We did this hike on August 10, 2008.
Python, Dirigo, Dragonfly, Shoe, and Fairway met our shuttle just before 9AM at the entrance to Katahdin Ironworks just off of Route 11. Our shuttle was Boarstone from Whiteblaze. She suggested that we drive down to the West Branch of the Pleasant River to see if it would be safe to cross. We stopped at the check point so that Boarstone could pay the road fee. She said that we were all Maine residents so the cost was only $6 a person (Boarstone had a season pass).
Once we got to the river, Dirigo volunteered to test the depth of the water and walked half way across the river without any problem; the water was only knee high.
Dirigo making sure it was safe for us to cross the river
We then dropped Dirigo's truck off at Jo-Mary Road and Boarstone shuttled us back to the West Branch of the Pleasant River.
Boarstone told me that she also does food drops at Jo-Mary Road. Note, we had to stop at another check point on Jo-Mary Road to show them that we had already paid the road fee ($6 covered all the check points for the day).
We all safely crossed the river and switched back into our hiking boots; by this time it was 1:15 PM.
Dirigo & Python before crossing the river
Python crossing the river
The trail to the shelter was very muddy, wet, and slippery.
Dirigo & Fairway
We tried to keep our feet dry by avoiding the puddles and soft mushy mud.
Muddy Trail
About a mile before the shelter we were passed by a hiker in long pants who just sloshed through all the mud; his named was Burrow.
Just before 5 PM we saw bunch of tents up the hill and we started to celebrate making it to the first shelter! The tents belonged to the Maine Conservation Corp (MCC) and they told us that our lean-to was across the stream.
When we came to the stream crossing, Dirigo put on her crocs and easily rock hopped the big boulders to the other side.
Dirigo rocking hopping
Everyone else went downstream and rock hopped in a calmer section of the stream.
Shoe crossing the stream before the lean-to
Burrow and the mother & daughter flip-floppers from California (mom's name was Pearl) were already in the shelter. Shoe and Dragonfly decided to stay in the shelter, Fairway hung her hammock, and Dirigo and I tented. Around dusk Pickle and Raggedy Andy rolled in and asked everyone in the shelter to make room for two more people.
Carl Newhall Lean-to