Date: 2007-08-07
From: Katahdin Stream, ME

To: Rainbow Ledges, ME
Miles today: 15.9

15.9 miles todayTentingRainbow Ledges, ME.I was in no hurry today because I am planning on spending a whole day at White House Landing. It works out to be walking today and tomorrow, then go into White House Landing early the next day.I slept great last night and all my stuff was dry this morning to start the walk with.I had told John Galt that I would probably knock on his door about 10am. I was laying in bed at 7am thinking I made a BIG mistake...I wanted coffee and this motel doesn't have any.John Galt knocked on my door about 7:30 and asked if I was ready for breakfast yet. I said "Yes!!" :-))We went down to the Appalachian Cafe and I had a good breakfast and lots of coffee. I was happy!!There was a young guy with a backpack sitting in the booth next to us. His name was Nick and he's starting a south bound hike today and needed a ride.John Galt offered to pick him up in a couple hours and take him to Baxter State Park when he dropped me off.That worked out great for Nick because he was waiting on the PO to open and also needed to buy some food yet. He already decided his pack was too heavy and he hasn't even started yet, so he was sending stuff home...smart guy. :-))I packed all my stuff up back at the motel and we headed out about 10:30am.We picked up Nick, then drove to Baxter State Park.John pulled up to the ranger's station and was helping Nick get everything in order to climb Katahdin today.I thanked John Galt for all the help and headed south for Georgia at noon.I ran into a nobo by the name of Cheese about a mile into my walk today. He had the look of someone on a mission. Guess he's happy to be finishing his walk. :-))A short time later, I ran into Retro, Half Way, Katarpilller and Moth who were all going to finish their thru hikes soon.I had met Retro in Damascus, VA when Mrs Gorp and I rode through there on our bicycles way back in early April.It wasn't long and I was walking by Daicey Pond and got welcomed to the Maine woods by a loon. It sure is nice to hear them again...I love their calls.I passed by a privey and saw they built a ranger home nearby. I signed the Trail log there and saw that Cliff Hanger and Base were 12 minutes ahead of me.They are the 2 young sobos I met on Katahdin yesterday. I was glad to see they got off the mountain OK.It sure is good to be back in the woods where it's quiet. The only sounds I've been hearing besides that loon I heard about half an hour ago is some of these little red squirrels that are scolding me as I walk by.I caught up to Cliff Hanger and Base. I asked them about their experience on Katahdin yesterday.They said they had a hard time getting down and that Cliff Hanger's Dad said that was as close to death as he's ever come. (The dad was in shorts and a short sleeved shirt)I came up to a stream crossing. Someone had stretched a couple old trees that were about 6 inches in diameter across the stream, then tied a string to hold onto to get across. I can imagine a lot of people just walk through the stream, so they don't have to risk that "bridge" crossing. I took the "bridge". :-))When I got to Pine Point, there were about 10 people in the water practicing water rescue in the rapids.I passed an older couple going my way. They were, oh, 55 or so and were out here walking through the Wilderness to Monson. :-))I saw Pete walking north towards Abol Bridge just as I was walking south towards it. Jagged was already there and Big Red wasn't far behind.They are all '02 thru hikers. Jagged was the one that helped me out so much by letting me use her car to get my bicycle to UPS in Bangor to be shipped south. THANK YOU JAGGED!!! That was a huge help to get me started on my walk.I may be just starting this walk, but I've already got "The Hunger". My metabolism is reved up from the bike ride, so when I got to Abol Bridge, I had 3 hotdogs, a double cheese burger, 3 cans of Coke and a small bag of Doritos. I also packed out a coke and a couple packs of M&M's. :-))Cliff Hanger and Base came walking into Abol Bridge just before I left. The older couple who are doing the Wilderness came in just after them.We all talked for a while, then I headed south into the Wilderness at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.I got a beautiful view of Katahdin when I walked over the bridge at Abol Bridge. What a gorgeous day for anyone to climb that mountain!!I've been asked if the bike riding will get me in shape for backpacking and I didn't know how to answer that...at least not before I started walking again and climbing mountains.It does NOT get you into backpacking shape!! The quads on my legs are sore right now.I was almost to Hurd Brook Lean-to when I heard a small plane flying overhead.I knew this was about the time John Galt was flying in a float plane and being dropped off at White House Landing. He's just like all my other hiking friends....just a bunch of cupcakes!! ;-))I stopped at a nice spring about 1/2 mile before Hurd Brook Lean-to and filled up my water bottles for the night.I stopped by Hurd Brook Lean-to to sign the register. There was a couple there by the names of Itchy and Scratchy who were doing a long distance section hike. They are from Blacksburg, VA.I walked on and in a few miles, I got to Rainbow Ledges.It is absolutely beautiful up here...one of my favorite places.The sun had just set, but it was still plenty light enough out to find a good spot for my tent and get it set up without my headlamp.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail!! :-)