Date: 2013-09-23
From: Monson, Me

To: AMC Gorham Mountain Hut
Miles today: 13.3
Weather: clear sky

Our shuttle dropped us off at Otter Pond along with Double Dare and Pathfinder and we began hiking around 7am. Oh, I want to mention that we have been fording the streams and carrying Bella over them (see picture). She is a world class swimmer and she would much rather be in the water, but we like to carry her because if she gets wet, we have to carry her packs due to chaffing and we don't want to add anymore weights to our packs if we don't have to. We started our day hiking over over Barren Mountain. I notice mom has been going much slower these past few days. I hiked behind her for a little and she had to pull over for her knee several times. I wish there was a way to carry her over these Mountains. We met a guy named Jesus (pronounced hey sus) going up the hill and his energy and happiness quickly picked us up. He was full of life and the trail. He is a young section hiker and has already logged over 1,100 miles this year. He said he found a hut managed by AMC (Appalachian Maine Club). He said that it was about four miles off the trail but followed the old AT trail. He said that it was just the neatest place he has gone to and was able to find "work for stay." He gave us a map and showed us how to get there. Since it had been misting and dreary all morning, without hesitation, we decided we were going there even though it was four miles off the trail. It seemed ludricrous that we would go that far but it just seemed good. Ordinarily, we would never go off trail much more than .2 for water source or a shelter, but this just seemed different and worth it. Before we got to the turn off trail that would take us there, we met up with Clover. Jesus also told him about this diamond of a place and when he saw that we were going, he wanted to go too. We took a blue blaze on the Third Mountain trail. Actually this trail followed what used to be the old AT trail and it was four miles off the current AT. When we got there, the crew seemed surprise to see us thru hikers. I guess they have only had four this entire year. Gary greeted us first and was very busy. He said that they usually have a crew of nine but they were short and there were only four of them now. I guess their summer season was wrapping up and that they would be closing on October 26 until Christmas. This hut is known for it's cross country skiing and fishing. He was preparing the dinner but was not the main chef. They said we could stay in the bunkhouse for a work for stay. We loaded wood inside the lodge for the sauna, started the wood stove for the sauna, clean dishes and tables, and swept the floor. We had a blast with this crew. They fed us a ton of food!! We had lasagna, homemade bread, green beans, turkey pot pie, mash potatoes, carmelized squash and dessert. They said we could have breakfast tomorrow as well. And they have a garden in the back that we might help pick some veggies. I could stay here for days if Katahdin wasn't so close.The bunkhouse was cozy and basically a cabin. We were the only ones there however it could have held ten people. We quickly filled our wood box inside and started the wood stove there. By the time we were done with our chores in the lodge and came back to our bunkhouse, it was toasty warm. Mom, Bella and I were in one of the rooms and Clover slept out in the main room with the stove. We all talked late into the night being very warm and fed. Twix