Date: 2004-09-25
From: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to 

To: ME27-Stratton-White Wolf Inn 
Miles today: 13.5

Spruce GrouseStart: Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to @ 0823Finish: ME27-Stratton-White Wolf Inn @ 1425Miles: 13.5 Miles Weather: Warm all day and cloudy, brief rain in the evening.Breakfast: M&M¢s, granola w/ Blueberries and Strawberries.Lunch: M&M¢s, Granola bars, Hershey bar.Dinner: Ben & Jerry¢s Chunky Monkey.Trail Conditions: Steep climb up Crocker Mtn. Gradual descent into road.Animals:Spruce Grouse, Snake, Chipmunks, Squirrels, Birds.People: Squatter, Momma¢s Boy, Dayhikers, Paula.It was very warm last night and I used my sleeping bag as a blanket to avoid overheating. I ate up a little breakfast and rolled out of the shelter last.On the ridge before the drop into the South Branch of the Carabassett there was a plaque that marked the final piece of trail that completed the entire AT. Quite an achievement I would say. A.T. PlaqueThe first few miles of the day were very easy walking. All flat and then downhill. Along the way I got my first up close viewing of a Spruce Grouse. There are so many Grouse along the trail and when you trot by they get startled and fly away making a ton of noise. Anywho, this particular Grouse didn¢t mind my presence and moseyed on down the trail in front of me as I followed. Finally it flew up into a tree branch just above eye level. I got several feet away from it and took some photos and checked it out. I rested briefly at the Carabassett River with Squatter, then we began the haul up Crocker Mtn. The climb was one of the steepest since the Mahoosuc Arm and it¢s difficulty caught me a bit off guard. The climb just never seemed to end. When I finally hit the summit of South Crocker Mtn. I was too tuckered to walk the 100-yard side trail to the overlook. I just stumbled on toward the gap and North Crocker Peak, which required a 500 foot climb. The Carabassett RiverI rested on the summit of North Crocker Mtn., ate lunch, and chatted with Squatter and Momma¢s Boy. Momma¢s Boy and I were both planning on going into Stratton as maildrops awaited us there. Squatter was pressing on to catch up with Swix. Momma¢s Boy invited me to stay with him in town as his father was covering the cost of his motel room. That definitely sounded good to me. Thanks Mombo!After hitting the summit it was all down hill to ME27 and a motel room. We made quick work of the descent and were in the parking area in no time. After resting a bit I mustered up the energy to hitch. As luck would have it the first car I thumbed pulled over and I wasn¢t even on the side of the road leading into town yet. Paula, a local high school teacher got us into town. Thanks.Momma¢s Boy decided on the White Wolf Inn for our stay so we got cleaned up and hit the bar for some dinner. I was surprised to see Skinny (haven¢t seen since Duncannon) and Alon (hadn¢t seen since Ten-Mile River Lean-to). They had met up somewhere along the way and jumped up to Katahdin and began moving south. We all shot the breeze at the bar.There is a slight rain falling outside, but no worries as I¢m high and dry with Momma¢s Boy. It looks like we¢ll both be zeroing tomorrow to wait for our mail drops.