Date: 2023-07-22
From: Hurd Brook Lean-to 

To: The Birches Lean-to
Miles today: 13.4

Note: I completed the AT on July 23, and am just now, in October 2023, getting around to adding in my trail entries for the last 11 days of my journey.It started raining around 6:30. I started hiking around 7. Steady showers for another half hour, then it gradually subsided over another half hour, when I reached Golden Rd, then crossed Abol Bridge -- the northern end of the 100 mile wilderness -- a few minutes later. It was a beautful view. I became excited to only have 15 miles to go. And oddly, I was also surprised, even though I had been monitoring my progress with the guide and knew how far I had to go to Katahdin every day.I saw Babs outside the campstore. She urged me to head to the ranger station in Baxter State Park if I planned to camp at the Birches.I walked to the BSP boundary, then headed to an information board. I saw no one. I turned around and headed to a garage area a couple minutes away where a truck was parked. I saw no one again. At this point I was getting frustrated, because I had to talk to the ranger to get a permit to camp, plus I wanted to get something to eat at the campstore. I walked back towards the campstore, hoping to find something. I saw Waterboy and Babs heading towards me. When I said I couldn't find the ranger, we walked together to the information board. This time a ranger was there. We signed in, and he gave us info on where to camp, and which trails we might take back down after summiting Katahdin.I returned to the campstore around 9 and bought some lasagna and ice cream -- great ice cream by the way, from Gifford's -- with a few trail snacks. After a break, I returned to BSP and continued hiking.The AT followed what I believe was a branch of the Penobscot River, which is also what I crossed on Abol Bridge. There were some whitewater rafters and kayakers on it. I heard a chorus of hums. When I looked over my shoulder, a swarm of mosquitos was following me. They were avoiding biting me because of the Deet spray I had put on.I got to the junction with the lower Nesowadnehunk Stream around 11:30. There was a high water bypass trail, but the water was low enough to not require using it. I walked by a scenic waterfall with a huge, flat rock where about 50 whitewater rafters were taking a break.Around 12:30, I got to the junction with Big Niagara Falls. I thought it would be a nice place to take a lunch break. When I got to the falls, I saw about 20 day hikers there, admiring the beautiful falls. I took a few shots, but wanted some place alone for lunch. I walked another mile or so and had lunch at a shady spot near an odd looking rock just passed the junction to Little Niagara Falls.I started hiking again around 1:45. I saw some great views of mountains as I walked past over various ponds. It was pretty flat, but scenic.I got to Katahdin Stream Campground around 2:45, and showed the ranger my Birches permit card, then paid the $10 fee We chatted for a bit, and he gave me some instructions. I headed over to the Birches, a camping area reserved for northbound thru hikers, and found a mini lean-to not yet occupied. I decided to sleep there - last night in a lean-to wasn't bad. No one else joined me there, which suited me just fine.I enjoyed my last dinner on the trail as a thru hiker. A downpour suddenly occurred at 5. While it only lasted for 30-45 minute, I'm glad I didn't try to summit Katahdin today. Then I relaxed, wrote up more journal entries, finished up chores and fell asleep.