Date: 2019-08-12
From: Monson

To: West Branch Pond Road
Miles today: 48.3

Monday 8/12/19So this is the final chapter of my 15 year section hike of the AT. Greenie and I plan to walk from Monson to Baxter State Park where we will be joined by family in Millinocket to do the final hike up Katahdin. I drove up to Monson and met Greenie at Shaws where we would spend our first night. We had a small section from the Blue Blazed trail to Lake Hebron to Maine 15 to knock off before entering the 100 Mile Wilderness, so we got that out of the way the day we arrived in Monson. It was a short walk, but nice to have finished off before our long walk this trip.Back at Shaws, we hung out a while outside talking with the other hikers, then went for dinner at the General store as all of the other places in the area were closed on Monday night. Tomorrow we are up and out with breakfast at 7:45, but coffee is ready at 7:00.Tuesday 8/13/19I woke at 12:15 AM as the alarm on my phone went off. I got up and shut my phone off and went back to bed. All I did was toss and turn and when I did sleep, had vivid and un-restful dreams. I emailed our friend that would meet us at the halfway point to resupply and get a break from the trail in order to set up a fail safe meeting time and confirm that he had our drop boxes. I kept thinking about our trip details hoping that I did not leave anything out.Greenie and I were awake at 5:15, but hung out in bed since coffee would not be ready until 6:00. I grabbed a shower before breakfast and we had a wonderful meal prepared for us at 7:00. We paid up and were shuttled to the trail head around 8:00 arriving at the trail head by 8:30. Poet, who owns the hostel with Hippie Chick, drove us and recited some really nice poetry on the ride as well as gave us some really great intel on what was ahead of us. In particular he mentioned the Antlers tent site as one of the most beautiful areas to tent on the trail. We had in our plans to stop there which was great news.Greenie and I did not see any of the others shuttled with us until we were in camp at the Wilson Valley Lean-to when Stray Cat (Meowed) as she past by the shelter. We had looked for tenting options down by the Big Wilson Stream, but did not like anything we saw so we ended up at the shelter. Tenting locations were not great, but they worked for one night. "John" is here at the shelter spending the night. He is my age being born exactly one month before me. We saw lots of ponds along the way today. We stopped at Little Wilson Falls for lunch and then washed off at Big Wilson Stream. In all a great first day on the trail. No rain, some sun and the bugs were not too bad. Our drop boxes arrival was confirmed and we set a fail safe pick-up time on Friday at 4:00 PM. Poet also told us we should get cell service at the summit of White Cap Mountain just before our connection at West Branch Pond Road. I almost fell today but bent my left pole slightly instead of hitting the ground - so much for new poles!Wednesday 8/14/19Not a bad sleep last night at all. Up at 5:15 AM and on the trail by 7:00. First part of the day was not too bad but had a long down with lots of rocks from slides. Was able to rock hop Wilber Brook and the same with Vaughn Stream. Came across a couple buckets of trail magic from "Bonnie" - did not take anything but we signed her guest book and thanked her for her thoughtfulness.Had to ford long pond stream. After getting across a (younger) NOBO hiker rock hopped it like it was nothing - Oh to be young.Passed Slugundy gorge and falls and stopped at Long Pond Shelter to get some water. The stream was dry so I had to hike back to Slugundy falls to get water. Sucks that I had to hike it two times.The climb up Barren slide and ledges was tough with lots of big rocks and fairly steep - but the hike to the ledges was well worth it. Greenie and I stopped for lunch and had the ledges to ourselves to enjoy the views, warm breeze and soaring turkey vultures. We made our way over to Barren Mountain - passed an older woman with a flip-flopper and her daughter. The older lady will finish the AT after 19 years of section hiking when she gets to Monson. Took a break on the summit of Barren Mountain, and then made our way over to Cloud Pond lean-to where we would end our day. Ran into Stray Cat coming up from the shelter after collecting water as well as one other hiker on his way out. We set camp near the pond. We had the chance to wash up and take a nap this afternoon. I as a little dehydrated so I drank extra water after getting into camp. It looks like we will have the area to ourselves tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day - 17 miles and ~5,000 feet in elevation change. I had to re-glue the toes of my shoes tonight as they were peeling off and I am worried that they will peel back all the way if I am not careful. I hope they hold up!Shoe breakdown on the trailThursday 8/15/19Up at 5:00AM and moving at 5:10AM. I had my tent down, was partially packed and was taking the food bags down before Greenie was even moving. Nice breakfast by the pond and started walking at 6:50AM.It was a very climbing day. First Fourth Mountain followed by Third Mountain Followed by Columbus Mountain and the Chairback Mountain. had a nice walk along the escarpment on Columbus Mtn. Broke for lunch at Chairback Gap Lean-to. Met "Mr Tea" and 2 NOBOs hiking together around columbus Mtn. One of the NOBOs somehow did a loop and ended coming back SOBO. His first comment when he saw us again was "Oh Shit, how the hell did I do that?" when we got further north we saw where he went awry due to a reroute.Had a nice section of open ledges along the north side of Chairback. Long Pond kept constant vigil along the way.Crossed Katahdin Iron Works road and the trail finally became easier. At the crossing the west branch of the Pleasant River we took a break, washed up a bit to clear the salt off of our skim and cool our feet. It was about 3:00 and we still had five miles to go. The trail was kinder and we made camp around 5:30/6:00. Found a great camping spot and set about getting camp set to try to be done before dark. I was spent to say the least. We finished hanging our food with the last light of the day with the use of Greenie's throwing arm which was spot on and the throws were not easy at all.I climbed into my tent at dark and actually had to use my headlamp for the first time in years. I was concerned that my hernia repair was having issues - so I checked myself out to find all seemed OK - I was just beat up and sore all over.Friday 8/16/19Awake at 5:00 and called out to Greenie to see if he was awake. I started moving at 5:20 and Greenie started moving at 5:30. I started to dress but found my shorts were still soaked from yesterday and had chafed my groin area badly so I am going to hike in my sleeping shorts today so I can at least start "dry". We were able to break camp just as it started to rain. We met up with Mr. Tea just after the shelter who was putting on his rain gear. We stopped and did the same.Today we do climbs over Gulf Hagas Mtn, West Peak, Hay Mtn and finally White Cap Mtn. It rained almost the entire way up and past White Cap. At times it felt like we would climb above the weather but when we reached the summit it was plain brutal! We got a call out to our ride who was going to meet us at the road crossing below White Cap Mtn but could only leave a message. I was able to email our ride and then got a text out to my wife to coordinate an earlier pick-up on our behalf.. Mr Tea hit the summit just as we were heading on. The weather today was among the worse Greenie and I have seen since we met on the trail years ago.As we made our way down the weather started to break. We passed Logan Brook Lean-to where a couple had taken refuge for the day and also crossed paths with a woman who was finishing a 19 year section hike whom we had crossed paths with several times thus far on this hike.We hit West Branch Pond Road earlier than expected, turned west and headed toward the gate where we would connect with Greenies friend who would let us stay in his cabin along with providing a shower, laundry and a home cooked dinner. The break we would have for the rest of the day, night and tomorrow morning would position us to finish the balance of the 100 mile wilderness and trail.