Date: 2006-08-21
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to

To: Birches Campsite at Katahdin Strem
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: light rain

No pain, no rain, no Maine! Just to make sure this was Maine the weather decided to give us another good dosage of hard down pour - and I had thought I fulfilled my quota of rain in June!!! I left the shelter in the much too well-known feeling of wet, drenched, sticky, stinky, muddy clothes and boots. I could only wish that the rain at the least would rinse out the clothes but that never seems to be the case. With the rain I just end up stinky AND wet. Well, I didn't truly care because I was on my way to Abol Bridge where a small campstor esold food. Right before reaching the road a sign next to the shelter had been posted to warn south bounders "Do not enter the 100 mile Wilderness without having packed food for at least 7 days." I guess that was my sign of having exited the 100 mile Wilderness. It hadn't felt that wild as there were lots of hikers at every campsite and shelter and several dirt roads with traffic crossed the trail. The trail maintenance had also been better here than at so many other places - Wilderness? maybe 30 yrs ago. Today it just means no stores or towns nearby the trail. Insise the Abol Bridge Campstore I had a hot microwave burger. It tasted so good, most likely because I was really hungry and cold. Dessert was a piece of carrot cake with a nice big fat layer of creme cheese frosting, Uhhmm I love those calories After stocking up on food for dinner and snacks for tomorrow I went back out in the rain to sign up at the little trail kiosk. Only four hikers in front of me, that meant Dodger and I would get a space in one of the two small shelters at the campsite (the two shelters can hold a total of eight hikers.) The trail was flat, well-groomed, and it ran next to the Penobscot River making it a beautiful and easy walk. I was thinking back at some of the highlights of the journey and to the future wondering how I would feel upon reaching the summit of Mt Katahdin. I sure would miss the whole hiking community. The rain stopped and I was partly dried off as I reached the Ranger's Headquarter at Baxter Park. You have to pay $9.00 to spend the night there as a long-distance hiker. Others pay more. THe rangers also keep track of the numbers of thru hikers finishing a Ga-Me thru hike. I was number 144 of the class of 2006. Dodger and I went down to the Birches, which is the name of the area reserved for thru hikers. After a quick routine unpack Dodger and I took a walk, yes, you read it right Just wanted to see the surroundings. Krystal, Conductor, Eagle Eye, Bare Bear, and a couple more hikers spent the night there. We were all so excited. Wonder if anybody will be able to sleep tonight? To help the sleep along Dodger and I shared a last meal of mashed potatoes and a copule of Lipton side dishes followed by some chocolate. I was in my sleeping bag before it got dark. My last night in a shelter!!! The thought was bringing tears in my eyes - not that I am so sentimental about the shelters, it is more what they symbolize - a home away from home. I would miss Dodger and the trail life soooo much. Better try to sleep, tomorrow is a big day.