Date: 2014-09-24
From: ME 15, Monson ME, Mile 2070.8

To: Side Trail Junction, Mile 2086.1
Miles today: 15.3

Today I entered the fearsome 100 mile wilderness!Not so fearsome, actually. There are lots of dirt road crossings; some folks even slackpack the entire section! You can also get someone to do a food drop for you halfway into the wilderness so you don't have to start out with food for the entire distance.The two older guys I mentioned meeting last night, Old Blue and Catfish, talked me into slackpacking the first 15 miles like they did yesterday. I figured that would be one less day of food to carry and I'd heard the section was tough. No big mountains to climb, but lots of not-so-easy ups and downs. Plus, since they were getting dropped off at the same spot to continue their hike, I could share the shuttle fee with them. Susan drove us to the trail head where we had to hike up a side trail for 0.8 miles to intersect the AT just north of the Long Pond Stream Lean-to. When we got to the AT, Old Blue and Catfish headed north while I headed south. They had full packs, but had arranged for a food drop at Jo Mary Road about halfway to Abol Bridge, so they only had to carry a couple of days of food. It's a bit weird to slackpack southbound because you meet lots of other Nobos going in the proper direction - I passed over 45 hikers heading north today!Early on I came across a group of six or seven hikers just breaking camp at an old overgrown forest road crossing. Nora V! I knew she was a little ahead of me based on shelter journals, but figured I wouldn't see her again. Willy Wonka was also there, a young woman I met way back at a shelter where I stopped in just for lunch. I remembered her unusual name and the conversation the group had at the time about whether they liked the Gene Wilder or the Johnny Depp version.Later on I met Hey Y'all coming up the trail. I recognized him based on Old Blue's description, because Old Blue and Catfish had given me a package of coffee to give to Hey Y'all if I met him. He was most appreciative! I also chatted with lots of other north bound hikers, including Digeree Dude, a young man I hadn't met before.The trail was certainly full of ups and downs, rocks and roots, but there were also smooth level sections where I could cruise. It included a stream that I finally had to ford, Big Wilson Stream. I just took my shoes, socks and gaiters off and walked across barefoot, using my poles for stability rather than the wire stretched across the stream. My feet loved the cold water and felt refreshed when I got to the other side! It made me realize that maybe I should ford more streams, even if I can rock hop across them! First Ford - Big Wilson Stream!Anyway, it was a beautiful day with gorgeous scenery and the trail was not as tough as I had thought it might be. I made fairly good time, especially considering all the time I spent stopping to talk with north bound hikers!When I got back to the ME 15, Route Step was there and had already called Shaws for a pick up. So I rode back with him when Dawn picked us up a few minutes later.Back at Shaws, Mailman and No Rush had arrived early that morning along with Mailman's son who was going to hike the rest of the way with them. We all went to dinner together at the Lakeshore House hostel where Hog Driver, Miss Janet and Route Step joined us. Route Step, No Rush, Me, Miss Janet, Hog Driver and MailmanLess than 100 miles to go! :-)