Date: 2007-10-12
From: Spaulding Mtn Lean-To, Maine

To: Stratton Motel Bunkhouse, Maine
Miles today: 13.5

I wanted to get going early; so, I could be assured of getting a ride into Stratton. It was ten miles to town. When I woke up around 8am; there was a violent electrical storm going on. I waited a couple of hours and ate some rice dish that I had sitting in water over night. I had tried eating the dish cold yesterday; but, all the sodium witout disolving had me nauseas, very near to the point of vomiting. I put on my rain top and pants; put plastic bags around my socks on my feet; put my gore-tex storm socks on my hands; drank some cold coffee(hey, they are paying top dollar for iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts); and "hit the ground a runnin'". I was soaked in 5 minutes and remained that way for the rest of the day. There was water shooting out of the ground everywhere. The .6 mile side trail up to The SugerLoaf Mtn Ski Area and hut was a 10 foot wide river. The climb down the north side of Sugarloaf was my new most dangerous moment. Not only was it terribly steep; but, it was terribly slick. I also heard a roaring torrent down in the mist covered Carrabassett River valley. I then thought that I just might have my next most dangerous moment of the trip. I know ya'll at home are saying, "Zero, quit being so negative." Trust me, Im trying; but, I am a realist and tend to think of the worst possible scenario for risk management purposes and work my way back. If I prepare for the worst; then anything less; is much easier. This comes from the boys camp and trying to keep 70 wild boys and 45 wild employees from getting an eye poked out. So, I descended. I fell 3 or 4 times; saved myself from injurious falls about 20 times. With the sound of the river getting louder and louder. Finally, I fell and bent my Leki poles. And then I fell again and broke the pole altogether. I got "pissed" and threw the poles to the side of the trail. I then made it to the river and did not see a way across that did not include a swift water swim. Eventually, I saw a small plank that went across the most serious rapid. It was only about a foot above a rapid and not even a foot wide. I grabbed a long stick and got psyched up. I made little "baby steps" across the plank. As I looked down; as I scooted each foot; I saw the water rushing underneath. It took alot of concentration. I was just happy that the board was not slippery. I got across and said a prayer of thanks. As I started my 3 mile, 2100 foot climb up to South and North Crocker Mtns: I met a couple of soaking wet day hikers. It was a couple. When the man heard that I was trying to get to Kathadin. He went into this controlled negative lecture on how dangerous and ill advised a path that I was taking. I could have handled it, if he did not give me the impression of "talking own to me." I told him that if the mountain was closed, then that was a man made obstacle and I would be proud of doing 2100 plus miles. He just said, "It is going to snow and there are other mountains" and walked off without even saying goodbye. He female companion was a little shocked by her partner's callousness and stuttered for a second and said, "congratulations, on coming this far and good luck!" Thanks lady, I thought. All the way up The Crocker's; I thought of "smart butt" reponses to negative comments about my hike. I will tell you some later. When I got to the top of the mountains; I had 5 miles down to Maine 27. Again, I thought, for a rainy day, this is still very beautiful. The view back to Crocker Cirque Campsite through the mist and foliage was something else. The climb dwon to the road was very long; but, well graded. Meaning that I could get enough speed to keep my core temperature up enough to keep me from getting hypothermic. I could not stop though or even slow my pace below 3.5 miles an hour. My hands were becoming difficult to use because of the cold. I also broke 4 sicks that I picked up to help me descend. I became aware of how dependent I was on hiking poles to walk fast. Towards the end of this hike; I was no longer trying to avoid puddles or should I say the streams in the trail. I was completely soaked. And everytime, I thought I heard the road, it was a stream or the gale force wind zipping through the trees. At the bottom of the mountain; the deciduous tree leaves stopped me "in my tracks". Just so many colors. Couldnt stop long. I got to the road and it took me awhile to get a ride. I got there just before dark and to stay warm; I had to start walking towards town. When a car would go by. I would do a hand together gesture as if pleading for a ride. Finally, a couple in a pick up went by and then turned around and picked me up. I did have to ride in the back of the truck which was very cold. When I got to town; I checked in to The Stratton Motel's Bunkhouse. I met Sue "Indo". I had the whole place to myself and made a big pot of stew with all the leftovers in the refridgerator and cupboards. It was delicious. It was my first good meal since Stratton about 8-9 days ago. I lost some more weight and alot of stamina on that stretch. At about 9pm, "Lentil" showed up. He had walked 22 miles in that rain. He saw me and gave me a big hug. He said he knew that he had hiked 22 miles for some reason? He said he could tell by my register entries that I was having a tough time. It was good to see another NOBO. My first one in a week. I thought, I was the last one. He said that "Rider, Lumpy, Dozer, and one other guy was a day or two back!