Date: 2016-08-15
From: Monson ME (Shaws Hostel) +3.7

To: Long Pond Stream (Stealth)
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I slept well and was up early. I went down to the gas station and got breakfast and money from the ATM then back to Shaws Hostel. The crew was meeting for breakfast and Rabbits wife was going to shuttle us back to the trail. I visited with Forest and Hoosier before she came. Today was the start of the 100 mile wilderness where there is very little support. My pack was heavy because I had six days of food...the most I have ever carried. We were on the trail by 7:30. Subman, Suds and Spirit were 15 minutes ahead of us and Rabbit, Blues Brother and I hiked together. We passed the couple that got married yesterday at the hostel and I introduced Rabbit to them. As we got to the first shelter the trail got less obvious. Subman told us we had to go down challenging rocky path while a much easier path was available. All I can say about that is....watch out for paybacks. At this point the 100 mile wilderness isn't much different than the rest of the trail we have hiked...a little easier as we had less intense climbs and descents. First thing in the morning rocks were wet and slick. Blues Brother who was leading said "watch out this rock is slick" soon I was on my butt and Rabbit went down shortly after. No one was hurt other than our egos. We were a little more cautious after that. We came to a very beautiful area with the green moss on the ground and the trees all around. Tried to take a picture but I don't think you can capture the way it presented itself as we hiked through. Later we passed a cool waterfall, a thin coorador dropping onto the boulders below. Early afternoon we crossed Little Wilson stream and not far from that was Big Wilson. We looked for a way to rock hop it but found we were going to have to ford our first waterway of the trip. So off with the shoes and socks on went the crocks. Blues and I arrived before Rabbit and were ready to cross by the time Rabbit shows up. Rabbit had no camp shoes and was determined to rock hope the stream. So across Blues and I went as Rabbit worked his way down stream to find rocks to step on. He ended up down stream quite a ways and finally got to a place he had to step into the water to get across. Now let me tell you this,,Rabbit is am"purist" when it comes to hiking the trail. If he misses a blaze he will go back to take the correct path. Well he went far enough down stream that we told him he was off trail and didn't hike the intended route. Another hiker came by and added to our assult of informing Rabbit he did not hike the intended trail and he was no longer a "thru" hiker but a long 200 mil "section" hiker and now preparing to hike another section. Now if Rabbit would have been smart he would have went back and hiked the intended path because we made comments the rest of the day about him being a "section hiker" and I'm sure these little digs will continue all the way to the end...lol So at the end of the day we come to a sign that says "trail magic 1/8 mile down dirt road". So down the dirt road we go to a hunters cabin. There we find a grill going with burger and hot dogs. It seems this guy lost his son and does this for hikers in memory of his son. It is an awesome way to end the day. He also has fruit, soda and beer. So we stay and chat for awhile. He tells us there are some good campsites just past the next stream. We spend a half an hour there before heading down to the stream to set up camp. Subman and Suds are already there and Rabbit, Blues Brother and I join them. Spirit and Iraqnia have headed to the Lean-to, 3 miles further north. The weather was great...low humidity with temps in the 70s. It was a great day to hike.