The Hermitage Preserve

When I woke up this morning, I felt like both of us needed a little time to recover physically; we'd been pushing hard since entering the 100-mile Wilderness. I planned to only hike 7.5 miles today, so we didn't leave camp until almost 11 a.m.

Note from Admin.: Fisher was out of cell service range today, so other than the previous information and SPOT GPS locations, we did not receive any additional information or photos for today. The following paragraph is a summary of what we know based on the SPOT transmission. Look for more information later in the week.

Fisher and Forest hiked from the Logan Brook Lean-to, past the Carl A. Newhall Lean-to, which was the original target location for the day. Perhaps they were feeling stronger, or the terrain seemed easier, or the views motivated them...for whatever reason they continued on through the Gulf Hagas area, which the North Maine Woods organization characterizes as, "a primitive area and help for lost or injured hikers may be many hours and miles away. Inexperienced or ill-prepared hikers and families with young children should be cautious about tackling the Gulf Hagas Rim Trail, which is a difficult and often slippery hike. Consider stopping at the Hermitage, a beautiful old growth pine stand owned by the Nature Conservancy, or at Screw Auger Falls.

"You can access Gulf Hagas from Hay Brook, where there is a small parking area. It is a short distance from the parking area to the West Branch of the Pleasant River. The river is about 150 feet wide at the trail crossing point. There is no bridge. In the summer; the current is usually mild and the water usually about knee deep (for an adult of average height). In the spring, and following heavy rains, the current is swifter and the water deeper. The Hermitage is about ½ mile from the parking lot. Screw Auger Falls is about a mile beyond the Hermitage. The trail is moderately difficult."

(http://www.northmainewoods.org/ki-jo-mary/gulfhagas.html)

At 8 p.m., Fisher and Forest stopped to collect water and set up camp on the south side of the West Branch Pleasant River and the east side of Henderson Brook, around Mile Marker 84.7. They are currently about 30 miles from the end of the 100-mile Wilderness.