Date: 2023-10-01
From: Monson ME

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 15.1

Holy crap less than a 100 miles to go. Also first day in the 100 mile wilderness - I can almost sense the white text flashing above my display as if it were a video game level - Rabbit commented this would be the ¢storming the castle¢ level of the game. I guess Katahdin is Bowser? Woke up less groggy than yesterday, ran down to quickly shower and then reported to breakfast for the first round of food as we wanted to catch the 8:30 (but apparently 8:15) shuttle. We were the only ones taking it, and Magic came to say goodbye to us which was lovely. Poet came and drove us off, giving us an overview of highlights to expect and recited a haiku for us. Rabbit and I looked at each other thinking ¢oh crap it¢s the end level, this is our victory lap¢ and we passed the sign that¢s like NO WAY OUT FOR 100 MILES VERY REMOTE AH AH AH *horror movie sting* and signed the trail register. Rabbit zipped off and I bopped along, going slower than I expected (still not over the cold) but the slate was really pretty and even better it was grippy! I love hiking on grippy, dry surfaces with no rain! I stopped at the first shelter and read Carrot Quinn for 15 minutes and then continued. I wasn¢t feeling fantastic, but I did appreciate the falls although I thought the view was going to be better at the bottom so hurried down before actually getting the chance to admire the cool geometric slate canyon. Did a river crossing, refilled water, and kept going to the next shelter (doing another river crossing as well and seeing another baby snake) where I saw Rabbit¢s poles staked at the turnoff, staked mine as well, and walked over where I saw a green Nemo tent. I got to the shelter and saw Rabbit was talking to Bread and Butter who was looking terrible. It turns out he wasn¢t feeling well, and had to leave his tram behind to take a zero today before going back to Shaw¢s to recover and hopefully meet his tram at Baxter. He was CRUSHED. We stayed and pep talked to him, listened, gave hugs, and were supportive while we made lunch. I had the Heather¢s Choice peanut butter stew and it was DELICIOUS! Dang I should¢ve bought more, it knocked Peak Refuel from the top (peak? lol) for flavor. I was savoring it. I almost felt bad that I was having a party in my mouth and stomach while Bread & Butter was so upset, but tried to keep a neutral face instead of being like MOLTO BENE. It was tragic when B&B asked if we haaaaad to go and if we could stay and I almost wanted to invite him to come with us, but I don't think that would have been the right move for him. At least we stayed for a solid hour and I hope we made him feel a little better, or at least less alone. We left camp, and immediately ran into someone who told us the final river crossing of the day was really really high - a FarOut comment from 2 weeks ago had said it was chest high for someone 6¢2. If it was earlier in the day I would¢ve been like ¢fuck it let¢s swim across¢ but it would be way too close to dark and our clothes wouldn¢t dry so we decided to take the high water alternate and had a really nice logging road walk enjoying the foliage!! Yes, turns out the 100MW is not that remote as it's crisscrossed with logging roads.We walked past empty vacation homes that made it seem like we were crossing the country post-apocalypse in search of safe haven, with Barren Mountain rearing up in the not-so-far distance and the leaves starting to turn crimson and the sense of them being on fire getting more and more intensified as we headed north. We passed glassy black ponds and rivers with red leaves on the surface - gorgeous, and tunnels of trees with yellow leaves set against the blue blue sky. So welcome to have such a long stretch of perfect blue sunny days after so long trekking in the rain and evil BOGS. Truly ending on a high note (can¢t believe the end is in my sights). As it got dark we got to the connector back to the AT which alas had BOGS lurking and my socks got wet, but we got to the shelter where a section hiker was and we set up and made dinner. Rabbit tragically spilled his ramen and I jokingly said he should put it in the random water bladder someone had left on the shelter dirt floor and he was like ¢that¢s weird but it works¢ so he dumped it in there and washed out the floor. I had the good2go risotto which took FOREVER to cook (I wrote my diary entry for the previous day and buckled my quilt to the pad and still was waiting) but when I had it, it was DELICIOUS! Exactly what I needed, warm and carby. A very different experience than eating it in the Smokies when I was like 'is this bad?' I scarfed it down, and went to bed. The moon was super bright out tonight.