Date: 2007-09-10
From: Andover, ME

To: Sawyer Notch Campsite
Miles today: 7.4

Memorial in the WoodsI somehow managed to sleep last night and was up at 7 for the all you can eat breakfast. They let us make our own omelette's and had blueberry pancakes, bacon, biscuits, and fruit. After breakfast we were surprisingly rushed out of there. I guess they needed to clean and make room for the next hikers. I had a lot of stuff to take care of in town so I had Bear drop me off there instead of the trail. I was in front of the general store by 8:30. I started making the incredibly tough phone calls to friends to break the news about Ken. I basically just called one person from different circles of friends, that way they could spread the word. I spoke with Kens girlfriend a few more times, my father, and my brother. It was pretty hard for me to have to talk on the phone instead of in person. I wanted to be home with everyone, but I'm on a mission now. After the phone calls I sat and spent some time updating my journal, then got a 3 day resupply at the general store. All the hikers around found out what had happened and everyone was super supportive. That is what is so great about fellow thru hikers. Next I went to the post office and took care of my bounce box. I got some of the last supplies I'll need and mailed it home.I walked back to the general store and got a chicken salad sub for lunch. After devouring that Game on and I got a ride back to the trail. We were walking by 130. Obviously all I could think about was Ken while I was hiking. All the colors in the forest seemed more vivid and the sounds amplified. I was walking in a trance which was broken by a loud crashing noise to our left. Immediately we thought it was a moose, but couldn't get a visual, and couldn't hear it anymore, so we chalked it up to a large tree limb falling.Game on and I got to surplus pond and took a break near the water. He busted out some jim beam that he bought in town which we shared a few shots of. I told him that I wanted an alone night on the trail which he completely understood. We made a game plan for meeting up the next day and he camped there at the pond. I hiked on by myself, up wyman mountain. The miles came easily and I seemed to float over the trail. I took a break at a view point which was almost fogged in. I pushed on to the lean to and ran into bug shoe and shuffles. I decided to go on another mile and camp in the notch next to a stream.I made it down the hill where the trail leveled off and saw a barred owl land on a branch overhead. I stopped dead in my tracks and starred at the beautiful bird. It was circling its head around looking at me and the rest of the forest. I watched it fly a few feet onto another branch, stare at me, then fly onto another branch and stare at me again. It brought tears to my eyes. Somehow I knew it was Ken and I had flashbacks to the first time he told me about the "who cooks for you" owl at his kitchen table. I set up camp there and heard the owl calling in the distance.I had mac and cheese for dinner and drank a Heineken I packed out. After dinner I spread out all the maps in order for the rest of this hike and put kens pictures at the end after katahdin. It was my little memorial in the woods for him. I studied the maps and the mountains I still get to climb as I drank the remainder of my bourbon. Each shot I toasted to kens pictures. I got pretty tore up and eventually packed up my memorial, climbed into my hammock, and passed out.Today's StatsStarting Point:Andover, MEEnding Point:Sawyer Notch CampsiteMileage:7.4Elevation Gain:2130ftElevation Loss:2490ftHiking Time:5:08Weather:Overcast coolPain Factor:2 physical, 10 emotional