Date: 2011-08-06
From: Monson, ME.

To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 114.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Left Monson on 8/1. Entered the 100 mile Wilderness, hiked pass Spectacle, Bell, and Lily Ponds. Pass Little Wilson Falls, and Stream (ford), Long Pond Stream (ford), and up Barren Mtn. to the Cloud Pond Lean-to. It is raining and I am sewing my pack. The shoulder strap is starting to unrapple. I have sewn it before, but this time I will also use a safety pin. I have used my sewing needle and thread a lot of times on the A.T. I would recommend taking a needle and some thread on a thru-hike. The next day I went up Fourth and Third Mtn., Columbus Mtn., Chairback Mtn., pass Katahdin Iron Works Rd., the West Branch Pleasant River (ford), the Hermitage, and up Gulp Hagas Mtn. to the Sidney Tappan Campsite where I tented in the rain. Me and my gear are completely rain soaked. The Carl A. Newhall Lean-to was full with other hikers, when I passed it in the rain, or I would have stayed there. This is why a hiker needs to be carrying everything on his back to survive on the Appalachian Trail. You can only depend on yourself. On 8/3 I went up Hay Mtn., White Cap Mtn., Forded the East Branch Pleasant River, up Little Boardman Mtn., and down to Antlers Campsite. Here I tented with other hikers. The campsite is on the edge of Lower Jo-Mary Lake. A group of young hikers gave me pizza. Silver Fox and Calf are here, too. The next day with the hardest part of hiking in Maine behind me, I passed Nahmakanta Lake, up Nesuntabunt Mtn., pass Crescent Pond to the Rainbow Stream Lean-to. Here Calf and I found a lot of food in the shelter left by other hikers. There was also 2 hikers here going SoBo. On 8/5 I crossed Rainbow Stream, passed Rainbow Lake, the Rainbow Ledges, pass Hurd Brook Lean-to, Abol Bridge, and on to the Birches, where I tented on a platform. I am now in Baxter State Park. At Abol Bridge campstore I got ice cream and snacks. Calf is the only hiker here at the Birches with me. At the Birches some people saw me and gave me apples, oranges, and watermelon. What a treat. It cost $10, payable at the Rangers' Station, to camp at the Birches. I got thru the 100 mile Wilderness in 4 1/2 days. I was #85 NOBO thru-hiker completeing the A.T. for 2011. On 8/6 I got me a daypack from the Rangers' Station, and summit Katahdin also known as Baxter Peak, using the Hunt Trail. It is about 10 miles roundtrip from the Birches to the summit. It was awesome up on the mountain. I took one picture at the summit and then my camera batteries failed me. Another thru hiker loan me his AA batteries so I could take more pictures. I took my pictures and gave the hiker his batteries back. What trail magic that was. The weather was perfect. Katahdin is Maines' highest mountain. Got back to the Rangers' Station at 2:15 PM, and waited for a ride. It wasn't long before me and Calf got a ride into Millinocket. We got a bunk at the Appalachian Trail Lodge and Cafe. The owners, Paul & Maime Renaud, have hiked the A.T. before. The bunks are $25 a night. I called home from the hostel. It was good to hear Sheila's voice. She was so happy for me, that I completed my dream. A reporter in Maine interviewed me about my adventures on the A.T. She said I would be on the news there. Millinocket is such a lovely small town. I will stay here until Monday, then I will start my trip home by bus. I will take a shuttle to Medway, where I will take the Cyr bus to Bangor. It cost $18.50 to take the bus to Bangor, Me. out of Medway. There I will be able to get a Greyhound bus to St. Louis, Mo. It cost $200 for the bus ride to St. Louis, Mo. Total cost to get home on the bus, from Millinocket, Me. to St. Louis, Mo. is $219. Thanks to everyone that's been following me. Thanks to all those people who have given me trail magic, without, this journey would have not been possible. Thanks to all your prayers. God has been with me the whole journey. Without his help, this magical journey would not have been possible. I want to give a special thanks to my wife, Sheila. She has been awesome. Every journey must end, but a new one begins. Always take the first step to your dream. Keep the homeless in your hearts. They need a hand up, not a hand down. Please give to Larry Rice, New Life Evangelistic Center of St. Louis. (314) 421-3020 He is doing a great job in helping the homeless. God puts the gold and silver where he wants too. Life is not about how many breaths that we take, but about what takes our breath away.In 2014 I went across America on my bike using the Adventure Cycling Maps. What a wonderful journey across small town America from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.You can see my journal for the trip at Louisayers30@wordpress.com DreamWalker