Trail Journal 09.28.02

Man, did we ever luck out!  Rain started last night after dinner and kept up all night.  Very hard at times.  By dawn, however, skies were beginning to clear so we were able to head out without the drenching we had feared.  Hiked 15.9 miles to Rainbow Stream Lean-to.  Seven of us are camped here but no one in the shelter.  Got a late start since we couldn't get a boat ride back to the trail till after breakfast so we did not get going until 10:00.  Breakfast was worth the wait, though:  scrambled eggs, bacon, muffins, homefries and blueberry pancakes.  I stuffed myself but not to the point of discomfort (I've learned that one lesson on this hike).  Walking was good.  Weather was partly--sometimes very--cloudy with a steady breeze.  Made for whitecaps and surf at Nahmankata Lake.  Climbed Nesuntabunt Mountain.  It was steep--I worked up a sweat--but short and over quickly.  Saw Katahdin as we came down; the peak was clouded over.  Coming into the shelter we hiked along Rainbow Stream which was running very strong, crashing down its rocky chasm.  Made for a nice end to a long day.  Tomorrow we'll be at Baxter State Park.  Almost done.