Date: 2008-10-05
From: Abol Bridge, ME

To: Katahdin Stream Campground, ME
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

My plan had been that if Katahdin opened back up again today, I was going to get an early start and maybe walk the 10 miles to the base, then climb Katahdin, but the rangers at Baxter State Park call Ol' Man each day to let him know whether or not the mountain is re-opening....and it didn't for today. Maybe tomorrow.Since Katahdin was still closed to hikers, I was in no hurry to get back out to Abol Bridge and walk the 10 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground, so Mrs Gorp and I went to the Appalachian Cafe and had a very good breakfast and lots of coffee.We weren't sure how to do this section. I was going to walk it and meet Mrs Gorp at Katahdin Stream Campground, but she wanted to get some exercise too, so we decided to park the truck at Abol Bridge and both of us walk to Katahdin Stream Campground, then figure out how to get back to the truck later.We set off walking north on the Appalachian Trail. Mrs Gorp was all worried about not being able to keep up with me. I told her not to worry about it....she could NEVER keep up with me. Ha!! ;-) Actually, that's not entirely true. She has been hiking longer than I've been alive and she's good at it!! Well, I guess that's not entirely true either. She did the Appalachian Trail the first of the three times she's done it waaaaay back in the 70's. I hadn't even graduated from high school yet. ;-)Anyway, we were walking north on the Trail, enjoying walking along the shore of West Branch of the Penobscot River when we ran into Bluebearie "02, the local ridgerunner and a good friend. I got a big hug!! That's THREE hugs in just two days!! Life is great!! :-)Bluebearie said nice things to Mrs Gorp, then she asked me what on earth took me soooooo long to walk the Trail this year. I started naming all the reasons for my delay, but I noticed she wasn't listening....she was talking to Mrs Gorp again. I finally broke into their conversation and said; "Hey, it's getting late and we may end up walking the 10 miles back to the truck yet today if we don't get a ride."   We said goodbye to Blackberry and walked on. ;-)We had a couple areas where the stream crossings were fords, but we were able to find downed trees to walk across and keep our feet dry. I walked across one of the streams first, then got my camera out and started clicking away as Mrs Gorp crossed....just in case she happened to slip. I would have the last picture of Mrs Gorp ever crossing a stream. She didn't slip. 8-)We climbed about 600 feet, passing by Big Niagara Falls, then Little Niagara Falls. We kept walking and passed by Daicey Pond, then got to the gravel road that leads to Katahdin Stream Campground. When we got to the campground, we got a ride with the first car leaving....an older couple on tour from Colorado. They dropped us off on a trail near where Bluebearie stays at a cabin in the park and we walked that short 2 mile trail back to Abol Bridge and my truck. We ran into Bluebearie again on this Trail. She was done working for the day and walking back to her cabin. This time she was all wrapped up like it was cold out or something. :-) We talked again for a while before Mrs Gorp and I headed on and got back to the truck, then headed into Millinocket for dinner. Only 5.2 miles left of this thru hike and just waiting on Katahdin to re-open to hikers again....hopefully tomorrow!!I put up some beautiful pictures of Katahdin (about 30 in all) in today's photo section....enjoy!!I also want everyone to know that I KNOW I still have lots and lots of emails to answer....please be patient with me. I got so far behind this time that it's still going to take a while to catch up....but I will catch up....before Christmas!!! :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)