Monday 7-26

Early early morning PTD woke to wet feet. He had hung his pack in the corner of the shelter w/his 2qts of water in his platypus bladder like he usually does. He does this so he is ready to go in the morning and doesn’t need to waste time to go get water and treat it. His bottom of his sleeping pad, sleeping bag was socked. His platypus had sprung a leak.

There was room to move in the shelter so he just scooted over a bit out of the water and went back to sleep till daybreak. Then he would deal w/it.

When he woke he says it was 46 + wind chill. He bets it was in the high 30’s. He hung out his things to dry in the wind on an old birch tree that was down. The wind was strong. They dried in no time. The leak in the bladder was at the top near the screw on top. So, he now puts it in his pack right side up (instead of upside down) so that the water won’t leak out till he gets to an outfitter to buy a new one. Since he can’t use the water hose he has to fill keep re-filling his water bottle by pouring it in. No biggie. Just extra time.

Grafton Notch in Oxford, ME - (1495) – steep climb down from 2,500 1st thing in the morning. Then it was back up to Baldpate Mnt West(3,662) and Baldpate Mnt East(3,810), both had magnificent views of Sunday River and other mountains, rock faces, he followed the cairns. Said wind was blowing so hard it would blow him sideways. at times. Needed to keep steady footing.

Beautiful day. Low 70’s (perfect hiking) but very windy, almost 30 mph guests.

He stayed near Dunn Notch and the falls. After he set up camp he was going to check out the falls.  A bit later in the evening Moose and Tetherball showed up. Cool! More friends to camp with.

14.1 mile today 1,920.9 to date 257.4 left to go

Baldpate

Baldpate