Date: 2014-08-09
From: Monson

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 109.3

I'll beg your forgiveness for compressing the 100-Mile Wilderness into a single entry. True to form, I did a terrible job documenting my progress during that stretch of trail and my recollections, now removed from the moment, just wouldn't be terribly in-depth on their own!I reluctantly left Monson on Tuesday 5 August. You'd think I'd relish making the final push, but it was tough leaving the comfort of town knowing that rain was in the forecast for the entire week. My first day in the wilderness was the hardest, with 26 miles of challenging climbs and descents between Monson and my destination at Chairback Gap. To make matters worse, I had to cover that distance carrying a full resupply! Still, I made steady progress and the weather held until late afternoon when a thunderstorm rolled through soaking me to the bone shortly after crossing Barren Mountain. I arrived at Chairback Gap Lean-To around 7:30 PM and found the shelter mostly full, courtesy of two couples hiking the wilderness. I was grateful to claim the last spot; it's a wonderful thing to find a dry place to sleep after spending hours in the rain!It was raining when I awoke on Wednesday 6 August, and given that I only had 20 miles to cover I took a bit longer than usual to get going. By the time I hit the trail at 7:15 AM the rain had tapered to a light drizzle, and it stopped shortly thereafter. The day's hiking took me down Chairback Mountain, across the ford at the West Branch of the Pleasant River, and past Gulf Hagas en route to Whitecap Mountain, where I hoped to catch my first glimpse of Katahdin. The climbing was tough over Gulf Hagas Mountain, West Peak, and Hay Mountain, but it was all worth it when I summited Whitecap Mountain and saw Katahdin on the horizon. It was partially obscured by clouds but was unmistakable given its size. It was an amazing moment, to finally see Trail's End after 2,100 miles of hiking. I had a brief moment to myself before being joined by a youth group that was hiking the wilderness, so I started down toward my destination at the East Branch Lean-To. When I arrived I encountered Kentucky Geologist and Slow Mosey, two section hikers who were completing the AT after 60 and 40 years of sectioning, respectively. Incredible dedication.I awoke early on Thursday 7 August intent on extending the day's planned 23.8 miles to 29.7. I was surprised to find Sole Power asleep in the shelter (I thought he was ahead of me), the first NOBO thru-hiker I'd seen since leaving Monson. I was on the trail by 6:15 AM and made rapid progress along some of the best footpath I'd seen since the mid-Atlantic. The roots and rocks occasionally reared their heads, but much of the day was largely flat and I spent several hours hiking on gently rolling trail covered in pine duff. It all made for speedy hiking, and I stepped on the gas late in the day when a thunderstorm rolled in dumping rain and pea-sized hail on me as I reached Nahmakanta Lake. The hail made the trail quite slippery, which was unique. I reached Wadleigh Stream Lean-To around 7 PM and encountered two SOBOs, Valley Girl, and Wildlife, who had bumped from Monson up to Jo-Mary Road to allow them to summit with friends. I was joined shortly after by Haiku (who I ran into earlier in the day at Potaywadjo Lean-To) and Sole Power, who had the same idea as me. We chatted for a bit about the end of our trip and the beginning of the SOBOs' before turning in.Friday was a shorter day because of my long day on Thursday, which as alright by me. The day's first task was climbing Nesuntabunt Mountain, which proved challenging even with a depleted food sack. The view from the summit was fabulous--16 mile line-of-sight to Katahdin--and it permitted me to get a text message out to Britta who would be leaving shortly with my parents to meet me at Baxter State Park. It was a wonderful way to start the day. The rest of the day passed uneventfully save for a final afternoon soaking while coming over the Rainbow Ledges. I will NOT miss getting rained on! I reached my day's destination--Hurd Brook Lean-To--at around 4 PM and decided to press on to Abol Bridge and the campground and store located there. It would make for a 23-mile day, but it was worth it to complete the wilderness in four days and get a proper meal! I arrived at the campground shortly after 5 PM and found Lunch standing outside. We chatted for a bit before heading into the campground to set up out tents. We met up for dinner at the restaurant and were soon joined by Trail Bunny, who was waiting for Long Haul Trucker to emerge from the Wilderness. We polished off our food and some ice-cream before turning in for the night.Saturday was a big day, as it would bring entry into Baxter State Park and my reunion with my parents and Britta at Katahdin Stream Campground. I had thought about that day for months, imagining what it would feel like to walk across that footbridge into BSP, what it would mean to reunite with my loved ones at trail's end. The day began with Lunch, Trail Bunny, and I waiting for breakfast sandwiches outside the campground store. They never materialized thanks to the cook's alleged flat tire. So we ate junk food and chatted for a bit, biding our time until we could hit the trail (we all needed to reach KSC at specified times, and we didn't want to arrive too early). Lunch and I started off together but soon took off on our own, wanting to savor the moment and reflect on it alone. The hiking was easy save for a challenging ford of the Nesowadnehunk Stream's lower fork, and frankly all I wanted to do was reach KSC and see Britta and my folks! I reached KSC at a little before 1 PM, stopped at the ranger station and signed the trail register, scouted out the Hunt Trail trailhead for the the following morning's hike, and sat down at a picnic table to wait for my parents and Britta. Lunch joined me and we chatted for a bit, reflecting on what it mean to be there in the shadow of Katahdin. Shortly after 1 PM I saw a rental car pull up; Britta and my parents piled out, I grabbed my stuff, and went to meet them. It was wonderful. We left shortly after and drove to Millinocket, where we'd spend the night before summiting Katahdin on Sunday. Special thanks to Lunch for returning my phone, which I left at KSC in my haste to meet my loved ones!