Date: 2008-08-11
From: ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Monson ME

To: ShawÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Monson ME
Miles today: 0.0

Day 176 Monday August 11 ¢ Shaw¢s ¢ Monson ME - Miles Today: 0 Total Miles: 2061.7Due to staying up late watching the exciting Olympics, it was a very short night, especially after we woke at our normal 5:00. Brakeman got up around 6:00 - he wanted to make sure he was ready for breakfast!   That boy does have his priorities!We had an awesome breakfast for $7.00 - all you can eat French toast, bacon, eggs, sausage and potatoes. The chef requested that we order our first plate of food by how many servings we wanted of everything. We both started off with 2 of everything.   Then the chef supplemented our breakfast per our specific requests. Grasshopper ate 6 pieces of French toast, 2 eggs, 2 sausage and 2 helpings of potatoes. Brakeman ate 4 of everything ¢ French toast, eggs, sausage and helping of potatoes. Gosh, was it good. I think 5 Bags was impressed with our final showing, after our slow start. We were actually quite full and didn't need to eat too much else for the remainder of the day. Now, that is NOT to say we did not eat anything. We just finished the day eating a bit more like a normal human being and sharing some of our care package goodies from Harry & Marian with 5 Bags.We spent the morning at the library doing emails, watching the weather forecast and chatting with other hikers. The hikers all have different game plans. 5 Bags is still waiting his parent¢s arrival this evening to discuss his options. Hikers that were here before us decided to skip the 100 Mile Wilderness and just summit Katahdin. We've heard that the 4 Sisters got off the trail a few days ago, half way into the 100 Mile Wilderness, just 60 miles from the end. The rumor is that they had horrible creek crossings and trails and decided that they had just had enough and quit. We heard of one hiker who skipped to Katahdin and is hiking south back to Monson. Gosh, we¢d really like to continue this hike in a contiguous northbound fashion without skipping anything! But I guess we aren¢t really in the driver¢s seat, are we.On the way back from the library we stopped at the Lake Shore House to see if any sobos were there. Nope. Not good. We still had yet to find ourselves a sobo, which would tell us that we could get through the 100 Mile Wilderness.Around noon, we decided to call it quits, at least for now, and head to Pennsylvania to wait for good weather. Our minds told us it could be days or weeks before the streams are crossable. Brakeman headed to the Lake Shore House to see if we could catch a ride with the lady owner who was driving to Bangor today. We could then rent a car and drive to Pennsylvania. But, we missed our chance as she had already left. As Brakeman was trying to line us up a ride, Grasshopper called Mr. & Mrs. Grasshopper to update them with our plans. Mrs. Grasshopper stressed that the streams could drain quite quickly and perhaps we needed to sit on our decision a bit longer. We tried to explain that 5 Bags was at the one river for nearly 40 hours and only saw the water level come down 1 foot. We need the rivers to come down several feet if we are to be able to cross them. But since we had just missed our ride and had no other means to get to Bangor, we sat tight. All we could say was that we have done 2061.7 miles and are stuck with just 114.5 miles to go. SO CLOSE. We were planning on summiting August 18th, but obviously that will not happen and we are not sure of the next steps at this time. By afternoon, more hikers had arrived ¢ Rhino, a large strong German former AT thru-hiker, and his dog Ranja, a group of kids in their 20¢s ¢ Forest Gimp, Pipper, who was well over 6¢ tall, skinny as a bean pole and carries a 5 pound container of peanut butter on the outside of his backpack; and Stripe who seemed to be stressing over what clothing to pack for the last 100 miles of his hike. Also there was AloHawk, who we have not met before. We did not get a chance to talk to him much. Rhino and AloHawk have a shuttle arranged for tomorrow to take them to Baxter State Park, skipping the 100 Mile Wilderness. Hikers are taking the risky trail conditions seriously. Both Rhino and AloHawrk are big strong men and hikers. Dang, it¢s not looking good for us. But we still have not made our decision.We joined Forest Gimp, Pipper and Stripe in the hostel bedroom to see what they have heard about trail conditions northbound. They are not hearing much either. The stayed at the Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to last night and by reading the register were able to get the news on how to take the jeep and logging roads around the West Branch of the Piscataquis River. The register said anyone under 5¢4¢ should NOT attempt the river crossing. Pipper being a purist and well over 6¢ tall took the official trail, while the other 2 hikers took the detour. He said the water was over his head and he almost had to let his pack go as the force of the water became too much.   We did not spend much time talking to them, as they did not seem eager to engage in conversation with us. Probably a bit too much on their minds, packing gear, and too tired to build new relationships, especially with old folks, this late in the game. We did surprise Forest Gimp when we told her we were thru-hikers. ¢You¢re thru-hikers?¢ she exclaimed. ¢Yes¢, we responded, ¢but we are slow. The trip will take us 5 months and 1 week.¢   ¢That¢s not slow.¢ she responded. Turns out that she will complete the hike just 2 weeks faster and Pipper just one week faster. Not too bad, then, for us old folks.Boy how things can change in a matter of hours. Despite the forecast for rain today, the rain held off. Wow, three days in a row with no rain! By mid afternoon we were in agreement that the streams were probably in pretty good shape. Then we heard the news that some southbounders were in town! So change of plans for us - we¢re headed out tomorrow after all for our final push to Katahdin! Boy, are we glad that we didn't hop a ride to Bangor and get a rental car to drive home. On top of the great news that sobos are in town is the updated forecast, which is now calling for clearing weather by midweek. Yes!Rhino and AloHawk have also decided to hike on through and not bypass the 100 Mile Wilderness. AloHawk headed out this afternoon. The rest of us will head out in the morning, except for 5 Bags, whose plans are still up in the air.Get ready Katahdin, here we come!