Date: 2003-09-02
From: ME15, Monson (1240')

To: Long Pond Stream Lean-to (930')
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Aloha! And... They¢re off! Off to see the Big K. - Katahdin! Wuhuu! You can hear the crackle of excitement in the air. They're off to tackle the 100-Mile Wilderness and the Big K! A double wuhuuu if you please! This may very well be the climax of my odyssey.Needless to say, it started off, as all good endings should begin, with a breakfast at Shaws. I stuck to my 2x2 with just the over-easy eggs and this time French toast and was as stuffed as yesterday. It didn't take long to be raring to go. Pizazz had us all on the trail shortly thereafter.It was tough saying aloha to Pizazz. Obviously we'll see each other again soon but it was still hard. I had so hoped she would be able to join me in a piece of this special part of the trail but understand completely why she can't. Still, it would have been nice. She's been an instrumental part in my completing this endeavor and that, which began two years ago. It would have been great to have her at the finish line but I'll happily settle with the gentle kick in the butt send off she gave me. It was perfect for the moment.I had also hoped to help Short Job through this, her final, portion of the AT. I've recently learned though that she has completed all she can for the time being and will return one day in the near future. I do wish this could have worked out for both of us but also understand that it couldn't. I¢m proud of what she¢s accomplished with that brand new hip of hers. Gutsy and I began the hike together instead. It's good to have her back out here. She's been missed and I know she's missed the trail. Our day was planned with a 15-miler to start. We were both hoping that it wasn't to much for a gal coming off of two-weeks rest with little more than a couple of slackpacks to keep her limber. Fingers were crossed for her.I'm slowly coming to realize that one of the greatest things Maine has going for it is their ponds. Ponds galore! This morning alone we passed Spectacle Pond (1230'), Bell Pond (1250'), Lily Pond (1150'), North Pond (1100'), and Mud Pond (1090'). That was all before lunch! Some are small and some would equate to a lake in any other state. For the most part they're all picturesque in one-way or another. Some are no more than a beaver pond while others are gorgeous crystal blue begging you to dive in type ponds. All gorgeous. Maine does do ponds and does do them well.Our first official break in the 100-Mile Wilderness came at the Leeman Brook Lean-to where CeeBee and Irene caught up to us. This is Irene's first true backpacking experience. She's an avid hiker but has had limited opportunities to actually go backpacking. Luckily her son is a backpacker and was able to fit her out with all the necessary gear before coming. She's here now and looks to be doing fine. What a way to start off your first backpacking experience - with the Wilderness. Not many people would make this their first. Good on her!The only possible downfall to the day is that we lost CeeBee and Irene. Causalities of the bigger miles. With this being Irene's first backpacking experience it's not suggested that she start off immediately with a 15-mile day. CeeBee is smart to have recognized that and not try to force her to do the distance. They are starting off slower and will probably continue to do so the whole way through. A wise decision but a sad one for Coffee and me. We've greatly enjoyed CeeBee's company over the past few days so she will be missed. Fingers are crossed that we'll see them again before this Grand Adventure is completely over.Our lunch hour was spent at an even more idyllic place called the Little Wilson Falls. Gorgeous! We had the perfect bleacher seats above the 60' falls. With the sun shining overhead, the trickle of the stream behind and beside us, and the gushing roar of the falls in front of us, we couldn't have picked a more perfect place for lunch if we'd tried. It was absolutely perfect. It was also very hard to leave.Obviously we did and our journey, now including Coffee, took us across an interesting beaver dam for 200 yards. That was a first. I've seen many beaver dams since starting this Grand Adventure and even crossed one or two but have yet to trek across a 200 yard long one. It was different.We were also given our next opportunity to ford a river today. The Big Wilson Stream is another that's known to become dangerous if the water level is high. In the case of today that meant picking our way across the rocks and hope we didn't hit a slippery one and get the boots wet. All were successful. As were we when we crossed the Canadian Pacific Railroad tracks. No fast moving trains today.The hike ended with a long UP. Nothing really different about this one except that instead of just rocks and roots, they also threw in mud and bogs. To make it even more interesting, the maintainers made the initial ascent near vertical! Needless to say, we were ready to arrive long before we did.All is well now though with everyone tucked in and sleeping soundly. Poor Gutsy though, she came in around 40 minutes after I did but in great pain. It seems that the leg quit on her quite a ways back but didn't bring tears to her eyes until a mile out. She's in pain and exhausted. Today was more than she should have done. Poor kid. Sure hope she can hang on to the end. It would be wonderful to summit with her. More importantly though, she needs to get her knee working right... fixed. Sad to say but that may mean calling it quits and coming back another day. Fingers are still crossed for her.Okay, I should probably be seeing the insides of my eyelids. Tomorrow is another long day UP and down many mountains. The first several days of the Wilderness are all UP and down and tomorrow's starts with a nasty UP. Time to rest. I need all the strength I can muster these days. Kind of tired. Anyway, you sleep well and I'll try to do the same. Oh yeah, check out the miles remaining. We're now officially less than 100 miles to go. Wuhuuu! Goodnight.Blood, Sweat and Tears: too many ponds to wash away anything resembling sweatAches and Pains: somewhat feeling like the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz... Need a squirt of oil here and there.Moans and Groans: gorgeous ponds, gorgeous weather and too damned cold to swim!... waah!Critter count: 5x scrawny but cute red squirrels.Count down: 99.4 miles