Date: 2003-09-14
From: Rainbow Ledges

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Buck kept us up a lot last night getting up and walking around. He didn't really understand the door concept and would head butt the front mesh almost bringing the tarp down until we unzipped and let him out. But we got up at 5 am anyway. We packed up and walked a couple minutes to the sunrise side of the mountain, featuring a view of Mt. Katahdin. The southbounding fellows we met last night were up and watching the sunset too. Flanders gave them advice and I gave them first aid supplies (thanks, Mom) for their blisters.        After the sunrise, we continued down to the shelter. Puff was very relieved to see Buck, and so was everyone else. Snappy was still a bit peeved with him for running off and said he wanted to beat the crap out of him, but couldn't because he wouldn't know what it was for. We ate second breakfast with everyone at the shelter and somehow managed to be the last ones to leave, except for Monkey.         At the exit to the 100 mile wilderness there was trail magic so we at and drank there before continuing to Abol Bridge. Stoker climbed a big pile of dirt on the way, and then we saw the real Katahdin. It was a beautiful view. We all took the same picture from the bridge - the same picture as was on Puff's postcard.         We grocery shopped and drank beer at the Abol Bridge store. Buck got picked up by the kennel lady and we said goodbye to the cute lil' bugger. A very talkative ranger volunteered to answer all our questions, but he didn't seem to get them all right. Bree joked later, "I am here to answer all you questions, provided they are very, very easy." There was a lot of worry in the air because of the number of thru hikers that planned to summit tomorrow. Where would we all stay? The Birches only holds 12.... I wasn't worried - I figured we'd just set up our tarptent somewhere. I didn't care if it was a designated spot of not, and that was the attitude of most of our crew.        It was a beautiful, flat, riverside hike from Abol Bridge. I got behind because of a pee-break, so I spent some time jogging. I was just ecstatic to find that I could run with my pack on without my knees hurting. I caught up to Monkey first. He was playing his guitar and walking slowly. I enjoyed the musical walk for a while, but I eventually missed Flanders, passed Monkey and jogged up to catch him. Our next stop was Nesowadnehunk Falls. The whole crew was there. Llama was swimming under the falls, and I joined him. Snappy and Stoker joined me after Llama got out and Snappy pioneered a rock slide. Stoker and I followed and we all did a couple runs. SO MUCH FUN! Puff and Flanders were getting ready to get in when we got out, but they decided not to get in when they saw the worms we had all over us.        We hiked near Puff Puff & Snappy the rest of the way, stopping at falls briefly. We had to wait forever to register at the rangers office, but everyone was so excited it didn't matter. We cooked at a picnic table and then we all moved to our assigned lean-tos. We gathered at lean-to #3 and made a huge fire and roasted marshmallows. Tomorrow is the big day!   -Chickenfeet