Date: 2009-07-26
From: East end of Rainbow Lake

To: The Birches (Katahdin Stream Campground)
Miles today: 17.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After a great nights sleep in serene setting we ate a hot breakfast on the shore of Rainbow Lake and then set off for the base of Katahdin! The up of the day was over Rainbow Ledges to Hurd Brook Shelter where we signed the last register on the trail. Made sure to say good bye to all we'd spent time with and to read the entries of those ahead of us. The next few miles to Abol Bridge were quite easy but unfortunately it started to drizzle as we were crossing. Stopped into the camp store where they had lots of snack food and some hot burgers. Ate quite a bit and did a little resupply to ensure we would have good treats to snack on as we summited Katahdin. Talked to Nosehose (who we had met in Virginia) as we were eating lunch and then hiked with him into Baxter State Park. We had a steady up hill along a stream for most of the afternoon but there was also two stream crossings. One of the crossings was particularly difficult and caused both Birdman and Nosehose to fall in. I managed to get across unscathed through some lucky jumps and Reeve just removed the boots and slogged through. The last few miles to the campground were easy and exciting. The four of us were like little children as we scampered up to the Ranger Station to check in. Pop and I were the 40th and 41st thru-hikers to check in this year and we heard that over 1400 had left Springer during 2009. Paid our ten dollars to stay at the campground and then walked about a quarter of a mile to get to the long distance hikers shelters. When we got there Carolina, Hillraiser, Stuff Sack, and the Boston Boys made us aware that the water was from the stream back at the ranger station. We were a little miffed that they didn't tell us that before we left but I made the walk back in crocs and got the necessary water. Had a good last dinner and went to bed around 10pm ready for the coming morning.ME birds: 5 ME list: 77Total species for the trip: 157Maine birds: Dark-eyed Junco, Swainson's Thrush, Ruffed Grouse, Blackpoll Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Bicknell's Thrush, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Magnolia Warbler, Winter Wren, Purple Finch, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Belted Kingfisher, Black & White Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Wilson's Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Parula, House Wren, American Robin, American Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, Morning Dove, Cedar Waxwing, American Redstart, Lousianna Waterthrush, Palm Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Common Loon, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Mallard, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Broad-winged Hawk, Downey Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Chipping Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Grackle, Evening Grosbeak, gull sp, Impidonax sp, Northern Flicker, Eastern Kingbird, Pine Siskin, Tennessee Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Chimney Swift, Mourning Warbler, Black-backed Woodpecker, Scarlet Tananger, Cliff Swallow, Osprey, Herring Gull, Killdeer, Canada Goose (77 species)