Day 13 - The Moose of Optimism (14/7/2016)

So happy I chose this site: I woke up this morning to a moose in my campsite! She bolted as soon as she saw me, but this is the first moose I've seen in the wild, other than while driving.

Last night I committed to trying for 19 miles today (30km). In my moose-inspired optimism, I headed off on that goal. This was not a wise decision. By the time I'd covered 17 or so (including two summits, with another to come and what looks to be a steep descent, which means a long rock scramble), I knew I needed a campsite or I'd be hiking in the dark.

Luckily I found one.

And then, almost immediately after setting up my tent, I heard it.

A rumble.

Distant at first, but the time between flashes of light, and bursts of thunder was getting shorter.

I bedded down hoping that the Moose of Optimism would grace me with a dry night, to make the ascent up to, and descent down from, Pleasant Mountain easier. It was all in her hands now.

Besides the hiking adventures and for a bit of fun, I've started a little reward for other SOBOs who like to read. A friend lent me a light paperback for the trail (thanks DM!). Today I tore off the first chapter and left it at a shelter for another SOBO to find. I'll leave more chapters at upcoming shelters to create a sort of SOBO Serial Novelisation. I hope someone gets to enjoy it.

Start:West Branch Pistataquis River
End: Saddle between Middle and Pleasant Mountains.
Distance: ~17.5 miles (28 kms)