Category Archives: Appalachian trail

The trail climbed 1,100 feet, leveled off, then climbed another 600 feet to Barn Mountain. Onward we hiked to the turnoff towards Cloud Pond Cloud Lean-to, before dropping to the Fourth Mountain Bog where I found carnivorous pitcher plants (see photo).

Yesterday’s rain created poor hiking conditions with wet roots and rocks. I walked with extra care to avoid falling. Aside from the wet conditions, hiking wasn’t exhausting, with no extended climbs and descents. I waded two more streams safely and rock-hopped one. The AT passed by several ponds and ran several times along bedrock ridges with blueberries begging to be picked.

My feelings of gratitude soared for my good fortune of being warm and dry in the hostel. I started another book and then returned to the Lakeshore Inn for another pizza dinner. Lazarus and I sat at the bar with fellow hiker Ron. The kitchen burned my pizza, and as a result I got a free appetizer that Lazarus and I demolished.

I chose to leave the official AT south of Monson in favor of the historic AT, which runs directly into town. This eliminated the need to hitch into town on ME 15. I arrived at Shaw’s Lodging (see photo) a lot more tired than I anticipated this morning. After getting a bed, I cleaned up and drank a quart of chocolate milk.

At 6:15 am, I shoved off and quickly started gaining elevation up Pleasant Pond Mountain. For some reason, the climb seemed less difficult than the guidebook showed. After stopping at the top to enjoy the views, I hiked down a fairly steep descent that moderated after a few miles. The 4.5 miles of descent ended at a gravel road. A few minutes later I rock hopped across languid Baker Stream.

At 9 am, the ferry guy appeared on the opposite bank, hauled a canoe to the water and stowed life jackets and paddles over to us. Moccasin and Lazarus hopped in the canoe (see photo). In 10 minutes the canoe returned and deposited me on the far bank.