Date: 2013-09-01
From: long pond stream lean-to

To: Abol bridge
Miles today: 84.3

I think it Sunday and the patriots game is at 1:00. My reds sox are kicking butt and I feel pretty good about them in the playoffs. I haven't been journaling consistently as of late but, there's much to say. The woods of Maine are without a question, the most pristine wilderness you can still appreciate. The Appalachian trail and surrounding areas are deep in boreal forest and ate not subjected to lumbering as they are protected lands. Only 78.6 miles to go and the excitement is building for everyone as we run out of mountains to climb. Today I climbed a total of 5 peaks and forded the east branch of the pleasant river before ending my 20.8 mile hike at Carl Newhall lean-to. The ridge runner I spoke with told me that I just hiked the roughest part of the 100 mile wilderness today and I should have a easier time from here on. Tomorrow I climb Gulf Hagas mountain,west peak, Hay mountain and finally white cap mountain. I'll get my first view of mt. Katahdin from here and will be looking at her until I summit. I have a great bunch of thru hikers around me and most are probably going to summit on Friday which is totally dependent on the weather. Worst case is Saturday is the rain day. After hiking nearly 21 miles thru the wildest country in New England , I was setting up my tent in the wind and 1/4 inch hail started smacking me around as I rushed to erect my shelter. I threw all my gear inside as fast as I could but still got melted hail balls inside my once dry tent. Oh well , I felt better after getting out of my wet clothes and into my smart wool long johns. The morning started on the cold side with temperatures in my tent at 46 degrees and 36 degrees on the outside. Their is nothing more exciting then putting on freezing cold, wet and stinky clothing while standing in near freezing temps. It is a race to rip off your warm and dry smart wools and try to put on your clothes for the day and layer over the wet with fleece and goose down while standing on a rock the size of a shoe box. Picture me getting my wet boxer briefs stuck on my foot, throwing me off balance and sending me into a naked barrel roll into the pine tree. It's 6:10am and I'm looking around to see if anybody is getting a good laugh but luckily I'm the only one stirring. I started out at 7:30 and by 11:00 I climbed all four peaks to include gulf Hagas mountain, west peak, hay mountain and white cap. On the north side of white cap I caught my first glimpse of Mt. Katahdin, sticking out on the Maine landscape. I can only hope that the weather is as nice Friday as it is today with perfectly blue skies and crisp but warming temps as the day wore on. The next few days at supposed to rain but should be warmer than it has been.As of today, I have 59.7 miles left on this epic journey and , although I can't wait to finish and see Alison, I can't help but think about all of the wonderful wilderness adventures I've been thru and don't want it to end. I will be contemplating the next great adventure and this time my girl will be with me so we might not come back, just sayin!Tonight I'm staying at the cooper falls lean-to with a beautiful water fall and swimming area right in front of the shelter, awesome!! Tomoroww it's supposed to rain but I'm going to get another 21.5 mile day and stop at wadleigh stream lean-to after I get my food drop at Jo-Mary rd. for 60$ you can get a food drop at the road where cooper brook crosses the Jo Mary rd. and with seven hikers in on the drop, the split on the fee makes it a smart way to carry a lighter pack with only three days of food in stead of six. Right now I have 2 oatmeal packets and 1 ramen soup left in my food bag along with 1 nut bar and some sun flower seeds. It's 10:24am Tuesday morning and I've been waiting for my food drop since 8:25. I have just eaten my last ramen noodle and am down to sun flower seeds and coffee so I really hope that Buddy shows up soon. I have exactly 56 miles left and am prepared to hike out if I have to and will survive to tell the tale. Millinocket is 40 miles or so and I could split that into two days hike if need be. My food drop finally arrived two hours late but at least I don't have to worry about starving for the next three days. I hiked 3.8 miles to Jo Mary rd. and after 11.20 am, I hiked another 17.8 for a total of 21.6 miles leaving me 38.2 miles to Katahdin. Tomorrow I will try to hike to the golden rd. where their is a restaurant with a cold beer and a nice steak waiting for me. That will leave me with about 9 miles to the birches lean-to, then 5.1 miles to summit Katahdin. I guess I'll be walking over 24 miles to set me up for a very climactic ending to a wonderful journey thru this great mountain chain. This morning I left the shelter at 6:50 and hiked over 22 miles, finishing the 100 mile wilderness in 5 days. I will return next year and spend 10 days there as it was truly a pristine wilderness and was blessed to have had the chance to experience it's wonder. I crossed Abol bridge and had a great dinner at the northern restaurant. My friend Jetlag picked me up and brought me to the hotel where I am able to shower off 5 days worth of dirt and sweat as well as get my laundry done. Tomorrow I'll hike just under ten miles into the Birches lean-to at the base of Katahdin and Friday morning, rain or shine, I'll climb the greatest mountain and celebrate the end of a magnificent journey that's taken me over 1200 miles thru some of the most intense and rugged country the east coast of this great country can offer. It's 5.1 miles up to the summit so that means its 5.1 back down after summiting. Do you think maybe I can hang glide off the top and get down quicker? :-/