Date: 2008-08-05
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: light rain

It was a decent, sunny morning. Weather forecast is for no rain today and up to a half-inch tomorrow. I¢ve only got nine miles to go today for Monson. Seems a shame to not hike further in nice weather. Nevertheless, I¢ve got a lot to do in Monson and will almost defintely take a zero day tomorrow. On my way, just a mile or so past the shelter, I ran into two southbound section hikers. They updated questions I had about Monson, what was open, where to stay, etc.The AT continued along the West Branch of the Piscataquis River until it joined up with the East Branch. It was a nice hike down to the river gorge, like a canyon in many places. The trail crossed the East Branch at a ford. I could hop across the stones in most places but did have to ford a portion. Then the trail went over a ridge and followed it to Lake Hebron. Monson is situated on the opposite end of this lake from the Appalachian Trail. There is a side trail that you can take into Monson and to Shaw's Boarding House. I think this blue-blazed trail is about a mile shorter than if you go to Maine Highway 15. But you would have to re-trace your steps if you want to cover all of the trail.At ME15 there is a large parking area for local and section hikers to park. You can usually find someone there who has finished a day hike and will give you a ride into Monson. If not, it¢s pretty easy to hitch into town. I¢ve never had to hike the 3 miles. Today I was picked up by a guy in a Surburban. On the way I asked him how he was handling the high gasoline costs with the Surburban. He told me he was trying to sell it but no one was interested thus far.Getting into Monson I decided to stay where I had in 2006 ¢ the Lakeshore House Hostel. I¢m not knocking Shaw¢s Boarding House in any way. Even though Mr. Shaw is gone, the two ladies who run it are supposed to be doing a great job. It¢s just that Lakeshore House is a bit quieter and more private. That¢s what I wanted.The Lakeshore House is really a B&B but they rent hikers rooms during the summer. I got the same room I had two years ago ¢ one with a bunk bed. No one else was there so I had the room to myself. The Lakeshore House has a kitchen/dining area in the back and you can get breakfast and sandwiches/burgers for lunch. They also have a bar and a really nice outside area to sit facing Lake Hebron. The town¢s laundromat is underneath the front of the Lakeshore House.After getting my room and dumping my gear I stopped by the post office for my final maildrop of this hike. I¢ve got five days of food to carry. Probably seems like a lot, but I¢m going to take it easy in the 100-mile Wilderness and stop at Whitehouse Landing along the way.Monson isn¢t really that big of a town. There is a ¢General Store¢ where you can get ¢short-term¢ food resupply. They also sell all kinds of other things like hardware, fishing gear, live bait, etc.Down the road from the General Store is a place that makes some pretty damn good barbecue sandwiches and ribs. Remember, I¢m from Texas and I know what good barbecue tastes like. This place does a pretty good job ¢ especially after having several beers to wash the food down!I wished there was somewhere in town that had internet access. There isn't a library. I think Shaw's may have a dial-up connection but since I wasn¢t staying there (and a lot of other hikers were) I didn¢t stop by to see. Instead, I found a pay phone, put my phone calling card to good use, and had a LONG conversation with Trail Boss. First, I gave her some verbal updates for Trail Journals to bring her up-to-date. I had already sent her a ton of pictures, via email, when I was on top of some of the taller recent mountains (and had decent reception for my iPhone). I wrapped up my call with Trail Boss by telling her I¢d call back tomorrow (during my zero day in Monson) to firm up my plans for the final week on the trail.Then I washed clothes and got cleaned up (which I really should have done earlier). Had an early dinner. Spent the rest of the evening at the Lakeshore House bar and watched some television while nursing some pretty darn tasty drinks. I don't think I have had a Tom Collins since my Marine Corps days, but I got to know the drink again tonight. Then I had to make a big decision ¢ did I sleep on the upper or lower bunk in my room (I opted for the lower bed). Tomorrow I¢ll bum around town but also concentrate on the logistics for the last week of this hike and how best to get back home afterwards. But for now ¢ off to sleep.Lakeshore House Hostel, Monson, Maine