Date: 2007-09-18
From: Monson, ME ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Highway 15 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2059.5

To: Wilson Valley Lean-to ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2069.9
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: clear sky

Day 167 ¢ 9/18/07Start: Monson, ME ¢ Highway 15 ¢ 2059.5End: Wilson Valley Lean-to ¢ 2069.9 Day Miles: 10.4I got a late start this afternoon after running around trying to get resupplied. I was almost out of water purification drops and really needed to replace my Platypus which I use for camp water. Monson only has a small general store and a gas station/quick mart. Butch Cassidy was kind enough to give a few of us a ride up to Grenville which has an outfitter. It turns out they don¢t stock much for hikers. They had no water purification stuff and only one 1.5-liter Platypus which a section hiker with us managed to get. Striking out there we moved on to the grocery store which worked out better. It is actually a grocery, liquor, and sporting goods store. I was able to get water purification drops but all their folding water bottles were gallon size for boating or camps.Buying groceries is always a huge challenge when you need to plan for multiple days. I have to cover 100 miles. The AT guides say bring 10 days of food but that is for a section hiker not in shape. I find other places say to bring 8 days and some say a thru-hiker can make it in just 6 days. If it is hot I eat less but if it is cold I eat more. Sometimes on long days I eat fewer meals but more snacks. In the end I bring a generous 8 days of food. I have shipped some warm clothes and some odds and ends home that I collected along the way to plan for the extra food but my pack will be a beast. I will have at least 16 pounds of food and 6 pounds of water when I leave town.When I get back to Shaw¢s I start jamming stuff in my pack and throwing things out or dumping stuff in the hiker box. I am finally satisfied that I have done the best I can. Tony the Tiger just got back from the dentist where he had a tooth pulled. He is queasy and dizzy so I help him up to his room and say my good byes. The Band-Aid Kid has also come into town as well as Popeye and Lightweight. I bid them farewell and hitch a ride from one of the great ladies at Shaw¢s. When we get to the trail head we wind up chatting for 20 minutes. I feel no rush or pressure to get started and finally hit the trail close to 2:00 pm. I feel free hiking alone and headed off into the Wilderness. I am shooting for Wilson Valley Lean-to which is 10.4 miles out with 2 stream crossings in between. I did this section years ago southbound and I remember Little Wilson as a bigger challenge than Big Wilson because it crossed at the base of the falls. The trail has been re-routed all through here. I am making good time but as I approach Little Wilson the trail skirts the stream well past the falls and the crossing now is a just hoping from rock to rock.The trail was pretty rugged around Little Wilson and I have lost considerable time off the good pace I had. I am concerned about getting across Big Wilson before dark. I am trying to make time but I keep hitting climbs or lots of rocks and roots. Finally as I approach Big Wilson the trail turns parallel to the stream and follows an old road for what seems like miles. I am going full speed now in a race to cross before dark. Finally I get to the crossing. I have to take off my boots and put on crocs. This is definitely not where I crossed the last time but I find the crossing just as easy. The book says 7/10 of a mile to the lean-to which I am sure is longer than before and a re-route since my trip here years ago. It takes forever. I get to the lean-to just as darkness falls and find I have the shelter to myself. I can see to walk but need my headlight to do anything else. I have enough water to cook so I will deal with that in the morning. Mice keep me awake all night. They do not get my food but they are aggressive. I have heard that they are like this at every shelter in the Wilderness. The chipmunks and squirrels also join in so you really have to watch your food. I think I will tent after tonight.