Date: 2008-09-16
From: Taylor Rd., ME

To: Maine 15, Monson, ME
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

he nite was too short. Waaay too short.   I was able to dry my shoes out totally though, because there was a fan in our room. I was glad about that. Really tired of hiking in wet shoes and with wet feet.We¢d planned on leaving by 8:30 so we could be hiking by 9, but sometimes it just takes longer to get going. We went to the market/gas station and A.M. filled up her car. We all ordered some breakfast sandwiches and I got a giant coffee that seemed to have zero effect on me though. I sort of started off pissy because yet ANOTHER Nalgene canteen sprung a leak this morning, so this makes like the 4th one this year alone. I love the system, but am now forced to not recommend it, because they don¢t hold up. I just love it when I put my pack on and feel the outside pocket soaked with Gatorade.   That¢s just my favorite.We headed back to Taylor Rd. for what I¢m hoping is my last hiking day with mileage that ends in ¢teen.¢ I don¢t know if I¢ve gotten lazy, unmotivated, or if it¢s just normal exhaustion. It used to be I¢d cringe if I thought about hiking further than 15 miles a day. Now, I cringe if I¢m in double digits, and cringe even more if it¢s a ¢teen¢ distance.   Another perfect day though. The humidity was gone and it was cool and sunny.We were hiking by 9:40 a.m. and told Karen we thought we¢d be at Maine 15, Monson by 5¢ish. So today, for scenery was one of the best yet. We also had 2 fords in the day. There was first a small stream, but it didn¢t have a great way across, but there was a shallow area with rocks and pebbles in the center, so I took a running leap off the bank and barely landed on the rocky area. A.M. though better of trying that so I (of course it¢s always easier when you¢re not the one doing it) suggested she hang off this tree that went out over the water. She tried it and barely dragged her right foot into some water. We were laughing though.The first ford was a little short of 2 miles into our day. It was about knee deep and there really wasn¢t any way across other than fording. Maine does not have bridges over its rivers. I asked A.M. if that was just a M.A.T.C. policy or if she knew why. She didn¢t, but I am curious, so if anyone out there knows why, I¢d love to know. It¢s neither here nor there, it¢s sort of exciting to ford, so I don¢t mind. It is, however, hilarious how some hikers will spend so much time just trying to avoid changing shoes, that I think sometimes they waste more time by looking up/down stream or throwing rocks in to hop across. Interesting how the concept of time changes to meet the situation you¢re in.The water of the west branch of the Piscataquis River was quite cold. A bit shocking at first. You go over a section, go over a tiny land island and then through more water to the other shore and to the trail.   The second dip felt good, since my skin was used to the water temp.   Now, we got to hike the next 3 FLAT miles right next to the river. Wow is that great. This river is beautiful, so many perfect camping/hanging spots, so many perfect pictures with the sun glistening on the water. I just love hiking around water so much. I wish Karen could have been here today to see this, but A.M. has assured me there¢s plenty of it in the 100 mile wilderness.We met 2 hikers named Cloudwalker and Xnon. Cloudwalker is from Alaska and is a forest ranger. Xnon is from Canada and is a chemical engineer. I don¢t know if they met each other out here or what, but they were sure cool men. They were headed south for a few days. Cloudwalker, however, unfortunately had 2 bad experiences with groups of thru-hikers in the 100 mile wilderness. He said one group cut down a live tree right in front of the lean-to and a different group ¢burned¢ their trash, only to leave a lot of unburned trash in the shelter fire ring and they were loud and rude.   He packed their trash out for them, as they hiked away and left it. I hate hate hate hearing about these situations. I believe 99% of hikers (thru-section-whatever) are great and respectful, but when word gets out of these minority groups of people who have ended up developing that sense of entitlement that some people do out here, it screws a lot of things up for so many other good people. There¢s also this group mentality thing that happens too. Once a tight group forms, that group¢s identity and rules also form, so once the group starts doing these things (meaning, nobody in the group stands out as an individual and says..Hey..that¢s not cool) then it somehow makes it acceptable or ok, and the thought of accountability or right/wrong disappears, because hey, ¢everyone is doing it.¢Hey, I can understand how after THIS long, you can say to yourself, ¢Oh, it¢s just a little trash, it¢s just one tree, it¢s just one nite of partying around other people we won¢t see ever again.¢ Afterall, you¢ve been out here, living in the woods for months on end, you sort of have the right¢¦.don¢t you? Um¢¦actually no you don¢t!! This all goes back (for me) to something that I¢ve never been able to wrap my brain around¢¦ownership of space/land/water/air, or the sense of ownership of the natural world. The land was here long before we were and will be here long after we¢re gone. We are all custodians of this Earth, not owners of it. We can¢t take that chunk of land that the house is sitting on to the grave and afterlife with us¢¦it will eventually be used by others, so I can¢t understand how anyone can ever believe they own pieces of the natural world and I can¢t understand how after a mere 6 (or less) months, a sense of entitlement can be so deeply formed. Shouldn¢t it actually go the other way? If you¢ve been paying attention, I¢d think your respect for this place would increase and you¢d become more and more careful about Leave No Trace. I don¢t know¢¦it makes me sad though. And I¢m not saying it¢s just thru-hikers obviously, I¢ve seen all sorts of hikers and people disrespect the natural world. It¢s why I believe so adamantly that our ¢advances¢ in technology and life often serve to deepen the gap between our understanding and connection to the natural world that we are all a part.Ok¢¦back to the hike. We got to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to in time for lunch. There were 3 wonderful guys there, all friends from junior high, from Florida.   Names I remember were Highlander, Remmy (something like that), and one other. They were so polite, well-spoken, and respectful towards each other, and they¢ve hiked the whole way together. I almost envy the bond these 3 are going to have for the rest of their lives. We didn¢t speak that much during lunch..we were all sort of zoned out. This was A.M.¢s last lunch..and when you think about the ¢lasts¢ you really pay attention. After we ate, we headed on for another 2.5 miles of great flat trail. The second ford of the day was through the east branch of the Piscataquis River, which looked like it would be worse on the maps, but was actually much easier than the other one today. And¢¦we could see a cooler on the other side of the river..hmmm..could it be trail magic?We got across and the cooler had a sign on it from Strider, who is from Georgia. There were soft drinks and apples in there! A.M. needed some caffeine, so she had a Mountain Dew, and I had a Coke. Some nice fuel for a couple of small climbs ahead.It¢s weird, at this point, even the smallest climb wears me out in a way. I¢m just sort of tired of climbing. We got up over a tiny hill and 3 miles later were at the 2 mile blue blaze you can take into Monson to Shaw¢s. If you just go 3.5 more miles, then you¢re at Maine 15, and can hitch into Monson. Buck Hill was next, and I swear, it was the longest damn 1 mile. I kept looking at A.M. and laughing because I was just being a whiny-ass about this 1 mile.My feet were killing me today for some reason and I had no energy at all. Day #7 of hiking, and I think in my head it¢s exhausting. We were heading down Buck Hill, A.M. was in the lead, I was dragging and getting pissy in my own head and then suddenly, I saw Karen hiking towards us!! Wow did this totally change my mood today. I was SO excited to see her out there, because I¢m really tired of being in all of this beauty and not being able to share it with her. She had hiked about 2 miles in to us, knowing she¢d run into us eventually.It totally took my focus off my own petty aches and I felt like I was bringing her into my world that I got to somehow show off to her. Can¢t imagine what it¢s going to be like in the 100 mile wilderness with her. I can¢t wait.We all hiked on, talking, and squishing through the thick mud. Then we were basically at the last white blaze before Maine 15, and A.M. stopped and got a pic. I took her pic too, it was a big moment and was very sad in many ways. She was both ecstatic to be finished and sad to be finished, pretty normal I think.We got to the parking lot and I had to laugh. There are ¢No Parking¢ signs all over the lot for some reason and a car was pulled and parked right up to one. I had to snap a pic of that. We hopped into the car and headed back to the Chalet Lake Moosehead in Greenville. This place is a tourist area, and is so beautiful though. The lake is gorgeous, and it¢s a place where sea-planes land and stay. We checked into our little efficiency room that has a small kitchenette, so we can cook. It¢s awesome here. The view out the window is of the lake and I saw a Loon swimming around.We got showered and A.M. went to pick up some stuff for dinner but the stores were closed, so she brought pizza back. Fine with me¢¦I love pizza. Karen surprised us both with little gift bags, congratulating Auntie Mame for hiking over 1,000 miles this year and me for finally making it to Monson, which has sort of been my goal for awhile. Karen is so thoughtful it is amazing to me.We all talked and had a wonderful evening together. We¢re taking the next 2 days off, getting some things done and hoping to get a little R&R. They have canoes here too, for use. Great little place.Well, gotta go, I¢m really excited about having a few days off. I¢m pretty exhausted and am looking forward to sleeping in. 114.5 miles to go!~Certain