Day 13 - Saturday, June 25

Linda

Headed down the Carrying Place about 8:00 this morning. It's an old hunting lodge which a family has recently renovated and reopened. There are six cabins there also. The whole complex overlooks the waterfalls on Pierce Pond inlet. The place is very cozy and homey with a large dining room and game room. The six of us had all-you-can-eat pancakes and link sausages. Ronald and I gave up after 10, but Steve and John were going for a record breaking 40. They both gave up at 30, but that's still an accomplishment in my book. After feasting until we were all ready to burst, we were in no mood to start hiking, so we sat around the game room and read and played games until noon. So much for our 17 mile day. The two kids who were running the place while the parents were out of town were very laid back. We pretty much had the run of the place, since no one was staying there at the time. Took advantage of the facilities - a real toilet was great.

Finally tore ourselves away at noon and packed up at the lean-to. The 6.5 miles to East Carry Pond Lean-to were flat, but full of muck. We managed to keep dry until one spot where the trail went directly through the middle of a swamp. No way to get around - we had to go straight across. We tried to walk on some logs, but they just floated out from under us and we both got soaked to the knees. After that the trail was completely level and easy walking. Ronald was so pissed at getting wet, he started to burn up the trail and shot off ahead of me. At first I was mad that he ran off, but figured he had to walk off his trail frustration. I was burning too, for a while, but ended up falling down and then missed the turn off to the lean-to. By the time I figured it out and got back, Ronald had backtracked and put up a sign. He didn't realize I was so close behind. This lean-to is in really poor shape, but the setting is pretty. We could see Avery Peak when we got first there, but it disappeared quickly in the fog. A storm seemed to be brewing, so we hoped we weren't in for another 6 days of rain. The Bigelows are coming up soon.

Ron

This was a slow mileage day. We spent all morning at Carrying Place Camp. We had an all you can eat pancake breakfast. Unfortunately, I could only manage to eat 10 pancakes. The rest of the morning was spent sitting around the lodge resting.

After leaving Pierce Pond we hiked the six miles to East Carry Pond Lean-to. About half way here, we hit a swamp that really pissed me off. Why do they have to put a trail through the middle of a swamp? It seems a shame with all the concern for protection of the bogs and swamps that the trail should be run through them. There is no way to appreciate the area if you have to wade through it. It's really hard when you work so hard to get things dry and then boom, one lousy bog.

It's raining now, but hopefully it will clear up tomorrow or at least the day after when we climb the Bigilows.

(6 Miles - 158.5 Total)