Date: 2016-08-23
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Stealth Camping Spot near North End of 100 MW
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: clear sky

Aug 23, 2016 - Today, I passed out of the 100 mile wilderness near Abol Bridge on the border of Baxter State Park. I had an easy 14.7 miles to hike to put me in a position to hike to the Birches Lean-to near Katahdin Stream Campground in BSP tomorrow. As I hiked up to the Rainbow Ledges, I was really hoping for a look at Katahdin, which I still hadn't seen. At last, I looked to my left through a picturesque opening in the trees and there stood this impressive monolith. I felt like I was back in Florence, Italy, looking at Michelangelo's David again - I just sat there stunned and staring at the stark, jagged peak. I must have been there for 20 minutes just trying to appreciate what this mountain meant to me. When I finally managed to tear my eyes away from Katahdin, I flew threw the last 6 miles to the Abol Bridge at the north end of the 100 mile wilderness. I set up camp quickly in a stealth spot just south of the road while I waited for Peach to catch up. Peach, Goat and I walked up the road into the campground to get some food and beer at the restaurant there. We found Jellydog and Mumbles there - both had beers in their hand after having been teased for the last 5 days. Sweets, Legs, Verge, Whiplash, Panda and Jingle arrived a little later. Training Wheels caught up and we finally caught New Hampshire Bob. The gang was all here for the grand finale though Jellydog's crew would be hoofing the 15 remaining miles early tomorrow morning to summit on the 24th. We all bought some snacks and beer from the camp store and crammed into a picnic table next to the Penobscot River with the shadow of Katahdin looming over us. I saw my first bald eagle as it swooped down over the river and settled on a branch with the sunset as a backdrop. After hours of shenanigans by the river, the sun set and everyone headed back to our stealth camp to make a fire and continue the good times. Jellydog, Whiplash, Mumbles and Panda had plans to get up at 2 am and start hiking for the summit 15 miles away. They found a random air horn in the woods and promised they would blow it when they were leaving camping in the middle of the night. While everyone roasted hot dogs and sausages over the fire, Peach, Verge, Legs and I walked the mile north to the sign up sheet for the Birches Lean-to to ensure we snagged one of the 12 coveted spots. The sign up sheet had only 2 rules: 1. Only put your name down at the time you are entering BSP (Do not put your name down and then head back south to Abol Bridge) 2. Do not sign up for other people. Well, we broke both of the rules but only because Verge pressured us into it. Not really, but they're more like guidelines anyway. Honestly, though, we wrote that all 8 of us arrived at 6 am and we fully intended to be there that early. Call us horrible people if you will, but it's a cutthroat business getting those spots at the Birches and there was no way we were missing out. We weren't sure what Goat's real name is so we dubbed him Albert O'Neil. Even this little excursion was a blast. We were singing along to The Final Countdown by Europe and some Lion King songs. Days like today will make it extremely hard to leave the trail. It's already starting to feel bittersweet as I get closer and closer. Hiking something like the AT condenses friendships - an inconsequential amount of time in the real world might as well be an eternity out here. Sitting at that picnic table, I realized I've made some pretty good friends out here and it'll be tough to say goodbye. 14.7 Stealth Camping Spot near North End of 100 MW