Dates ........ Tuesday, August 27, 2002
Miles ........ 15.7 Miles
From ........ Bemis Stream Tentsite
To ............. Tent platform at Piazza Rock lean-to and campsite
Weather ... Cool 48degF A.M., warm and clear afternoon, 80's.

Tuesday, August 27, 2002

Spruce Mt. ME, Moxie Pond, Long Pond, Sabbath Day Pond, Little Swift River Pond, South pond, ME route 4, Sandy River.

It was a nice morning for an early 7 A.M. start, a comfortable 48 degF. Sly left before I did and had a different agenda: he was going into Rangeley ME for resupply and some R&R, so I hiked alone again today. Sly was an interesting and thought provoking conversationalist and made our time together very interesting. We were on opposing poles of the political spectrum but had a lot of common ground. He was an interesting character.

But, I enjoyed the solitude of hiking alone too. It was just as well, somehow he had contracted the symptoms of a cold and I did not want to catch it. I was hiking very strong and enjoying this rare section of southern Maine that wasn't all mountains. As a matter of fact, it was the only 15-mile section without significant mountain climbing. It resembled "normal" AT and I did my 15+ miles rather easily, for the first time since I started this hike. Instead of mountains, I enjoyed beautiful woods and many ponds. Unfortunately, despite all the shoreline and water I trekked through, I saw no moose.

At the Little Swift River Pond Campsite, I got water. Though the water looked crystal clear, it tasted like fishy mud, even after my iodine treatment. But, it was warm and I needed the water - bad tasting or not. Two young women were playing around in the middle of the pond in one of the two shoreline canoes left there. I found it a common practice for old canoes and boats to be left along the shores of ponds and lakes, unlocked more often than not.

Little Swift River Pond with Saddleback Mountain Range in background

I was frequently treated to the beautiful song of the loons. I saw several fly over and saw even more on the water. Their call is so eerily beautiful. It is so fascinating to watch them dive under the water and come up a considerable time and distance away.

I ran into a lot of day hikers near Route 4. One lady had such a nasty dog on a leash that she felt it imperative to shout warnings to me at a considerable distance. She warned the dog would lunge but was on a leash. Why, I could not help but wonder, does anyone bring a dog like this on a heavily used hiking trail? Many otherwise "sane" dogs go berserk at the sight of a person with a big pack on his back. I passed her and her crazy dog without incident - thankful she was a strong woman with a strong leash.

I got water at the Swift River and started up the mild incline to Piazza Rock campsite. I was enjoying the easier walking. Seeing Saddleback in the distance and seeing its profile on the map, I knew I had better enjoy it while it lasted because tomorrow I would be in for some serious mountain climbing. Again.

I was the first backpacker at the campsite, so I had the choice of tent sites, tent platforms, or shelter. I chose a nice level platform and erected my tent. Then I hiked back down the trail a ways and got my 3 quarts of water. After that I had supper. Disco came in and set up on the platform next to mine, followed shortly thereafter by Walking Wounded, who took a spot in the shelter. I finished supper and went to bed before sunset, intending to get an early start. Just as I dozed off, two very loud and noisy women came along and joined the others in the lean-to. They were chatting noisily around an unnecessary campfire. Finally, at 10 P.M., I asked for consideration and quiet and got it.

 

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