July 14

Up early for my 9.2 mile hike to the highway.  It didn't cool off until around 10 last night.  I pulled the rainfly half off for more air circulation.  After that I slept well.

So five miles into my hike I hear this rustling off to the side of the trail and turn to look and I thought I saw what looked like a coyote but I wasn't sure.  I walked back down trail a few yards and didn't see anything.  Then as I continued up trail the hair on the back of my head stood up.  Oh My God !!!!!  There not 20 yards in front of me in the middle of the trail is a lynx.  A beautiful mature lynx.  I recognized it immediately having seen plenty of bobcats in the El Paso area and this was no bobcat.  This cat was easily twice as big.  For ten seconds we made eye contact, I didn't move a muscle and neither did the cat.  I'm sure my heart rate doubled.  I slowly reached down for my tablet to snap a picture and before I even touched it the cat disappeared into the woods.  I continued to get my tablet setup for a picture but I never saw the lynx again.  Those ten seconds made my entire trip worthwhile because up to this point I hadn't seen any big game like a bear or moose.  There I was face to face with one of the most elusive animals in nature.  I still get chills just thinking about it.  And I will never forget making eye to eye contact with this beautiful wild animal.

I made it to the highway and almost immediately got a ride into Rangeley, Maine.  I'm staying at the Farmhouse Inn a hiker friendly hostel.  It's full of southbound  thru hikers.  There's only two of us here  that are northbound.  I did my laundry, and showered.  Feeling good and lucky about my big cat encounter.