Date: 2011-07-09
From: Wilson Valley Lean-to

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

#13DATE: 7/9/2011TIME: 7:05 p.m.DISTANCE TRAVELED: 15.4 milesFROM/TO: From Wilson Valley Lean-to to Shaw¢s Boarding House in Monson, Maine.WEATHER: The weather was perfect for hiking. Temps in the high 70¢s, a cool breeze blowing, and partly cloudy. This after a short rain shower this morning around 7:00 a.m.MEALS: I had chicken broth for breakfast, and saved the last two packages of Ramen noodles for dinner just in case I didn¢t make it to Monson. I did make it to Monson, however, and for dinner I had three 8¢ tortillas, a pack of hot dogs, one liter of Pepsi and two 16 oz. cans of ginger ale, and a small bag of Sun Chips.ROAD/TRAIL CONDITIONS: Hmmmm! The Trail . . . or at least the ¢100-Mile Wilderness¢ that it passes through, has roots all through it, over and under rocks; it passes through marshes/bogs, and through rivers; it runs over ridges, mountains, ponds and creeks; and it can go up and down, sideways, on ledges, up rock walls and down rock walls. The Trail is hopping rock-to-rock, balancing on the edge of you name it . . . rocks, ledges, bridges, cliffs, and so on. That¢s the Appalachian Trail.SHELTER USED/SLEEPING QUARTERS: Tonight I am sleeping in a bed in the bunkroom at Shaw¢s. Shaw¢s is a boarding house in the little town of Monson, Maine. It is well-known to hikers, and set-up for them. It is a Paradise compared to sleeping arrangements on the trail and with all the bugs.PEOPLE MET, HIKED WITH OR SEEN: I hiked alone today, though I passed a few north-bounders. There are a few hikers here, but I got in so late, 5:30-ish, that once I got cleaned up and fed, I made little contact with people, and I¢m now in bed.ANIMALS SEEN: Bugs, birds, bugs, frogs, bugs, toads, bugs, mice, and did I say bugs?MONEY SPENT OR SAVED: No money saved today. I booked two nights and one day at Shaw¢s. Breakfast and a bed for one night is $31, so I said ¢Two Please.¢ I didn¢t pay the $5 to use the washer and dryer, but I will. And I spent $8 on my dinner.MAIN CONCERN OF THE DAY: My main concern today was whether I was going to make it to town or not. My right quadriceps started cramping, so I walked with a limp the last 7 miles, but I made it.SPECIAL NOTES: I am too damn old for this shit!SUMMARY FOR THE DAY: Today was the hardest day for me yet. I had hoped to make it to town around 2:00 p.m., but due to the cramping in my right thigh, I didn¢t hit town until 5:30.My Trail book indicated that the distance from the last shelter to Monson was 2 miles from the A.T., but it was 4 miles. Those last miles looked almost undoable. I had hoped to get a lift into town, too, but, no, no one wanted this stinky old man in their ride, so I walked the four miles into town.The Trail books are off. When they hack out new parts of the trail to save the forest, they don¢t let the book publishers know. I have heard that my next planned stop for food is no longer there, so I have to get enough food here to get past that. The ¢Appalachian Trail Data Book 2011¢ is a good source of information if '+¢ or '-' 5 miles a day is not a big deal, or where (or not) a place still has a store matters to you. I have and will continue to collect information about the Trail from the north-bounders who have just passed on it. Well, two good nights¢ sleep, and a day filled with fattening food, should make me ready for my next 14 or so days on the A.T.