Day 4, June 26, 100 Mile Wilderness

Left lovely camp at 630am. Climbed about 600 feet to Nesuntabunt Mtn 1520.  The rest of the morning was hiking along Nahmakanta Lake.  Here, the trail made agonizing steep climbs and equally steep descents from and to the shore.  The lake has no homes or developments along the shore of the four mile long lake. 

The humidity is extremely high.  It is not too hot, though.  My backpack was damp on the outside from the humid air.  I am wearing a short sleeve shirt and shorts.  I have long pants and a long sleeve shirt but I cannot imaging wearing them until I reach higher terrain.

Met more than several NOBO AT hikers, not all of the thru-hikers. One older man was hiking back north to Abol Bridge store where he hoped to get a ride back to civilization because he had chest pains.  He had interesting stories of his long distance River kayaking, similar to my friend and fellow CDT thru-hiker Elusive.  A young woman thru-hiker today barely looked at me and had to pull off a ear bud to hear me ask if she started in Georgia.  The NOBOs are eager to arrive at the Katahdin Stream ranger station so they can complete their hikes and get on with the next chapters of their lives.  Yesterday, however, Pickles had a couple of minutes yesterday to describe how she mistakenly hiked the wrong direction off of Nesuntabunt Mtn. and was forced to climb it a second time.  I appreciate hearing the stories.  It is too soon to comment on AT culture.  

I love seeing pine needles and pine cones which make the trail soft and enjoyable to walk on.  It is a nice change from the rocks and roots.  But I asked myself, “where are the pine trees?”  At ground level I have observed short needle trees (fir?) only besides deciduous trees such as maple and birch.  The answer came when I looked up and saw the long needled pines towering high above me.  The other trees grow densely and are more present from my vantage while hiking.

I love hearing loons on the lakes where their long, beautiful calls travel great distances to fill my ears with their natural music.  Later in the afternoon the sound of loons was replaced by light raindrops which got heavier after I set up the tent.  I ate dinner in the lean-to, stayed dry and repaired to my tent…my happy place!  15 miles again, feeling stronger!