Day 167 – Long Falls Dam Road to Pierce Pond lean-to

“My Nashville friends, they think I’m strange

To make my home out on the range

They think it’s nothin’ but a God-forsaken land

Why don’t you bring your guitar and family, move on down to Tennessee?

Well, I just smile ’cause they don’t understand

But if they ever saw a sunrise on a mountain mornin’

And watched those cotton candy clouds go by

Then they’d know why I live beneath these western skies” – Chris Ledoux

Up at 7:00. Finished packing and made coffee at the hostel and had breakfast while waiting for my 8:30 shuttle. On trail at 9:20.

Foggy, low 50s, humid. Going up to mid 60s and partly cloudy.

Stopped at West Carry Pond Lean-to for a snack at 11:00 and 3.5 miles. It’s muddy and slippery out here from the heavy rain yesterday mixed with all the leaves. Fairly flat most of the next few days. Making good time.

Hiked the perimeter of West Carry Pond for a few hours.

Crossing a swamp at 12:15 and 5.7 miles.

Short logging road walk to a crossroads.

YouTube Video of hiking in northern Maine

Got to Pierce Pond Lean-to at 3:30. About 5 tents already set up. Lots of weekend hikers. Found a so-so tent spot. 

I’m already fed and in my quilt at 5:00. Not used to being done this early. It was 13.5 miles today, but only took 6 hours as it’s very flat. First time I’ve had flat hiking in a very long time. Gonna be mostly flat the next 3-4 days into Monson, Maine. Need to recalibrate my time and mileage.

If you look at a map of this area, I am really in the middle of nowhere. The nearest towns make Poolesville look like a big city, and those are 30 miles away or more. There is almost no moon.    I looked up at the stars at 8:00, and I have not seen so many stars since being way out in the Caribbean with all the lights below the horizon. And it’s only 8:00! 

Quebec City is just off the map to the top left in the photo below. There is nothing but little villages that are basically crossroads until you cross into Canada. Every one of those towns on that screenshot is over the border from Maine in Canada. The nearest is 75 miles away and over at least 2 mountain ranges. That’s how remote this area is. I could soooo live up here!

Glad I’m not on the trail down south. AT weather alert today:

9/25/2024 The southern end of the AT in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and extreme southern Virginia is forecast to receive 8 to 12 inches of rain over the next several days in addition to tropical storm force winds (40 to 60 mph) as Hurricane Helene impacts the region.

Technical Notes:

• Pop Tarts 370
• Snickers 250
• Sausage 120
• Oreo 320
• Salami 300
• Chicken Fried Rice 600
• Misc 2000
• Water .7
• Miles 13.5
• Time 6
• Elevation gain 1566
• Calories consumed 4000
• Calories burned 5500