Date: 2004-09-21
From: Crocker Cirque Campsite, ME

To: So Many Hikers
Miles today: 7.3

I broke camp early and ascended the slope of Crocker Mountain. Actually, there are two peaks to this mountain, both of them just over 4000 feet.There were some steep and rocky parts to this ascent, but nothing as difficult as the inclines I faced during the first three days of hiking in Maine. My sense is that the terrain is gradually becoming less difficult.The summits of these mountains were covered with spruce trees. As I descended to a mid slope elevation, birch trees began showing up. At the lower elevations, a mix of deciduous trees became prevalent.I met a day hiker near the bottom of the mountain where the trail crosses Route 27. His pickup truck was parked at the trailhead. He gave me a five mile ride into the small town of Stratton, Maine.In that community, a box of food for three days of hiking was waiting for me in a room I had reserved at a low budget inn frequented by hikers. I had shipped the box from Rangely.I ran the usual trail town errands and checked my email. There were messages from other hikers. One message disturbed me. I will mention it after a preamble.One of my journal entries not too long ago was entitled "Loneliness;" it explained how I missed hiking with trail friends from the earlier parts of this journey. I had not mentioned what prompted that entry. This is the reason: I had just found out that hikers Whoa and Moxie had stopped hiking because of health reasons. They were among a few of the people I had become most friendly with. Today, I learned that Knuckles, another one of my favorite trail friends, has stopped hiking after contracting tendonitis. Her name was mentioned often in this journal. She was hiking with JP, a man she met while on this journey. I had been hoping that she and JP would catch up to me. They were hiking in New Hampshire when she made the decision to stop hiking. JP, another one of my favorite trail friends, is hiking a few days behind me. He might flip at Mount Katahdin and hike south. Or maybe he will continue walking north. Knuckles will provide some kind of support for him with a vehicle. So chances are the three of us shall meet again. Still, I am saddened to hear of Knuckles departure from the trail.I have been getting better acquainted with lots of thru hikers. It seems like a clustering of hikers is happening as the date of October 15¢the closure of Baxter State Park¢draws near.Some of the hikers in this cluster have been traveling in small groups. Others like me have been hiking individually. But everyone is becoming familiar with each other. There is a common bond that all of us share; we have hiked all the way from Georgia and endured the same tribulations. Here are the names of hikers that I have met along the way. The list is broken down into categories:In the present cluster, I have recently become acquainted with: Alabama, Arc, Auggie, Blue, Bramble, Chef, Chef TB, Chef Vegan, Chris and Ellie, Dukes, Dutch, Gayia, Gordie, Grey Panter, Hans, Keytone, Mousebait, Nine Monkeys, Puck Finn, Regular Brian, Rooster, Seraphim (knew her previously), Ski Bum, Still Frank, Sundown, Swan, T-Bott, Ursa Minor, and White Patch.Here are some hikers from the past that are hiking in front of me: Baloo, Carp, John, Nitro, Pop Up, Sardine, Steven, Shivers, Slimer, Wipeout, and Zip Off.Here are some hikers from the past that are one to several days behind me: Backdraft Bong Ramon, Chuggs, Deeds, Digdug, Doc Narly, Gather, JP, and Skywalker.Flip Flop Thru Hikers from the Past: Millipede and Utah Mike.These are hikers from the past who I assume are still hiking but I have not heard about in a while: Bluebird, Brittany, Freebird, Lambie, Little Engine, Mark, Messy Garage, Ottie, Pop Tart, Smack, Stick, Superstition, Swedish, and Tex.Hikers who are off the trail: Brother, Dave Underfoot, Joe Pisscutter (section hiker), Inchworm (section hiker), Jazz, Kato (section hiker), Kicks the Rocks, Knuckles, Mountain Goat, Moxie, Navigator, Pope, Samauri, Silkie, Slow Train (section hiker), Spider, Spur, Susan (section hiker), Whoa, and Wild Thing.There are undoubtedly some names that I have neglected to mention.All of these hikers, especially those from the past, have contributed to my experience on this trail, and I have hopefully enhanced their experiences. The journey continues for 187.8 miles. Along this way, I will share experiences and become friendlier with the new hikers I have met. And I hope to meet again some of those hiker friends from the past. At some point in October, after each one of us, God willing, has stood upon the summit of Mount Katahdin, this extended trail family will scatter to the winds. But the Appalachian Mountains we have trod upon will not only endure; they will provide a setting, year after year, for the formation of new trail families.