David Gilbarte

7/28/26 Piazza Rock Lean-to (1979.1) to Spaulding Mountain Lean-to (1996.0)

Mo came up to my tent this morning before I had gotten up and gave me a breakfast sandwich he had taken a few bites out of. Then I walked 16.9 miles and summited 4 mountains. There’s only one more main Maine mountain range range and a couple of small ones before the 100 mile wilderness which is relatively flat. Today was cool because the terrain was like a mini version of the whites but there was hardly anyone around. I saw one other NOBO the whole day and then radar and duck at camp. Yesterday’s campsite had a large privy complete with two seats and in-flight entertainment. The privy at this campsite doesn’t even have walls and it’s probably 10 feet from the trail in plain view. Neither of these particularly phased me so perhaps it’s a good thing I’ll emerge from the woods soon. It’s been interesting to be conflicted between the fact that as a matter of percentage the trail is almost done, yet I still need to hike absolutely all day for almost another two weeks to complete it. There’s also the tug-of-war of being ready to have it accomplished but not wanting it to be over. I guess the moral of the story is that as usual I don’t know anything about anything and walking in the woods all day doesn’t cure that. I do know that I want to see a moose and it evaded me once again. Onward.