F-2016-9-16
Start:
Start of Spencer Stream, Unofficial campsite
End:
Stealth camp on shore of Spencer Lake, about ¼ mi from put-in. In other words, the end of Spencer Stream,
may it rest in hell.
On the
Way: Spencer Stream, Spencer Lake
Miles: IDK,
about 8. Grrr. Milepost: ~486.
Map: 9, 10
Weather: All clear
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| Map 10: Spencer Stream to Moosehead Lake, ME |
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| Trail Overview |
Alas and Alack! Woe
and Tragedy! I seem to have lost The
Book. As if I needed to have any more
reason to hate Spencer Stream, which was 6 miles of boulder fields and downed
trees that, by the end, I was bull-moosing my way through, dragging Dieter
across the rocks instead of navigating them with any sort of strategy. I usually keep The Book strapped under my
front deck elastic, wrapped in 2 sealed Ziplocs, ready to be consulted at a
moment’s notice. And I did consult it: I
remember pulling it out for a look today at about 1130. After that, I don’t recall using it, and only
noticing it was missing during my evening gear shake-out. In the morning, I’ll paddle back the ¼ mile to
the horrendous dam I pulled over last and see if I left it there. If not, I’ll consider it lost to the grabby
dead tree-fingers of Spencer Stream, because there’s no way in hell I’m
back-tracking there. Maybe someone will
find its pulpy remains during the Spring Thaw.
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| Goodnight, Sweet Prince. |
What will we do without the book? Make do with the impotent-by-comparison
official guide, I guess, and see if I can buy or scan a copy in Jackman, or
look up all the Trail updates at once.
But I so liked my copy. I was
keeping notes and updates to send along to Katina… It was so useful, and the official guidebooks
and maps are so obtuse by comparison.
I hate losing important things, both on and off the
Trail. Every now and then, I just get
stuck in a rut of mindlessly misplacing important tools for maintaining a
responsible life, and there’s nothing that makes me feel more incompetent. First the paddling gloves, then one of the
cotter pins from my wheels (fortunately I have two spares), and now of all
thing my Beloved Book of Beta. I tried
doing my beta reading with the official book tonight. I didn’t even know if it was describing the
Trail or a side trip! It’s so unfriendly
for through-paddlers. At least they
point out the map updates: I guess that’s the only critical part of wisdom
needed beyond the route.
Summary of the day: I look a late morning to go check out
the Hut. It was as expected. I bought a $1 muffin and looked up some
lyrics I’d been forgetting in their folksong book. I spent most of the day trudging up 6 miles
of a rocky stream, which very possibly might have cost me my guidebook. I hauled my boat up and over a 8’ rocky ledge
with minimal damage. I made some
sumptuous mac-n-cheese with carrots and finished a bag of candy corn to make
myself feel better.
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| The Grand Falls Hut, part of the Maine Huts and Trails system. It was pretty lush. Via MaineTravelMaven.com |
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| Pretty damn lush. Via NewEnglandRambler.wordpress.com . |
I miss my Book.
Things
Learned:
+ Never again, Spencer Stream.
+ Trying out sleeping with my neoprene socks on. Feet pretty sweaty already.
Trail
Magic:
+ Folksong book at the Great Falls Hut. I revised some lyrics, as well as adding some
fresh ones, in my internal jukebox.
+ Loons and Beavers carrying on here in Spencer Lake as I
drop off to sleep…
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| My view from my hammock. Besides one house across the lake, I couldn't see a soul, which is the idea for stealth camping. |
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| The hammock setup. Had to search quite a bit for some birches that didn't bend in a worrisome manner under the weight of the hammock. |
[NOTE- I found out later in Jackman that right across the
Lake from where I stealthed was a WWII POW camp for German troops captured in
North Africa (AKA, Rommel’s men). I’m
glad I learned that in retrospect—otherwise between the full moon and the wind
and my overactive imagination I would have never gotten to sleep.]
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