100 Mile Wilderness

Day 168 Monson To Long Pond Stream Lean-to — AT Daily Miles 15.1; AT Total Miles 2097.8

Airhead and I were able to finally leave Shaw’s after a triple zero. We were trying to avoid as much bad weather as we could in the 100 Mile Wilderness in beyond. I think we did that to a degree even though it rained the first three hours we were on the trail today. In the end, we hit our goal of 15 miles even with the later start. It took until 6 PM for that to happen.

The trail today was very hard with a lot of elevation gain. It was also really slippery because of the rain and the many roots and rocks. Airhead and I each fell once during the day. Neither of us were hurt, but I did have a decent cut on my shin. Nothing that won’t heal or stop me from continuing. There were also three different stream fords. None were particularly hard but they slowed us down.

The first day in the 100 Mile Wilderness was a success in my opinion. If we can stick to schedule, which won’t be easy, we would have six total hiking days left. So after tomorrow, I’ll be able to count those days on one hand, which means something to me. I also want to be able to see a moose at least once in the wilderness. Then it would really be successful!

Tomorrow there’s a high chance of rain again. If it’s not raining early, will try to get a good start and see how much we can do before afternoon rain showers. I think I saw that we have to climb over four different mountains tomorrow and have one stream ford. Sounds a little brutal when you’re trying to get in 21 miles. We will see.

Entering the Wilderness

Beaver Pond

Got to Ford

Day 169 Long Pond Stream To Stealth Site — AT Daily Miles 16.8; AT Total Miles 2114.6

Seems to me like the Appalachian Trail is throwing everything it can at us before we finish. Today included four mountain top crossings, a ford of a stream, a thunderstorm, and more rocks and roots than I could possibly count. At the end of the day we fell about 4 miles short of our goal and that will need to be made up over the next three days. So it was a very solid day all things considering.

Out of the shelter before 7 AM, we were on the trail and immediately climbed the first of those four mountains. It was steep and long, but at least it was first thing in the morning. It wasn’t too hot yet so we still had a decent amount of energy to tackle it. It was really hard to make good time with all the rocks and roots. Maine seems to be full of them. Really hoping they ease up over the next few days so we can make some of that time up that we are behind on.

Our low point of the day was after we went across the fourth mountain, it stormed for about 90 minutes. We tried to stay sheltered as best we could under a rock ledge, but it could only do so much. When we got back on the trail, it was so flooded that we just had to walk down the center of it and get wet and muddy. We knew the very end of the day included another ford across a stream so at least that would wash us off to a point. It will be fun in the morning to put on those wet clothes.

There was one milestone for the day as we crossed the 2100 mile marker for the trek. The Appalachian Trail is about 2197 miles long this year so technically we won’t cross the 2200 mile marker. Airhead and I may add a 2200 mile marker though. The north terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Katahdin but you still have to hike 5 miles back down to where you started that last day. So our mileage is over 2202, right?

2100 Miles!

Old Plane Crash

Loving the View

Day 170 Stealth Site To Crawford Pond — AT Daily Miles 20.8; AT Total Miles 2135.4

I would call today a successful one. Airhead and I were able to get in over 20 miles and make up some of the mileage we missed on the first two days of the 100 Mile Wilderness. We were behind about four miles and made up two of them. That leaves 48 miles to get into Baxter State Park where we will have two days to hike in and summit Katahdin. The end is near?

First things first though. We had a full day ahead of us today. Not only did we need to get in 20+ miles and over four mountains in the process, one of those mountains was the tallest in the wilderness. Airhead and I did it though getting into camp late once again, around 6 PM, exhausted and ready for a quick dinner and bed. I have a feeling the next two days will be very similar. Although the terrain will be easier, the days will be longer mileage wise.

Tomorrow is food drop day. Shaw’s Hostel offers a service where they will drop your food at a predetermined point so you don’t have to carry 100+ miles worth. Airhead and I chose the 60 mile drop option meaning we carried our food for the first three days and then resupplied for the last 60ish miles. This method saved half the food carry, three plus day’s worth, which would have been extremely heavy. Of course it isn’t cheap to do it, but we think it’s worth it.

Above the Trees

Waterfall

So Green

Day 171 Crawford Pond To Woodleigh Stream — AT Daily Miles 23.8; AT Total Miles 2159.2

We were up early and on the trail before 7 AM. We needed to be at the food pick up point at 10 AM and it was 6 miles away. We never know how the trail is going to be so we set out with plenty of time. The trail ended up being pretty tame and we were there half an hour early. To our surprise there was trail magic already waiting there for us! We enjoyed that for about an hour until the resupply truck showed up. And it had pizza! It was quite a great start for the day ahead.

Overall, I think the day could best be described as rooty. The trail followed along a lot of lakeshore and streams which tend to attract roots. I think we walked over a zillion of them which made our progress really slow. I thought it was very pretty but you’re constantly looking at your feet. The only time the roots let up on us was when they gave way to rocks, which are almost as bad.

I think the highlight of the day was the view from a lake of Katahdin itself. It looks quite imposing even though it’s still fairly far away. Katahdin is over 5000 feet tall and since we will be starting the climb that day at 1000 feet, will be quite the day. But that day is still three days away at this point. We still have a 23 mile day tomorrow and a 10 mile day in Baxter State Park the following day.

The end of the trek is near. Airhead and I are both excited and ready. We’ve put out a lot of work in the 100 Mile Wilderness and are pretty worn out. I like to tell people that we average age 65 between us since I am 60 and he is 70. These two old men are up to the challenge though and in three days should be done with the Appalachian Trail!

Good Morning!

Trail Magic

Katahdin!

Day 172 Woodleigh Stream To Abol Bridge — AT Daily Miles 23.1; AT Total Miles 2182.3

The stay in the shelter last night was not very relaxing considering mice were running all over the place. You could hear them scurrying on the roof and all around us. I did manage to get a little bit of sleep but still woke up at 5 AM to get ready for the trail. We had a big day ahead of us and wanted to get started before 7 AM which we did.

The woods of Maine are beautiful, but I can’t say a lot about the trail conditions. I miss the long stretches of the south. In Maine it seems like it’s more roots than anything else. They are only interrupted by bogs and rocks. There aren’t a lot of stretches where you can really just look around and not stare at the trail in front of you watching where you step. Maybe I’m being a little harsh but that’s how it feels at the moment. That said it’s an incredibly beautiful and rugged state, and I’m lucky to be here.

Despite the hard trail, Airhead and I were able to complete the 100 Mile Wilderness in five days as we had planned. It took averaging about 23 miles a day for the last three days but we did it. We were at the campground by about 6 PM and had time to get some food and showers before bed. It was loud in the campsite because of the RV campers but beggars can’t be choosers. We made the best of it.

Tomorrow we will depart by 6 AM to get to Baxter State Park and get in line for one the coveted spots at The Birches Campground. Only 12 people can stay there so we want to make sure we get two of those spots and be close to the trailhead for Katahdin. So tomorrow will be a 10 mile day, which is a welcome change, but with rain forecasted for around noon it could still be a tough one. Fingers crossed the rain holds off for enough time for us to get to the campground to get our tents set up. We will be up early the following day to finish the trek.

Katahdin View

Ledges Walking

What A Sunset!