Journal June 30, 2009 (Tues.)Trail Day 21

So where was I?
Oh yes, thunder and lightning.

So we decided the best course of action would be going back to Stratton to dry out and try again the next day. As we are heading down, the hail comes. It wasn't big - it was HUGE! (kinda. Anything is huge when you're stuck in the middle without cover). Well, we make it down to the road and called Sue from the Stratton Motel to come pick us up. We were so bummed out that the mountain beat us, but glad to be okay. Back in Stratton, we grabbed come Wolf Burgers (1/2 lb. hamburger, sausage patty, bacon, swiss, mushroom, lettuce, tomato, onions, and a big side of fries) and more beer (not too much) and have a low-key movie night while our stuff dried out.

The next day we head out at 8:30 and talk about how bad it felt to re-hike that portion of trail for a third time. The rest of our day was fairly uneventful until we got to the Carabassett River. The Carabassett drains Crocker and Sugarloaf mountains (we had come down Crocker and wanted to go up and over Sugarloaf) and because of all the rain from the last 2 days, it was now swollen. I'm talking mega flows; what was typically a Class I rapid was now a Class III+.
Needless to say we weren't going to cross it and couldn't find a calmer place up or downstream to cross. So we headed back 1 mile to teh Crocker Cirque Campsite. We were all discouraged because of the amount of backtracking and lack of progress over the last couple days.

It has rained off and on since I left Monson and it is starting to wear me down. Yesterday and the 28th it rained for the better part of 2 days and the sun hasn't come out for more than a couple hours and it has been cold!
Yesterday it poured starting the night before and then all day. The trail was a creek with water up to our knees at some areas and the mud is ridiculous. I went up and over Saddleback Mountain yesterady which had 3 miles of exposed ridgeline and the wind and rain was crazy. It reminded me of when I was on Katahdin, only wetter. Yesterday was pretty high on the suck factor - it just wore me down, having to go back into town so soon, but it was nice to know I could warm up, dry out, re-stock, and sleep in a real bed for the first time since Monson. I stayed at the Gull Pond Lodge with Brunch, BK, Snacks, and a NOBO named Easy Going. Pirate stayed at the lean-to right outside of town and will be in later to check mail and resupply. Back on the trail late - it's nice to take it easy in town - and 9 miles to the next lean-to. More bad weather expected.

Love you guys and hi to all.

Zombie