…