Date: 2008-07-16
To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 73.3
Weather: few clouds

Monson, ME - Zero Day - Day 10 - 7/11/08After updating the journal online, I talked with mom for a while and found out that the Athens house is sold! Woohoo! Anyway, I'm at Shaw's tonight, but had dinner back at Lake Shore. All you can eat Fish Fry...mmmmm...Rebecca and the staff there have been amazing these 2 days. Finally, I stopped off at the General Store for Bluegrass/Country. What fun! Tim & Co. were playing away for 30+ people standing around in the store. What a town! Well, all you can eat (AYCE) Breakfast here at Shaw's tomorrow and then back to the trail - I'm feeling rested and ready to go!!!Monson - Moxie Bald Lean-to - Day 11 - 114.5 - 132.4 - July 12th There was a party/reunion last night and this morning at breakfast with nearly the entire group from earlier. They are taking their zero today - Speaking of breakfast, the 4 each of french toast, eggs, potatoes, sausages, and bacon were delicious. Anyway, got a late start at 9:30 at the trail with 6 others headed south. I hiked the first nine with a guy from Buffalo, NY - everyone else stopped there for the day, but I was feeling good and went on another nine to the next shelter. Today's hike was very boring - just at the base of one of two climbs for tomorrow (one of 1500' and one of 1600'). Tomorrow's plan is only 13 miles given the >3000' of relief - on a sad note, Red Hat is headed back to Texas (thanks for the guestbook line - good to know you got home ok). Now only 2 of the SOBOs I saw at the AT Lodge in Millinocket are left - Bootstrap and myself. Hopefully we both make it! Well, still feeling good after the time off in Monson...on to some mountains tomorrow! Oh, and I ran into a NOBO, Offseason, who is also a recent UGA grad...how many more of us are out here???Moxie Bald - Pleasant Pond Shelter - Day 12 - 132.4 - 145.5 - July 13thWell, today was not the most pleasant (no pun intended) day on the trail. The winds from last night to now have been 30+mph sustained. I got up the first mtn. today, but no views because I was actually in the morning clouds at the top. Then it started raining. By the time I was 1/4 up the second mtn. for the day, it was like the scene in Caddyshack where the old man plays out in the storm (minus the thunder and lightning). It was also the loneliest day so far. I saw only 3 NOBOs today and am at the shelter myself. I've got to get up early tomorrow to stop at the Caratunk P.O. and pick-up my mail drop and then catch the ferry over the Kennebec River. Hopefully, my things quasi-dry tonight and the weather tomorrow is better...we'll see...Pleasant Pond Shelter - West Carry Pond Shelter - Day 13 - 145.5 - 165.2 - July 14thHappy 29th anniversary to my parents (who are 1500 miles apart today thanks to mom traveling on business)!!! What a day! I had to get up super early this morning in the rain to get to Caratunk (6 miles), get my mail drop and get the ferry over the Kennebec before it closed at 11am. Thankfully, the skies cleared up when I got to Caratunk. I caught up with Seth & Songbird right at Pierce Pond, 10 miles into my day. They decided to move on, so after some contemplation, I decided to go the extra 10. As a result, I will probably be a day ahead of schedule and will take a half day on Wednesday in Stratton. I've heard great things about the hostel from the NOBOs (which I see more and more of each day). $20 for a bed, shower, internet, phone, and a shuttle! As for tomorrow, a 14 miler up Little Bigalow and Avery Peak. It's really high, but you can see all of the way to Mt. Washington, NH on a nice day (which it's supposed to be). Well, I'm going to need some rest after today to get all of the way up to 4,088 feet tomorrow...until then...West Carry Pond - Avery Memorial Campsite - Day 14 - 165.2 - 179.8 - July 15thWell, today's entry comes from 3/4 mile above sea level...Today was THE BEST day of the trip thus far. It was a very hard 14.6 which consisted of: up 700', down 700', up 600', down 600', up 2000', down 800', up 2000', down 200'. Whew! The views on Little Bigalow and Avery Peak were stunning!!! Definitively the best views since Katahdin. You can see the next week of mtns. and Mt. Washington and Canada! The pictures should be amazing (camera cord coming in mail box in 2 weeks). It finally was sunny and warm today, although it will be a bit cold tonight all of the way up here at the campsite. Tomorrow will be a half day, then to Stratton. The best thing about the 8 miles tomorrow is that most of them are on this ridge with views! I'm going to try to be out early tomorrow to see the views shortly after sunrise. In other news, I flip-flopped with Seth & Songbird. all day today and they were the only SOBOs I've seen in 2 days (and 7 NOBOs). There seems to be a big group 2 days in front and 2 days behind right now. Well, I'm spent after today's challenge...time to get some sleep and dream about tomorrow's continued amazing views!Avery Memorial Campsite - Stratton, ME - Day 15 - 179.8 - 187.6 - July 16thWell, I'm currently sitting at the Stratton Motel and Hostel...it is truly a great place...like a home for hostels. I'm joined tonight by Charlene from earlier in the hike (she got off 30 miles earlier and hitched to here) and Duck. Duck is from Myrtle Beach and has the same undergrad degree as I do (Atmospheric Science) from Georgia Tech (2002). The world keeps getting smaller. We got to the road at the same time today and hitched the 5 miles into town together. After resupplying an having a pizza earlier, it's time for dinner...the next 4-5 days to Andover will be very tough, encompassing some of the hardest Maine terrain (read that one out loud!). Everything is going fairly well physically, except for a twisted ankle yesterday that seems to be doing better today after some rest. I'm very pleased with my progress so far. Getting from Monson to Stratton in 4.5 days is much faster than the 6 I had planned. I'm very excited to see what the next set of higher, harder mountains have in store...we'll see...