Date: 2014-09-29
From: Katahdin Stream Campground - The Birches

To: Rainbow Lake West 
Miles today: 22.9

I barely got started on the 100-mile wilderness when I passed a sign warning hikers to not enter this trail unprepared. It reminded me of signs on desolate sections of highways that state, ¢No services next ____ number of miles.¢ Even though I believed I was thoroughly prepared, it sent a shudder through me. I had divided the food into eight separate days plus enough peanut butter/jam sandwiches for two a day for 9 days. I also had some extras like a block of cheese, gorp and oatmeal. I expected to complete the 100 miles in seven days, so had food to spare. Counting my day on Katahdin, I needed food for eight days, but I used some of the extra for that day. Always before, I had just piled it all in the bag and tried to roughly have two pounds per day. Since I was so well organized, I probably had less weight than I had started out with on some post-resupply days.I passed ponds and streams that were a feast for my eyes. I slowed at the ponds, hoping to spot a moose grazing in the water. I also saw signs for side trails to waterfalls beyond what I could see from the trail without sidetracking. After a couple of hours, I saw the sign for Big Niagara Falls. I recalled the expression Moses used in the Bible, and said, ¢I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight.¢ I snapped a few pictures, took off the pack and had water and snacks before marching on my way. I could have sat for hours listening to the water and watching it course over the rocks.Soon after reaching the Baxter Park Boundary (~10 miles) I came out on Golden Road which passed by the Abol Bridge Camp Store. I had not realized the store would be open, so this was a nice surprise. I bought extra candy bars and snack crackers as well as some soda and had a picnic outside the store. However, the wind was blowing so hard in this open space, that I was freezing and struggling to keep my goodies from blowing away. I drank some of the soda and poured the rest in a bottle for an energizing drink on along the way. I went back in and purchased a hot cup of coffee and some Kit-Kat bars and finished those off inside to warm back up. Seems the store was wrapping up for the season because almost everything was sold out. I skipped the ice cream today.Golden Road is a private logging road with lots of passing log trucks that stir up a bit of dust. The whole scene reminded me of company coal haul roads on the strip mines in Eastern Kentucky. Like the Hundred Acre Wilderness, they cover an expansive area where one could get lost. The road offers access back to Millinocket. Sparkle Feet and his hiking partner were discussing whether to hitchhike into town for supplies, as I left.Other Northbounders I met today included Simba, Mad Jac, Rockslav (?) and Bluebird, and Mailman. I was overjoyed to see Simba. We had camped in many of the same campsites but I had not seen her since I took a zero day at Hogpen Gap central Virginia. Since I had been told that she had finished the hike long ago, I was surprised to see her. She had slowed down. She seemed so much happier and at peace than when I had last seen her.It was after dark when I ran into Mailman. I had misread a sign for Rainbow Lake Campsite, thinking it was farther south on the trail but wasn¢t. I missed it and was looking for another place to stop and Mailman told me people camped at Rainbow Lake Dam sometimes. I found the location which was off the AT and set up camp under a large Eastern White Pine. I was surprised I had covered 23 miles today but I had been aided by some root-free stretches that allowed me to move along, coupled with the fact I went an hour after dark. I was off to a good start on the Wilderness.