Date: 2019-08-17
From: West Branch Pond Road

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 51.2

Saturday 8/17/2019Having a near'o on Friday was a blessing allowing us to rest our bodies, minds and souls. We had time to clean-up, stock-up and rest-up. There is nothing more satisfying than taking a (clean) nap after a long hike.Greenie and I were up early looking for coffee over at the kitchen at Eric's place, then back to our cabin to pack and prepare for the day prior to heading back over to the kitchen to get breakfast. Another guest offered to give us a ride back to the trail, which was greatly appreciated. We made a trail lunch prior to leaving the kitchen and then headed back to the cabin to collect our stuff and head out.The trail to start was nice and easy, and we made our "10 by 12:00" reaching the Cooper Brook Falls lean-to by noon. Our goal was the Antlers Campsite, which Poet had told us was one of the nicest campsites in the wilderness. We pulled into camp later than we had hoped, and with camp chores to do there was no time to take a swim. Our first attempt at putting up our bear bag line was too low, so we had to move to another location in the campsite. Many of the trees had limbs higher up and not any lower limbs, so we ended up using "nubs" on the trees and gained a mechanical advantage pulling the line around the trees in such a way as to put the force against the side of the tree. Our food would be safe for the night. After having dinner and cleaning up, we hung our food for the night and went to bed.Sunday 8/18/2019It rained last night and I found that my recent attempt at seam sealing had some "flaws". User error.....I had some minor drips overnight, just enough to be aggravating. We broke down camp and had our breakfast over at a makeshift table between two trees near the lake. After which we made our final preparation to hit the trail. My morning homage to the potty gods was fun as the privy was somewhat hard to find and when I did find it, the door had been partially ripped off of the front - likely from a bear.We hit the trail and stopped at a gravel logging road where the sun was attempting to make an appearance and provided an opportunity to try to dry our gear. We at berries near the trail while we waited for our gear to dry although the best we would get was partially dry.We passed some SOBO hikers that had stayed at White House Landing last night. The trail based on the elevation profile should have been easy, but we had to navigate a spider-web of roots for a long section running parallel to the Nahmakanta Stream. The combination of the heat and humidity and the extended need to concentrate on the treadway was exhausting. When we reached a gravel road near the south end of Nahmakanta Lake we stopped to fully dry our gear and have lunch. The parking area near the road looked more like a hikers yard sale with our stuff all spread out. Some folks driving by offered Greenie a beer, which he gratefully accepted. When I asked it they by chance had a coke/soda for the "non-drinker with a hiking problem" they responded that they did not, but offered me a carrot instead (I am not making this up!). I thanked them for their generosity but declined.When we finally packed and got on our way again the heat and the mental stress from the difficult treadway was finally getting to me, and as we approached an area just south of the Wadleigh Stream lean-to I announced I had enough and that we were going to stop for the day and add our miles from today to tomorrow. We found a wonderful place to set camp on the shore of the lake complete with a picnic table. First order of business was a swim, followed by setting camp and putting up a bear bag line. Pleased with our decision to stop and smell the roses, we bunked down for the night with the sound of the water lapping the shore.Monday 8/19/2019We were up early and thankful for no rain last night, but it was still cloudy out and we had yet to so much as catch a glimpse of Katahdin during the entire trip thus far. We broke camp and headed north. Our first climb today was Nesuntabunt Mountain. The trail passed through some unusual gorges enroute to the summit. There were no views today at the summit as we were in the clouds again. We stopped for a brief break, and headed on.We passed Pollywog gorge and crossed Pollywog stream via a logging road bridge. We were thankful that we had opted to camp at the lake last night Vs where we had originally planned to camp near the logging road. Short of Rainbow stream lean-to I stopped to wring my socks out and dry my feet a bit before heading on. We bypassed the shelter even though it was noon as we were not all that hungry yet and the shelter was busy with hikers.Shortly after passing the shelter - disaster struck. I was talking to greenie and glanced back behind me briefly as I was talking and all of a sudden pitched forward and fell on my right side in a mud slough. The impact was sudden and abrupt and when I hit the ground, my pole wrist strap jerked my right wrist in such a way that I immediately knew I had broken it. Greenie tried to convince me that I had merely sprained it, but I knew that bones were not meant to move in the way they did when I hit the ground. I got up and tried to brush the yutz off of me as best I could, and then walked a short distance back to the lake to wash the mud off and collect my wits.When I rejoined Greenie it was clear that our hike was over. The goal now was to treat my injury and get to medical assistance. After splinting my arm we discerned that the best direction was to continue north. By my research I knew that our next chance for cell service was at Rainbow Ledges and if that failed, we would surely find assistance at Abol Bridge with a campground and camp store located there.We pressed on as it started to rain lightly and we could hear thunder in the distance. The weather did fortunately hold for the most part. We passed a few SOBO hikers and a Maine guide with some clients heading out fishing but did not find any assistance until we finally reached the ledges shortly after 5:00. We called 911 who put us in touch with one of the Maine Rangers by the name of Andy Glidden. Ranger Glidden instructed us to hike to Hurd Brook where he would come in on a side trail to meet us and take us out to his truck a shorter way than hiking the AT to Abol Bridge. I have to be honest that Greenie and I were disappointed that we would not reach Abol Bridge which would be a far easier place to pick up from - but the rangers assistance was greatly appreciated and we knew that logically this was the best course of action.When we reached Hurd Brook lean-to we called the ranger from the hill behind the shelter - where he told us that we would find cell coverage. He was surprised that we had reached the shelter so quickly, but would meet us shortly as he was well on his way.Ranger Glidden guided us out via a side trail to his truck and drove us into Millinocket. We had to hike the last mile or so out using our headlamps. In all we hiked 23 miles that day, 13 of which with my arm in a splint and sling. Over the afternoon I monitored the circulation and sensation at my fingers - which all fortunately were fine. Had they not have been our situation would have been seriously more dire.Once at the regional hospital x rays confirmed what I knew all along - I had indeed fractured my right radius at the wrist. Our trip was officially over. My Son Alex and his wife who were already in town and had planned to hike the final climb with us, picked us up at the hospital and took us to a hotel where we would spend the night as the AT Lodge did not have any room that night. Where we stayed was a dump - but with being so tired we ate dinner from our food bags, cleaned up and bedded down for the night.Finishing the AT in 2019 was now not to be a reality. It would have to wait another year to complete.