Hiking Thru the AT

One Step at a Time!

[terryandmikehike]

[terryandmikehike]

The Finish...

The big “K” day...4 am came early (as usual) and we were on the trail by 5 am. I carried my pack, paired down with very little in it and the “brain” removed. Mike used a loaner day pack from the ranger station. It was a long day, 5 hrs and 20 minutes up, a 30 minute break at the top, and 4 hrs and 40 mins down for a 10.5 hour day! Katahdin is a tough hike, the first mile is easy, the second mile is average with some ascending on a trail of rocks but it’s the third and fourth mile of climbing up and over major rocks, boulders and slabs that is grueling on the knees and nerves that is a killer (for this slow, old body)! The last mile is a typical AT mountain ascent! Mile 2190.9 done for a 5.2 mile finish to the peak (10.4 mile day).

We are very thankful that our Trail Angels, Janet and Gus, were waiting for us in the parking lot right by the trail head! We enjoyed a beer, a hot shower, dinner at Olive Garden and some champagne to celebrate our accomplishment!

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A few photos from the 100 Mile Wilderness and Baxter State Park

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The 100 Mile Wilderness...and beyond!

The 100 Mile Wilderness is supposed to be just that, 100 miles of little access to civilization! But over the years this has changed somewhat and you can now get food drops on the logging roads, there is a hostel part way through and there are some AMC Huts in the wilderness with “vacationers” out for day hikes! There are also lots of lakes, ponds and streams! It is very beautiful.

July 22, 2018...we left town and had a long 15.1 mile hike to Long Pond Stream Lean to at mile 2091.5. The rain held out during the day until around 2:15 and we got the last two spots in the shelter. Heavy rain rolled in in evening! Saw a very active beaver damn today with three beavers swimming around! They flooded the trail so it has been rerouted around the water!

July 23, 2018...after a night of rain from 7 pm to 7 am we headed out at 7:30 am and conquered Barren Mtn (#11) and some little peaks not in our count before completing a 10.9 mile day, with a little light rain, at Chairback Gap Lean to at mile 2102.4. Slept in the shelter again due to forecast of rain! Ugh!

July 24, 2018...there were two brief rainstorms early in the morning so we were glad we slept in the shelter. Got on the trail at 7:30 and made good time on fairly easy terrain to Carl A Newhall Lean to at mile 2112.3 for a 9.9 mile day. Slept in our tent and fortunately stayed dry!

July 25, 2018...had a nice nights sleep back in our tent last night and hit the trail at 7:15 am. We made great time over our last three big peaks before the Big K! We met “Pappy” an 87 year old triple crowner out thru hiking on the south side of White Cap. If he succeeds he will be the oldest known Hiker to thru hike! We made it to Logan Brook Shelter by 1 pm. We had originally planned to stay at this shelter but had lunch and pushed on. Spent the night at East Branch Lean to at mile 2123.1 for a 10.8 mile day. Got a good peek of Katahdin on the north side of White Cap. Slept in the shelter again due to the forecast for more rain.

July 26, 2018...it rained most of the night so we were glad to be in the shelter. Hit the trail at 6:45 am in the rain and got to Cooper Brook Lean to by 11 am for an early lunch. The rain stopped, we hiked on, our clothes were just about dry and it poured rain again. Got to Antlers Campsite at mile 2139.1 for a 16 mile day. We set up our tent before it started to rain again but we ate in our tent. The rain stopped around 8 pm so we were able to enjoy the sunset and the beauty of the campsite on the peninsula of a lake.

July 27, 2018...hit the trail at 7:15 am and made it to the dock for White House Landing at mile 2145.2 for a 6.1 mile day by 10 am. White House is a beautiful place, with cabins on a lake, off the grid and very peaceful. No internet but they do have cell service, a generator, propane hot water, lights, stoves and refrigerator. We did our laundry in a wash tub and hung it on a line. There was a big thunder and lightning storm around 4 pm!

We saw the weather forecast for next week and due to the forecast of a 50% chance of rain on Wednesday, Mike’s 60th Birthday, we decided to summit on Tuesday instead. Fortunately our trail angels, Janet and Gus, are flexible with coming to get us!

July 28, 2018...there was rain during the night so we were glad to be inside. Despite the forecast for rain all day, we got to the dock without getting wet and except for a small storm while we were eating lunch at a shelter it didn’t rain. We made it to the Rainbow Stream Lean to at mile 2160.8 for a 15.6 mile day. We slept in the Lean to again due to the forecast.

July 29, 2018...it rained last night so we were glad to be in the shelter. Hit the trail around 6:30 am and made decent time to Rainbow Ledges for a nice view of Katahdin. We pushed on to Hurd Brook Lean to at mile 2172.3 for a 11.5 mile day. Got in early at around 1:10 pm so it was an afternoon of relaxing. We have spent the last few nights with Stilin, a LASHER from Maryland but we will leave her behind at Abol Bridge Campground tomorrow.

July 30, 2018...hit the trail at 6:15 and made good time to Abol Bridge Campground by 8 am. Went into the camp store, bought some pastries, etc. and we thought we had some time to chill out before rushing to the Baxter State Park kiosk to sign up to camp at The Birches (limit 12) but three thru hikers came by and said “The Horde” (a group of a dozen or so hikers) were right behind them and planning to enter BSP that morning. I got Mike out of the bathroom and we did our fastest mile of the whole hike to the kiosk to sign up for a spot to camp! It was a little like being on the Amazing Race. The three ahead signed up, we were numbers four and five and a minute behind came two hikers for spots six and seven. The list did fill up quickly and hikers were scrambling for camping spots that might!

We continued on into the park and got to the Katahdin Stream Campground at mile 2185.7 for a 13.4 mile day. Set up our tent, ate lunch and hung out by the trailhead and saw Grits and Treeline again (they stopped by to check on trail magic they had left at ranger station).

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Our last zero day (thankfully...it’s hard to relax when there are miles to hike) but Monson is a great Hiker town! Tomorrow we enter the 100 mile wilderness with rain forecast all week and we have five nights, six days before another hostel stay! We will be wet, tired, stinky and off the grid pretty much right through until we summit Katahdin (hopefully) on August 1st!

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July 20, 2018...made it to Monson, ME at mile 2076.4 by noon after a nine mile morning. Had to Ford one river. When we got to the road there was trail magic in the form of tasty cakes so we indulged while waiting for a shuttle from Shaw’s Hostel. Last zero day tomorrow (and it’s the town festival day with fireworks) before we hit the trail Sunday (with a prediction of rain ALL week)! 100 Mile Wilderness bring it on!

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I’m all for the ADA but we laugh every time we see an ADA accessible privy on the trail. The trail leading to the one above is about a foot wide with tall grass on both sides, not to mention the ups, downs, roots and rocks leading up to that point!

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Almost to Monson, ME

July 17, 2018...it’s always hard to leave a hostel but it’s even harder with the threat of storms in the forecast. And of course we weren’t even back to the trailhead when it started to thunder and sprinkle. Pretty soon it was a serious rain and we were soaked but it stopped after about an hour.

Fortunately we had an easy 5.7 miles to the Pleasant Pond Lean-to at mile 2045.4 and we arrived in less than three hours. Our original plan was to hang out at the Caratunk B&B for a few hours this morning since we knew we had an easy, short hike but we decided to get to the lean-to and hang out for the day. When we arrived we put up our tent before more rain came and now we are hanging in the Lean to to eat, read, play cards (I bought a deck in Caratunk for this purpose). It may be a long afternoon!

We saw six toads on our way today!

July 18, 2018...yesterday went by quicker than I thought it would. We hung out in the shelter a little bit and chatted with a NOBO from Australia while he stopped by to eat and get out of a second storm front that came through. We then stayed in our tent and played cards, read and relaxed.

Today we started a little later at 8 am and had a somewhat steep start up and over Pleasant Pond Mtn. We stopped to dry out our tent on the top and continued on through a rocky, rooty trail of ups and downs to Moxie Pond and then Bald Mtn Brook lean to at mile 2054.4 for a nine mile day. We picked wild blueberries today that I got to enjoy when we got to the tent site!

We saw a tiny mole, tiny snake and our tiniest toad yet (it was a one toad day) today! We completed another summit, only six to go!

July 19, 2018...we started the day with another climb, this time up and over Moxie Bald Mtn which was very nice. Only five more “peaks” to go!

We continued on and made good time over a fairly easy trail to the Horseshoe Canyon Lean to at mile 2067.4 for a 13 mile day.

Along the way we met an older couple going south and we stopped to chat. They are section hiking to Caratunk and then going home to Erie, PA leaving them Monson to Katahdin to finish the trail. However, the woman is originally from Staatsburg, NY and she graduated from FDR HS (same HS as Mike) but in the class of ‘66. She knows Maria Glover; I tried to think of someone around her age that we knew and got one on the first try! Her maiden name is Kuhn, her brother (now her nephew) owns Stats Paving. It sure is a small world...sometimes we just pass hikers and say hello, sometimes we chat about the trail, and sometimes we chat and find out where people are from like this time. We do tend to chat longer with the hikers closer to our age.

No toads today but we did see two frogs! Tomorrow we have 9 miles into the town of Monson, last town before the 100 mile wilderness and Katahdin.

[terryandmikehike]

July 16, 2018

Another relaxing zero day, but it is actually hard to sit around when there are miles to cover. Caratunk B&B Hiker Hostel is a nice place with great breakfasts, milkshakes and pulled pork sandwiches; and today they had a nice chocolate cake. Paul, the owner is friendly and has hiked both the AT and the PCT. Unfortunately tomorrow when we hit the trail again it is supposed to be raining but we have a short (less than six miles) hike to a shelter where we will sit out the afternoon storms. We expect to get to Monson on Friday afternoon and start the 100 mile wilderness on Sunday!

[terryandmikehike]

[terryandmikehike]

From Stratton to the Kennebec River Canoe Ferry!

July 12, 2018...we were dropped off by Justin of the Hostel of Maine at 8:30 and had a nice easy 1.8 warm up before starting a 2000 foot ascent over 2.5 miles to an unnamed start of the Bigelows (not part of our remaining peak count but should have been). We then made it up and over South Horn and Bigelow West Peak (a very pointy peak) before heading down a bit to the Avery Memorial (Bigelow Col) Campsite at mile 2010.8. It’s at an elevation of 3838 feet so we expect a colder night of tenting. Only saw two toads today, no moose droppings but we conquered two more peaks, only nine to go!

July 13, 2018...slept in a little this morning so we didn’t hit the trail until around 7:40. We had an immediate serious uphill climb to the top of Avery Peak. As we were walking across the peak we saw a helicopter come up from a nearby landing strip. It ended up landing (sort of which the front of its skids on the ground) on top of Bigelow West Peak which was less than a half mile away as the crow flies. We could see very clearly that they seemed to be rescuing someone although we wondered if it was a drill. Found out later from a NOBO who was at the shelter about 3 Mikes south of us that a woman fell and hurt her ankle around 5 pm last night. She hit her emergency SPOT device and a rescue crew hiked in and got to her around 10:30 last night. They stayed with her all night and the helicopter came in this morning.

After leaving Avery we ventured along and finally made it over Little Bigelow to finish off the Bigelow range. Two more peaks done, seven to go!

We made it to Little Bigelow Lean to at mile 2018 for a 7.2 mile day. Our first night tenting at a lean to area this trip (the rest have been campsites or stealth spots). Saw eight toads today!

July 14, 2018...cloudy day today with a little light rain in the morning but nothing bad. We suspected we may have planned a short day and we got to our original camping destination (West Carry Pond lean to) before 1 pm so we had lunch there and moved on to a stealth spot near the East Carry Pond Beach area at mile 2029.5 for a 11.5 mile day. It’s unfortunate it isn’t hotter out because we could easily swim in the beautiful pond.

We are now getting to Caratunk tomorrow afternoon instead of Monday morning. We are using one of our two extra days to zero in Caratunk on Monday but taking the day we gained by hiking extra today in the early part of the 100 mile wilderness; we were concerned we had planned too many miles for a few of the days where there are numerous ups and downs. Only saw two toads today!

July 15, 2018...got up and got an early 6:30 am start this morning as we wanted to be sure we caught the Kennebec River Canoe ferry. Made good time to Pierce Pond Lean to and took a short break.

Just as we headed out again it started to rain. So we put our pack covers on and continued on. It rained and thundered the rest of the way and stopped just as we made it to the river and just as the ferry had started up again! We only had to wait a few minutes for our ride across!

We made it to US 201, mile 2039.7 by noon for a 10.2 mile morning. We are staying at the Caratunk B&B for two nights. Our first order of business was their famous milkshake and pulled pork sandwich!

Saw a record 14 toads today although the 14th may have been a tree frog!

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July 11, 2018...we have enjoyed our stay here at the Hostel of Maine but tomorrow we must hit the trail again as we continue our journey to Katahdin. It will be difficult to leave! Today we ate breakfast , went to the grocery store, relaxed, ate lunch, relaxed, played corn hole, rested (different than relaxing), had a beer, went out for a very nice dinner with two other SOBO’s, ate a piece of yummy chocolate cake and now we are in bed!

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Moving north and counting toads...

July 7, 2018...today was a beautiful day, sunny with a little breeze and blue skies. It was a moderate 8 mile hike over Saddleback Mtn and The Horn to Redington Campsite at mile 1978.5. It’s a little buggy at the campsite but we are relaxing in the tent before dinner.

July 8, 2018...it was a much chillier night last night than our first four in the tent but actually more comfortable for sleeping. Today was another beautiful day, a little warmer and less breeze than yesterday but we also only had one real ascent to do up and over Saddleback Junior. We are stealth camping at mile 1985.8 by Perham Stream after only 7.3 miles today. Washed up in the stream and now we are relaxing in the tent (notice a routine).

We counted the peaks we have ascended so far this trip (nine in eight days) and what we have left (15 including Katahdin in what we expect to be 24 more days total including zero days). We were pretty excited about the number 15!

July 9, 2018...another beautiful day for hiking today! We made it up and over Lone Mtn fairly quickly and at Spaulding Mtn Lean-to took a nice snack break before “almost” summitting Spaulding Mtn (the AT is .1 shy of the summit).

Just past Spaulding Mtn is a bronze plaque about the completion of the last 200 miles of the trail. So we now have less than 200 miles to go!

We moved on to skirt the summit of Sugarloaf Mtn (.6 shy) which we weren’t counting as one of our remaining peaks but the descent down to the South Branch of the Carrabassett River was a tough one. A steep pile of boulders to climb over and around.

We ended our day at the Crocker Cirque Campsite at mile 1995.4 for a 9.6 mile day. We counted toads today, saw 12 total but the first 8 were within the first half mile of our day! It’s amazing the variation in colors of the toads and they range in size from the size of my big thumb to the size of my fist. They can also be a hazard to avoid stepping on! Completed two more peaks, 13 to go!

July 10, 2018...despite some morning clouds and a few sprinkles, we made it up and over South and North Crocker and down to ME 27 (mile 2002.7) without any issues by 1 pm for a 7.3 mile day. Got picked up by Justin from the Hostel of Maine (a beautiful place by Sugarloaf Ski Resort) and we are spending two nights here with a zero day tomorrow.

Saw five toads today and two snakes, you can read into that as much as you want. Two more peaks completed, 11 to go! We have now completed more than 2000 miles of the trail!

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Friday, July 6, 2018

As predicted the rains came this morning at around 5 am. Fortunately it stopped for awhile so we could pack up our tent and hit the trail. Unfortunately it rained more as we made our way over an easy 4.8 miles to ME4, Rangeley at mile 1970.5. The best part is that the heat wave broke with the rain. Got picked up by the Fieldstone Inn Hostel and had a nice shower before having lunch at Sarges Pub. Then we did our laundry and picked up a few things at the local IGA to supplement the maildrop we sent with our food resupply. Now we are relaxing and catching up on the world affairs off the trail. Back at it tomorrow.

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Photos from the past few days...

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We finally have cell service at our camping spot!

July 2, 2018...our 35th wedding anniversary! Yesterday we met two NOBO hikers at the GNSP parking lot, “Has No Horse” and “ Red”. They also spent last night at The Cabin. Turns out Red is good friends with “Johnny Walker” who we met and spent time with while hiking NH last year, it’s a small world.

Started out this morning, after a nice breakfast, at East B Hill Rd around 8 am. The trail was semi-easy today and we took our time and took a couple of decent breaks including lunch at the Hall Mountain Lean to. Came down the 1500 feet in a mile and a half (fairly steep but with some steps and switchbacks) and we are camping at Sawyer Brook Campsites at mile 1941.5 for a 7.5 mile day. Found a nice tent spot, set up camp, washed up in the brook and have time to relax before dinner. Today didn’t feel as hot since we were under the trees and didn’t have any seriously steep ascents.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018...it was a hard day of hiking today. First we had to go up steep Moody Mtn which took awhile. The descent wasn’t too bad except for the bugs but then we had to climb up Old Blue Mtn which was steep and had some hard spots during the heat of the day. But we made it! The 1.6 Mile descent to the Unnamed Gap (mile 1948.5) where we are stealth camping was the easiest part of our 7 mile day!

Our tent spot isn’t the best, there’s a little slant to the feet so we will need to do some creative positioning of clothes and such to make it more comfortable.

Happy 4th of July...today was a relatively easy hike of 7.8 miles to a campsite by the Bemis Stream at mile 1956.3.

The hike over Bemis Mtn was easy and we stopped for lunch at the Bemis Mtn lean to. After lunch we hiked on a bald like area out in the hot 90 degree sun so that wiped us out a bit. But we did see some Grouse with babies up on the top. There was a semi-steep descent to a road where there was some trail magic of cold drinks! We washed up in the stream which sometimes requires fording but we should be able to rock hop it tomorrow morning (stay tuned for outcome)!

July 5, 2018...while resting in our tent last night, a couple came up to our tent with cold soda trail magic. That was a first! Very nice couple from Lewiston, ME who drive all the way to this road twice a week to provide trail magic to AT hikers. They usually grill burgers and dogs but today it was late so they just had soda. Numerous SOBO’s came along and got soda too!

It was another very buggy evening yesterday (like Tuesday night) so we resorting to pants and jackets while eating dinner. It helped a little but we will be happy when it cools off a bit!

We decided not to chance having wet feet all day so we kept our sandals on as we headed out and crossed the stream. It was another hot day but the trail was fairly easy. Made it up the first mile ascent pretty quickly but that’s because the mosquitos were ferocious if we stopped. Beautiful view at ME17 and a nice bench to sit on for a little bit.

We are camping at the Little Swift River Pond Campsites tonight at mile 1965.7 for a 9.4 mile day. Went for a swim in the pond to cool off! There is a group of campers here; we hope they have early lights out!

We are expecting storms tonight but fortunately we only have 4.8 miles into ME4, Rangeley where we plan to spend the night.

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July 1, 2018...we left our car at East B Hill Rd, got a 20 minute ride from Bear to the spot we left off last year at Grafton Notch State Park (2018 Mile 1923.7) and then took almost 9.5 hours to slack pack 10.3 miles back to our car at East B Hill Rd (mile 1934). It was a hot, humid, buggy day but we made it up and over Baldpate West and East Peaks and then down to Dunn Falls. Tomorrow we hit the trail with our full packs. Staying at The Cabin with Honey and Bear has been a nice experience; they have so many years of AT experience and trail knowledge and they are very hospitable!