Date: 2014-08-15
From: ME 14 (Hostel)

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to (Tenting)
Miles today: 15.1

Day 167, August 15, 2014 Remember how I said yesterday that I learned the Hundred Mile Wilderness was not so wildernessy? Well, after today I have to eat crow for that remark. Maybe a whole bundle of crows and a few humble pies too!! You also remember how I was just going to take my time in the wilderness. Well, that plan has changed too. I might be sucking back Mountain Dews and hot dogs a bit earlier. A SOBO, Brandon, and I got shuttled back to the trail and I was walking about nine. The trail was full of rocks, roots and mud. Also a whole bunch of water for good measure. That doesn't bother me too much. I just slow down. I had my first ford and it wasn't so bad. Whew I thought maybe all the water would be down after the big storm two days ago. That was not to be. I got to the next big stream and there was no way I was crossing that. But there was a log upstream. It was almost as hard to get to that log as it was to scootch accross it on my butt. Now how to get Coop across. No way was I letting him run across. The water below was moving way to fast for me to risk that move. So I put on my fleece and stuck him inside. I tied a belt around the bottom so he couldn't fall out and we made our way across. Then I went back and got my pack. As I made my way back I lost my buff Dorito had given me! Sorry about that Dorito. Off we go again. A couple miles later we get to another raging stream. No way was I go to attempt this alone. So I sat down to wait for U-Haul and Dozer, aka my knights in shining armor, I had barely sat down when they came. YAY!!! U-Haul got Coop across and Dozer helped me. Then we said goodbye. About a quarter mile up the trail they were stopped. They wanted to tell me that they were going to wait for us if it looked bad at the next big crossing. Bad was an understatement. By the time I got there U-Haul had taken his pack across and was coming back across. There was a rope tied between two trees to help. He grabbed my pack and headed over. I could see the current pulling and jerking him around. If he is struggling how on earth am I going to do this I thought and started. We decided to cross upstream about 20 feet. There was no rope but the current didn't seem as strong. So we formed a human chain with U-Haul upfront carrying Cooper, then me, then Dozer. Near the other side U-Haul stopped, handed Coop to Dozer and then pulled me through the big current and tossed me to shore. Good thing he did to. The spot he threw me over came to Dozers chest. My feet didn't even touch the ground. Then Dozer handed Coop to U-Haul and then to me. Our adrenalin was flowing. It was intense and exhilarating. No one should be fording these streams alone. Sure the young and/or strong can do it. But don't. That's what I think. At least after a heavy rainfall. We had about a mile to the Lean-to (shelter). When I got there I told the guys my plan of lollygagging this last 100 miles would be a stupid foolish idea in light of the extremely high waters and would they mind me staying close to them. They said of course not. They are much faster than me so tomorrow there is no sleeping in for me. I need to get up and moving ahead of them. I am now offically in double digit miles left to hike. How crazy is that. What a day!! On to Katahdin, Cowgirl and Cooper Hiked today: 15.1 Completed: 2085.1 Remaining: 99.4 Start Point: ME 4 End point: Long Pond Stream Lean-to (Tenting) States Completed: 13 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9), VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), States Remaining: 1 ME (281.4), (14 photos)