Chapter 2 - Hike To Grasse Pond, Debar Mountain Wild Forest

We'd hiked into the Debar Mountain Wild Forest to the Grasse Pond lean-to (see yesterday's post) and had just arrived at the southern end of Grasse Pond. The dogs began running excitedly toward the pond for a closer look:

The trail between the lean-to and Grasse Pond was, appropriately, all covered with grass and became spongier and bouncier as we made our way toward the water. It became apparent that we were walking on a floating peat bog:

Seamus was headed toward the pond with gusto, but stopped short of the water when he realized that the surface beneath him was becoming too treacherous to hold his weight::

I stopped short of the water also as I surely didn't want to break through the floating peat bog. But Grasse Pond was a gorgeous and pristine wild lake. I knew that I was seeing something sacred:

Being much lighter and more adventurous, Daphne continued to bounce through the grass like a silly little bunny rabbit. She sure has fun:

I was wearing brand new shoes and they were sinking into the water with each step. I didn't want to ruin them, so began moving back toward dry land. This picture shows the sphagnum surface on which we walked, complete with water bubbling to the surface, grasses and cranberry plants:

The path became less spongy and more stable as we returned toward the lean-to:

Once back in the forest, we began the return trip to the trail head:

We passed by the lean-to once again and the dogs, of course, checked one more time for dropped food or bacon drippings. Hope never dies:

Having found no food scraps, we all continued on our way:

My dogs stayed together very nicely, perhaps because it was such easy going. They still had a marvelous time, though, playing and sniffing and peeing and doing all the usual dog things:

Back through the deep forest we traveled, the trail seeming to me to be much longer than it had when we walked going the other way. Since the trail was unmarked and there were a few side trails, I began to wonder if I'd made a wrong turn. But I'll post more tomorrow: