This has to be one of the prettiest shelter locations on the entire trail! Cooper Brook cascades over some layered rocks into a deep pool 30 feet from the shelter. The only thing missing is trout in the water and more hours in the day so that I can go fishing for ‘em! Chestnut, Rockhound, MoonPie and I had dinner on the rocks overlooking the falls with Midnight and Gotta Hike, both former thru-hikers.

We had a beautiful, relaxed hike today over the peaks of 3,750 foot White Cap Mountain—the last mountain over 2,000 feet ‘til Katahdin. There’s such a difference between yesterday’s roots, rocks & mud and today’s easy cruisin’. We walked through 15 or 20 minutes of rain, dried off while walking and Chestnut & I just talked away the miles again. Rockhound and MoonPie walked behind us most of the day.

The view from White Cap was partially obscured so I have yet to see Katahdin. It’s only 60 miles away now, too! I was thinking it’d be funny to walk up Katahdin and finish the trail having never seen the entire mountain!

I saw my third moose of the trail today. She was eating in a lake just 5 miles from here. We passed a spruce grouse as well and it let me take pictures from just a foot away. Very cool.

We’re hanging out by the fire Rockhound built to burn his brown pair of socks (he seems convinced the orange and yellow pairs will carry him to Katahdin.) The heat from the fire feels great on this cool, bug-free night. I usually retire to my tent about this time but am trying to capture a few more moments with the crew, talking about plans for the final four days of the trip.

If the walking for the next few days is as flat and easy as it looks, this will be an extremely pleasant end to the trip! Now if only Hoplite would catch up with us! I miss that guy…