Date: 2009-08-24
From: Wilson Valley Lean-To 

To: Monson, Maine (Route 15)
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

On the back of the ATC hiking maps for Maine, there are helpful descriptors for each section. I found these to be extremely beneficial when trying to figure out where I am at various points along the Trail. Some of them for today follows . . . this will give you an idea of what the day was like in the 100-Mile Wilderness. Maine and Atlantic Railroad Tracks: No warning lights. Stop, look, and listen! Ford Big Wilson Stream: Can be difficult in high water (there were two sets of ¢lifelines¢ strung across the 60¢-wide stream to hang onto for balance while picking your way across the slippery rocks in knee-deep, chilly, swift-moving water. High point 0.5-mile long Slate Ridge (where I stopped to hydrate and just enjoy sitting alone in the Maine woods for 10 minutes or so, taking in the silence splendor of the trees and rocks and sky). Cross 200-yard-long beaver dam: Sharp turn at Little Wilson Falls. At 60¢, it is one of the highest falls along the AT (and it is also one of the most spectacular as it is surrounded by vertical slate walls topped by towering pine trees. It was while I was standing here in complete awe and reverence that the sun came out for the remainder of the day and lit up the scene with an unbelievably incredible spectacular display allowing me to see this spectacular waterfall in its full glory). Traverse rim of Bear Pond Ledges Skirt north and west shore of Mud Pond. Cross outlet stream at end of long, narrow cove of North Pond (it was here that I stopped for lunch, sitting on some rocks above the pond in the warm afternoon sunshine. After lunch, I treated water and did 20 minutes of stretching before ambling on toward the end of this 100-Mile Wilderness section). Cross old stage road: This was the stage coach route to Greenville in the 1800s. Maine Highway 15 is the end of this section. Having put my map away and grabbed my hiking companion, ¢Wilson II¢ handkerchief, I put him to work, and within two passing vehicles I was able to get a ride from my hitchhiking posture and ¢hiker to trail¢ sign on display. A grandmother named Jane and her granddaughter, Ashley, picked me up and whisked me into Munson (the woman was a wild driver!) where I registered at Shaw¢s Lodging. Shaw¢s is the perfect hiker¢s respite. When I arrived, Dawn greeted me and showed me around. She told me to grab some clothes off of their rack of ¢hiker chic¢ t-shirts, shorts, and sweatshirts to take with me to the shower so I could put on clean, fresh clothes after cleaning up. What a great idea! My drop box had arrived with food for the next section, and after showering I went to organizing my supplies and gear for the next part of my Trail hike. Because the Lakeshore House (the primary place people go for dinner in Munson) is closed tonight, they do dinner here at Shaw¢s, and listen to this ¢ 2¢ thick pork chops with stuffing, fresh peas, fresh carrots with honey, homemade mashed potatoes (the real deal!), and blueberry crumb cake with a homemade blueberry and whipped cream topping all for $12! (All you can eat, too!). After dinner, I had to do some business; getting things straightened out with Sprint, who had put a hold on my account because they thought they could save me money ¢ no thank you! Just let me use my phone, please! ¢ I was able to get in touch with the office briefly and talk to Barb to find out how things are going back in civilization. The evening went by quickly, and I enjoyed munching on chips, drinking diet Ginger Ale, and watching the last episode of The Closer. As I sat on the couch basking in the marvel of electricity and television, I realized that other than a dump truck and the truck driver who stopped for me in the wilderness, and the car which had dropped me off today, I hadn¢t heard another vehicle since Brian and Lindsey dropped me off and waved goodbye over seven days ago. It¢s quite a long period of time not to have the peace interfered with by some modern vehicle. Even so, it really feels good to be clean and looking forward to sleeping in a real bed and having a day tomorrow to enjoy some relaxation, to do my laundry, update my journal entries, and hopefully get into Greenville to replace my poles. Life is good, that¢s for sure!