Date: 2013-08-30
From: stratton

To: caratunk
Miles today: 37.0

Hello! I was too tired to journal yesterday as we slack packed over the Bigelow mountains covering a total of 16.9 miles and were picked up and brought to the town of kingfield where we stayed in the BnB. The morning started with rain, followed by torrential rain, with periods of rain and finally ending with, you guessed it, rain!! We hiked over two small bumps and covered over 16 miles of nice forest and if not for the buckets of rain, did I mention the rain?!Actually, the afternoon wasn't as wet and some parts of the area we hiked was pristine boreal forest with all the amazing assortments of green life. I saw more fresh moose poop then ever and observed some serious beaver chews where several two foot trees were gnawed to a hour glass shape and leaned into adjacent trees like dominos. I saw a mouse like creature that looked like a tan cotton ball with big eyes and a tail that was seven or eight inches long. I have to look it up and figure out what I saw. After hiking these past few days, I really feel that I've found a place that I can enjoy with Alison and feel comfortable, up here in the Maine woods. The kids are moving to LA and theirs no need to stay in connecticut when we can live cheaper on my pension else where. We can reconnect with a simpler way of living and enjoy our time together. Tonite I am staying at Harrison's camp in a little log cabin by the river. For 40 dollars you get a bunk and a nice hot shower, which really came in handy after a drenching day on the trail. Also included is the famous 12 pancake breakfast in the morning which includes sausage and eggs, coffee, juice and lots of toppings for the cakes. Tim, who owns the camp is a pleasant fella and made us feel comfortable and welcome. Tomorrow we'll hike 4miles and take a Conoe ride across the kennenbeck river and hike into the town of Caratunk for the usual routine. 155 miles to Katahdin! :-)) We as slowly running out of mountains to climb and are becoming greater in numbers as we make our way to the greatest mountain. The hundred mile wilderness is approaching and people are getting nervous as the fear of hiking several days without the conveniences we are used to are no more.what it comes down to Is , are you ready to hike this distance and do you have enough food?their is only a simple solution to this question and it is, are you ready to finish?!I think of simple questions; do you have enough food, do you have what you need to survive in the wilderness and are you ready mentally to tackle the trail?! I feel with 100percent certify that I can and will get thru this stretch of trail and will live to tell about it, at least if my grand children will listen. The human body can withstand tremendous physical abuse but, it is the soul and spirit of a person that is challenged by the basic needs of survival and test us to persevere in situations where we might not think of a positive outcome. I challenge all of the people in my life to put themselves to this simple test. Spend some amount of time in the wilderness and rely on the most simple daily objectives; clean water, food, shelter, warmth, just to name a few areas that we take for granted in our daily lives. If you could put every thing that you would need to survive for several months on your back and keep the weight under, lets say, 35 lbs., do you think you can figure out just what you would bring? People think about all of the materialistic things that have value but,in the grand scheme of things, the barest of essentials will get you by. I have all kinds of precious gems and watches, jewelry and fancy stuff that I appreciate but, the reality is that I don't need any of it to get me thru my day or several days in the wilds of New England. I e essentially put myself in check by not having any options because I want a light pack, or I don't want the extra weight. I've realized that I only need basic things in order to be in the wilderness and have accepted the reality of this trek. I would like a fishing pole though so I could add fish with my rice and get some more protein in my daily diet. What's really funny is that while I write this, I'm laying on a bed in the northern outdoors camp after eating a nice meal and watching the ball game so I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Even in the wilderness, their is comfort from man kind and the ability to adapt to your environment, where ever you may be.