BACKPACK MAINE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Climb Mt Katahdin and Backpack Wilderness 100

On September 9 MCMers Jack Bateman and Dan McQueen hiked 7.6 miles from Daicey Pond to the top of Mt Katahdin 5268' climbing up 4250' in 3 hours and 40 minutes. South Peak looked higher so they hiked ½ mile on the Knifes Edge to the peak to discover Katahdin looked higher. The ascent took them through the forest along a stream that got increasingly steep and more rugged. As they approached tree line the boulders got as large as houses and there was an iron bar and several iron foot bolts imbedded in the rock. Once on top of the rock ledge they continued up a increasingly steep boulder strewn ridge to a large plateau at about 4400'. Hiking across the plateau they finished the ascent up a relatively easy 800' to the summit.

September 10 Jack and Dan began an 8 day backpack through Baxter State Park and the Wilderness 100 on the Appalachian Trail. The 100 miles of trail is very scenic and rugged with no public roads. There are numerous bog log walks, streams to cross including a ford with water over the knees and endless nearly vertical rock scrambles/climbs. The trip required a lot of sweat and hard work but it was very rewarding. The scenery is fantastic with great overlooks and it is quiet. They didn't see much wildlife except for the kind that wants to get into your pack. The weather was almost perfect the whole way. They covered 117.8 trail miles totaling about 130 miles hiking.

Descending the south side of White Cap Mountain they stopped to talk to MCMer Eva Barnhill who said she was meeting Jesse Dobbs and two other MCMers the next day. Small world.

September 7, 2001 Friday Drive to Monson, Maine

Got up at 3:12 am, hurriedly dressed and gulped down a glass of orange juice and a banana. I took all the apples and bananas for the drive to Maine and headed out the door into a light fog and cool 50 degrees. By 3:36 I was on my way through the neighborhood to US-29 north to MD-100 east to US-1 east to Elkridge and Jack Bateman's house. By 3:56 am I was at Jack's and we quickly loaded his gear and were on the road by 4:00 am.

We were quickly on I-895 through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel onto I-95 north through Maryland, over the Delaware River Bridge and up the New Jersey Turnpike to the George Washington Bridge. We were there in about 3 hours and drove past the World Trade Center with a good view in the morning sun, the last time we would see them standing. We encountered our only traffic of the day for about 5 miles over the GW Bridge and beyond slowing but not stopping. We were soon through New York and up the coast of Connecticut to New Haven where we veered north on I-91 to I-84 in Hartford to the Massachusetts Turnpike. After 1 exit east we took I-290 to I-495 back to I-95 above Boston. Continuing north we passed through New Hampshire and across the bridge into Maine.

We stopped for lunch of haddock, French fries, slaw and ice tea for $10 at the Sunrise Grill in Kittery, Maine. We headed north on the Maine Turnpike where we exited at Newport. We paid tolls the entire route up totaling $23. Every state got our money except Connecticut. We gassed the car before heading into the back country. We followed ME-7 to Dexter where we turned left onto ME-23 to Guilford and ME-150 to ME-6 & ME-15 into Monson. We drove right to Shaw's boarding house arriving at 3:30 having traveled 677 miles in less than 12 hours. Shaw's is located at 45 17' 11"N by 69 30' 10' W at an elevation of 911'. The barometric pressure read 29.00" and the temperature was 84 degrees.

Keith Shaw was sitting in the yard with some through AT hikers. He had no record of us though I had called the previous week. No problem, we got room 5 with twin beds upstairs in the house across the street. Jack and I split the $35 for the room and paid $10 each for supper and $5 for breakfast all cash. We put our things in our room and joined the yard crowd and the constant trail talk. We took a couple walks around Monson but that didn't take much time and we had seen everything there was to see in Monson.

Supper was ready around 6:00 p.m. and we joined about twenty hikers around two large tables in two rooms. Mrs. Shaw, who must work 24 hours a day and is a saint, had prepared mountains of food for the hungry hikers and everything is all you can eat. We had beef, cob corn, potatoes, mixed vegetables, oatmeal apple cobbler with whipped cream and milk. Mr. Shaw raises the cattle and slaughters them for the 2000 boarders they have annually.

It was dark by 7:45 as we returned to room 5. Shaw's is a bit rustic but everything is spotlessly clean and they go out of their way to make you comfortable and welcome. They know hikers and their needs and they really cater to your needs. We were both in bed by 8:45 and soon sound asleep.

September 8, 2001 Saturday Shuttle to Daicey Pond Campground

Got up at 6:19 in the gray light. Packed our things in the car and walked across the street to the other Shaw house. Breakfast was in full swing and Keith Shaw Sr. took our order a choice of 2 around, three around or four around. After he cooked it, I received 2 eggs, 2 bacon strips, 2 sausage links, 2 French toasts and home fries. I drank some orange juice and milk which was on the table. Keith Shaw Jr. asked what time we wanted to shuttle and we agreed on 8:00 am. Most of the other hikers were having a rest day since they arrived the day before.

We left promptly at 8:00 in my car with me driving. We headed north and east mostly up US-11 to Millinocket. I had been to Millinocket when I canoed the Allagash River and again when I canoed the St. Johns River. I didn't remember anything in town. We headed north out of town on a paved highway for a few miles then turned left onto a dirt washboard road into Baxter State Park. The woman gate guard knew Keith and we entered without a problem. After about 10 miles of rough and very dusty road we arrived at Daicey Pond Campground at 10:30 am. We didn't have reservations but the ranger knew Keith and said there was no problem. We paid Keith $50 for the shuttle and he left in my car.

The ranger Gabe Williamson was very nice and led us into a small room to register. We paid $6 each per night for camping in the woods by the trail shelters. Gabe teaches at the University of Maine in Portland. He was very interested in what two old guys were doing backpacking the Wilderness 100 and our other activities. He teaches courses concerning aged and said he would use us in his courses. His attractive wife whose name I can't recall was the other ranger at Daicey Pond.

We set up camp and lounged around camp talking to 2 young Georgians who have done the entire AT except for Mt. Katahdin and other hikers. It was sunny and a warm 82 degrees with a nice steady breeze that kept it comfortable. We are at 45 52' 56" N by 69 01' 55" W at an elevation of 1100' and the barometric pressure is 28.8". There is a great view of Mt. Katahdin across Daicey Pond. I eat lunch of peanut butter crackers, cream cheese crackers, lemon cookies, smors granola, grapes and an apple.

We take a short walk on the AT along the shore of Daicey Pond but basically we hang out. I dip water from the lake and cook supper of chicken bouillon, macaroni cheese, ham and chocolate pudding. It is dark by 7:45 p.m. and I am in bed by 8:00. It is a warm 69 degrees in the tent so I sleep with no shirt on top of the sheet in my sleeping bag.

September 9, 2001 Sunday Climb Mt. Katahdin 5268'

It cooled down during the night so I pulled the sheet over me. We are up at 5:08 in the dark and 60 degrees. Jack boiled some water and I mixed it with 2 strawberry oatmeals for breakfast.

We sign the register at 5:56 as we leave Daicey Pond on the Appalachian Trail (AT). We hike at a good pace as we are both excited. We skirt the west shore of Daicey Pond over a small hill to another pond then cross the outlet stream where there is a beaver pond. We pass a second pond crossing the outlet stream on a narrow log. We soon come to the dirt road and go down it a half mile to Katahdin Stream Campground. We sign the register as we leave at 7:43 am. We hiked the 2.4 miles to the camp in 47 minutes.

The trail rises gently beside Katahdin Stream for about ½ mile. We cross the stream and the trail gets steeper. We pass a nice waterfall and start encountering a few rocks to clamber over. It is hot and humid in the thick forest and I am drenched in sweat. The trail gets ever steeper and the rock scrambles bigger and more frequent. The trees get smaller and fewer of them. We pass about 10 people as we climb. Soon we are faced with a huge rock scramble of several hundred feet up with boulders as large as a house. At one point there is an iron bar sunk into the rock to pull yourself up over a ledge. There is also an iron foot stirrup on top of the ledge to help get over it. In a short span of time we encounter several iron foot stirrups as we climb. We finally top the rock pile at about 3200'. The are now no trees and we have a cooling breeze that makes it comfortable.

Facing us is a rocky ridge that gets steeper as it nears what appears to be the summit. We climb this ridge rather quickly as there are plenty of places for your feet and handholds. The rocks are the right size which makes it a bit easier. As we top the end of the ridge at 4400' we are surprised to see a large plateau in front of us as we are a mile from the summit.

It is a quick hike across the rock strewn plateau to the final slope up to the summit. The final slope while steep is nothing compared the lower slopes and the rocks virtually form a walkway. We pass the two young Georgians with trail names Saten and Shep Shepherd on their way down. They left at 3:00 am to be on the summit by sunrise. We arrive on the summit about 9:35 a.m. having hiked 7.6 miles climbing over 4200' vertical.

There are about 10 through hikers there that have completed the 2160 mile Appalachian Trail. Some are stunned and some elated. All are trying to comprehend what they have done. We take pictures by the summit sign and read the plaque embedded in the rock. I eat an apple which is very refreshing and take in the incredible 360 degree views. We see some hikers coming to the summit along the famous Knifes Edge. We see South Summit and it looks higher than where we are. We decide to go to South Summit along the narrow rocky Knifes Edge. It is a real rock scramble and slow going as there is a precipitous drop of several hundred feet on both sides. We reach south summit, look back and are stunned to see that Katahdin is much higher. Someone is messing with our perspective as no matter where we are the other summits look higher.

We start down after being on the summit for over an hour. We pass many day hikers coming up. We discuss each group and wonder if they will make it. We stop to pick and eat wild blueberries on the plateau. As we reach the top of the rocky ridge it is time for lunch but we decide to graze so I eat a pack of peanut butter crackers. They are hard to get down as I am very dry and running low on water. We know there is no water until we get way down to the falls. We descend the rocky ridge and stop again to eat a pack of cream cheese crackers. It is difficult descending the large rock climb with the iron stirrups. We continue down and stop to get water at the falls. Back in Katahdin Stream Camp we sign out on the register and stop while I eat a pack of lemon cookies. We set a good pace back to Daicey Pond where we sign back in at 3:03. We have hiked 16.2 miles in 9:07 having climbed 4560'.

It is 80 degrees and I am covered in dust and sweat. I head straight for Daicey Pond and go in with clothes on except for my boots. The cool water is very soothing to my tired body and feet. Floating in the water I can look up and see beautiful Mt. Kathadin and feel very satisfied. My body temperature is quickly down and I am totally refreshed. I fire up the stove and boil water to start the rehydration process. I drink 2 pints of tea, a pint of chicken bouillon and a pint of hot chocolate all are very refreshing. I cook and eat supper of Cajun rice with beans and tuna. Five through hikers come in after 6:00 p.m.. Gabe and his wife come down to check on them and we have a good conversation again. It is dark at 7:30 and I crash at 8:10 again with no shirt and on top of my sheet. The through hikers are a bit noisy but it doesn't bother a tired contented climber with his pleasant dreams.

September 10, 2001 Monday Hike to East End of Rainbow Lake

We are up at 4:55 am with the barometer at 28.95" and the temperature at 60 degrees. We boil water for my 2 peach oatmeals for breakfast. We are slow getting packed up for the first time in the dark so we start hiking at 6:30. We are 7.6 miles from the summit of Mt. Katahdin.

We hike a mile or so and take a short side trip to see Little Niagara Falls then another side trip to Big Niagara Falls. The trail is good and the terrain in Baxter State Park is not that demanding so we were at Abol Bridge rather quickly. We stop at the store and buy an orange juice $1.00 and a banana for $.50. We talk to 3 through hikers heading for Katahdin. It is 71 degrees.

We cross the bridge and turn into the woods at the beginning of the 100 Mile Wilderness at 15.1 miles from Mt. Katahdin. We won't see any civilization until we hit ME-15 99.4 miles down the trail. The trail is good and the terrain not too difficult so we continue to make good time as we pass a steady stream of through hikers probably 20 in all pushing north to Mt. Katahdin. I planned to do 12 miles a day and take 9 days through the Wilderness. We had heard the northern 60 miles was the easiest so Jack was determined to do 15 miles a day for the first 4 days. I ate lunch of peanut butter crackers, cream cheese crackers, chocolate chip granola and gorp on the trail. We reach the east end of Rainbow Lake 45 43' 23" N by 69 05' 00" W 22.9 miles from Katahdin at 3:30 p.m.. We hiked 15.7 miles climbing 3220', descending 3090' in 3 climbs in 9 hours averaging 1.74 miles per hour.

We set up camp on the shore at 1072', the barometer at 28.80" and the temperature at 77 degrees. I swim in the lake and wash(no soap) my hiking clothes. I boil water for pint cups of chicken broth, beef broth, hot chocolate and 2 teas. I also mix up a quart of lemonade and drink that. I cook and eat supper of cheese rice, broccoli and salmon. It is very quiet and peaceful here and we are very comfortable in our tents on the soft forest floor. We are in bed by 8:00 and soon fast asleep. We are awakened by a strong wind at 9:30 p.m.. I hustle out of my tent and take my dry laundry off the line. I'm soon back in my tent before a heavy rain begins for about 15 minutes. I am warm and dry and as I drift off the wind comes up again followed by a hard rain for another 15 minutes.

September 11, 2001 Tuesday Hike to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to

Got up at 5:13 in the dark, the temperature is 58 degrees, the barometer at 28.8" and we are at 1072' elevation. It got daylight at 5:40. Boiled water for 2 banana oatmeal packets and cleaned my pint cup with tea for breakfast. Finished taking down my tent and packing everything in my backpack to leave at 7:10 am.

Jack wants to do 15 miles again so we are aiming for the Wadleigh Lean-to. It is cooler with lower humidity under cloudy skies but it turned sunny later in the day. We are passing through hikers headed north probably 15-20 all day. About 9:30 or 10:00 am we pass a young couple and she has a radio in her ear. She informs us that we are under terrorist attack and that one World Trade Center Tower and the Pentagon have been hit by airplanes. We didn't quite comprehend what she was saying but upon discussing it we decided to concentrate on our hike and deal with the terrorist attack when we got back to civilization next week. We knew we couldn't get any more information until then although we did learn that both WTC towers were hit. This is a very pretty section of trail along lakes and streams with a good trail surface and few hills. We take a break for lunch of cheese wheat crackers, cheese and peanut butter crackers, gorp and lemon cookies.

We continue on through the afternoon to the high rock ledge on the summit of Nesuntabunt Mountain 1520' overlooking a very large lake. There are no obstructions and Mt. Katahdin is in full view 36.3 trail miles away. We want to tarry and take in the scenery. We descend two miles to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to. We arrive in camp 45 44' 49" N by 69 08" 39" W at 610' elevation at 4:16 p.m.. We hiked 15.3 miles climbing 1910' and descending 2370' in two climbs/descents in 9:10 for an average of 1.67 mph.

We set up our tents near the lean-to and I hike down for a 2-3 gallon bag of water. I start boiling water for rehydration as I drink pints of chicken bouillon, hot chocolate and 3 teas. I cook cheese rotini and chicken for supper. The temperature is 72 degrees and the barometer is at 29.30". It got dark at 7:15 and I'm in bed and asleep by 7:45 p.m..

September 12, 2001 Wednesday Hike to Antler's Camp

We must have been tired as we slept in until 5:49 awakened by the gray light. It is 52 degrees and the barometer is at 29.40". I eat 2 blueberry oatmeal packets in boiling water and drink a pint of tea for breakfast. I take down my tent and pack my backpack.

We set off at 7:30 am for a very scenic day of hiking. We hike along beautiful Nahmakanta Lake and stream for miles and pass the campsite we had heard so much about but couldn't use because of location. We have several stunning views of Katahdin. We pass 3 young couples in succession, then 2 pairs of women and then a Maryland man. It is 72 degrees and sunny. We cross many bogs on logs or suspended boards. During our lunch break I ate peanut butter and cheese crackers, cream cheese crackers, chocolate cream cookies and gorp.

During the afternoon we walked along another very pretty lake and actually walked on the beach for ¼ to ½ a mile. We passed Potaywadjo Spring which is the source of a good sized stream. The spring is a hole about 40' in diameter with a huge amount of water boiling up. There is a boardwalk to the middle of the spring to get water. We arrived at Antler's Camp 45 40' 43" N by 69 00' 16" W at 500' elevation at 2:53 p.m. and 51.8 trail miles from Katahdin. We hiked 13.6 miles climbing 2600' and descending 2690' in two climbs/descents.

The camp is located in a pine woods on a beautiful lake and is a large area. The privy is back a path into the woods several hundred yards and is dubbed Fort Relief. It has two windows with curtains and is clean, light and spacious. I set up my tent and took a swim in the lake and washed my hiking clothes with no soap. Boiling the lake water I drank pints of hot chocolate, chicken bouillon, beef bouillon and tea. I cooked noodle stroganoff and tuna for supper. There are other hikers in camp including Walky Talky (and he sure could) whom we met at Shaws in Monson. I settled into my sleeping bag a few minutes after 7:00 p.m. feeling clean with clean skin and clothes.

September 13, 2001 Thursday Hike to East Branch Lean-to

We got up in the dark at 4:58 am. We are at 500' elevation, 60 degrees, breezy and the barometer at 29.45". I mix two strawberry oatmeal packets in boiling water for breakfast. The tent is down and the backpack packed for a 6:22 a.m. departure.

The weather can't seem to make up it's mind as it alternates about every hour between overcast and sun. The trail is an endless succession of rocks intertwined with tangled roots or it is boggy with spanning logs. Last night by the lake we could hear the loons and the owls. There isn't much wildlife except for the rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks. We see a lot of different scat along the trail and moose droppings everywhere. We pass the usual stream of through hikers going north. For lunch I have cheese wheat crackers, peanut butter cheese crackers, lemon cookies, chocolate chip granola bar and gorp.

The terrain is getting more rugged since this morning as we are getting into the mountains. We climb over Little Boardman Mountain 1980' and cross the East Branch of the Pleasant River. Normally a ford with a rope strung across we cross on the rocks with no problem. We arrive at the East Branch Lean-to at 2:45 p.m. located 67.8 trail miles from Katahdin at 45 35' 48" N by 69 11' 54" W at 1225' elevation. We hiked 16 miles climbing 2100' and descending 1340' doing 1 climb in 8:23 averaging 1.91 mph. We are now a full day ahead of our plan of 12 miles per day as we have done 60 miles in 5 days.

I set up my tent near the lean-to and walk down to the river to bathe and rinse out my clothes. It feels so good to cool down and feel clean. The cool water is also soothing to the hot, tired and abused feet. I carry a bag of water back to camp and boil some for pints of hot chocolate, chicken bouillon and tea. Two Englishmen and a Scot join us and we enjoy each others company for an hour or so. They are quite congenial and we trade trail information. We have talked to a surprising number of British hikers on the trail so far. Supper is rice, crab meat and pistachio pudding. I'm in my sleeping bag at dark about 7:15.

The lean-tos are simply designed and constructed, are spacious and functional and usually in pretty and sometimes dramatic locations. There is no trash on the trail and the lean-tos are clean and well maintained. I am impressed with them. I have been able to wear the same wicking T-shirt and hiking shorts everyday because they dry quickly. I wear other shorts and shirt overnight. My underwear, hiking socks and sock liners sometimes are damp and need an extra day to dry so I alternate days for them. The damp pieces I put in a sealed plastic bag in my backpack during the day.

September 14, 2001 Friday Hike to Carl A Newhall Lean-to

We got up at 4:58 am to 40 degrees at the 1225' altitude. Boiled water and ate 2 banana oatmeal packets for breakfast. Took down my tent and packed my backpack for a 6:28 am departure.

We started a gradual climb for about 3 miles then turned sharply up to Logan Brook Lean-to at 2480'. It is stuck on the north side Whitecap Mountain in a very steep area. We took a break for a snack then continued to climb steeply up scaling a long nearly vertical rock slide to Whitecap peak (3650') 1.4 miles from the lean-to. We had great 360 degree views of Katahdin and many surrounding mountains and lakes. It is cool a nd breezy with alternating clear and overcast skies. We descended the south side of Whitecap and ran into Eva Barnhill from the Mountain Club of Maryland nearly finished with her 2160 mile through hike of the AT. She said she was meeting Bob Hale, Jessie Dobbs and another MCMer tomorrow. We stopped for lunch of two packs of cheese wheat crackers, chocolate cream cookies and gorp. There is no water in this stretch of trail and we are running low.

We continue on over Hay Mountain and wouldn't have realized it without the sign. We are taking it easy and enjoying this section of difficult trail because we are way ahead of schedule. We stop at the Sidney Tappan Campsite 2425' and hike way down the side of the mountain to a spring that is almost dry. The water is not very good. We hike over Gulf Hagas Mountain to the Carl A Newhall Lean-to. We hike downhill about 1/10 mile cross a stream with a rope across it and camp in the woods at 45 31' 54" N by 69 18' 48" W at 1860' at 2:38 p.m. 78.6 trail miles from Katahdin. We hiked 11 miles climbing 3790' and descending 3120' in 4 climbs in 8:10 for an average of 1.35 mph.

I set up my tent and get a bag of water. It is a breezy 51 degrees with the barometer at 28.05". I rehydrate with pints of chicken bouillon, hot chocolate and tea. Supper is pasta bowties with clams and coconut cream pudding. We had an easy day and we lounge around doing little chores. I did some field maintenance on my old MSR Whisperlight stove and got it working well again. It is a good thing because Jack's propane tank would soon run out. I am in the warmth of the sleeping bag by dark around 7:00 p.m. and soon sound asleep.

September 15, 2001 Saturday Hike to 3rd Mountain Monument Cliff

We're up at 4:55 with the barometer at 28.05" and the temperature at 42 degrees. After 2 peach oatmeals for breakfast, I take down my tent and pack the backpack. We're off at 6:25 am.

We hike down a gradual slope for 5.5 miles along a pretty stream. We are moving and the trail surface is good. We pass the Gulf Hagas Cutoff Trail and the Gulf Hagas Trail. It is sunny, breezy and cool. We are passing many through hikers and 20-30 day hikers approaching the Gulf Hagas Trail. We stop at the Hermitage 695' a pretty area preserved by some rich benefactor. I eat a pack of cheese wheat crackers my last crackers. We cross the wide and shallow West Branch of the Pleasant River on rocks with the aid of our hiking poles without getting our feet wet. We start up the rugged rocky Chairback Mountain 2180'. We cross a series of rock ridges scrambling up and down each one on nearly vertical rock slides requiring hands and feet to negotiate them and each appears to be the summit. There is no sign marking the summit so we don't know whether we are gaining or losing altitude with each ridge. We come to Chairback Gap Lean-to 1930' so we know we are over Chairback Mountain. I boil water and eat a chicken noodle with corn and peas cup for lunch.

We fill our water bottles in the stream below the shelter and start up Columbus Mountain 2325'. It is more of the same and slow going. We are rewarded on each ridge with some grand views and it can be exhilarating to stand in the wind with the whole world beneath you in sight. We meet a group of 5 young hikers in their twenties. As we are departing a young lady mentions that there is a stream coming up and a camp site nearby. As we are traversing a very steep slope we come to the stream. We backtrack about 50 yards to a small ledge big enough for our two tents with a little room to spare f or cooking. I clear a couple of dead trees and stumps so that my tent will fit. We are home for the night at 2:45 p.m. located at 45 26' 58" N by 69 17' 08" W at 1750'. We hiked 12.2 miles in 8:20 averaging 1.46 mph climbing 2620' and descending 2730' in 3 climbs.

I set up my tent on a bed of soft leaves that acts like a cushion under my weight and get a bag of water. I'm out of hot chocolate and getting low on bouillon. I drink pints of bouillon and tea. I use boiling water to mix with my commercial freeze dried meal of beef stroganoff and finish with vanilla pudding. It is 52 degrees with the barometer at 28.15". We are behind the mountain and in the woods so it got dark early before 7:00 p.m.. It is cold which added incentive to get in the warm sleeping bag. We are totally alone and at peace with the sighing wind in the pines but otherwise quiet and dark. Tired, warm, full and contented, I'm soon sound asleep.

September 16, 2001 Sunday Hike to Wilson Valley Lean-to

We get up at 4:54 to 43 degrees and the barometer at 28.15". Ate 2 peach oatmeals for breakfast, tore down my tent and packed my backpack for a 6:22 am departure.

It is a short climb over Third Mountain 1920' but the terrain is extremely difficult. We continue over Fourth Mountain 2380' but we can get nowhere because we are continually scrambling. The trail is like a washboard with continual ups and downs over steep rock scrambles. We finally reach the Cloud Pond Lean-to Side Trail before we get a break in the trail. We realize we have covered about 4.6 miles in 4:20. We are barely breaking the 1 mph barrier. We continue over aptly named Barren Mountain 2660' with i t's fire tower in ruins. We descend to Long Pond Stream Lean-to 940' where we stop for lunch of beef noodles cup and 2 chocolate chip granola bars.

We try to keep moving all afternoon to make up for lost time. We get into the Wilson Valley Lean-to 1045' at 4:40 p.m. located at 45 23' 57" N by 69 27' 31" W. We hiked 13.3 miles in 9:18 averaging 1.46 mph. I forgot to turn on my altimeter until 11:00 am after most of the climbing so it shows only 1320' ascending and 2810' descending and 2 climbs.

We set up our tents above the shelter in the woods near the stream. I get a bag of water and boil some for chicken bouillon and tea. I also put some in my freeze dried dinner of beef enchiladas. We finish dinner with a white chocolate pudding. It is 70 degrees with the barometer at 28.90". I'm in my sleeping bag by 7:10 and feeling good. We have crossed the roughest terrain without a problem and tomorrow we can be in Monson with a 15 mile day. We still have a ford in deep water with a good current. All is peaceful and quiet until a Canadian Pacific freight train roared through on a nearby track in the middle of the night.

September 17, 2001 Monday Hike to Monson

We're up at 4:55 with the temperature at 46 degrees and the barometric pressure at 28.95". After finishing two blueberry oatmeals for breakfast, I took down my tent and packed my backpack by 6:22 am.

We go downhill .4 mile to the railroad tracks then down another .3 mile to the Big Wilson Stream 600'. It is a big river but we have a relatively shallow ford. I take off my pack in case Jack needs help. I watch him wade into the river with his boots on and hiking poles downstream. There is a good current and the water comes to Jack's loins soaking his cotton shorts as he is relatively short. The bottom is strewn with slick mossy rocks. Jack reaches the far shore without incident. I wade in with my wallet and camera in the top of my backpack. I pick my way across with the water barely above my knees. I reach shore with wet feet only. We sit on a rock, drain our boots and ring out our socks. We set out dry socks which we put on. The terrain is hilly and tough but nothing compared to the last two days. We arrive at Little Wilson Falls 107.9 miles from Katahdin and decide to have lunch it is so pretty a nd peaceful. I boil water for my shrimp noodle with peas and carrots cup and top it off with two peanut butter chocolate chip granola bars.

We go over some slate hills while passing North Pond, Lily Pond, Bell Pond and Spectacle Pond. We meet ultra marathon man in GoreTex head to toe attempting to do the 115 miles to the top of Mt. Katahdin in less than 48 hours. We wished him well. We have to climb a particularly nasty little hill where we have to cross some rocky chutes before emerging from the Wilderness 100 onto Maine Highway 15 about 2:00 p.m.. We decide to continue on another 3.3 miles on the AT and then hike 2 miles into Monson. The trail was good and we really moved fast but of course they had to throw another hill in before we finished. We turned left on an overgrown road at the Shaw signs pointing to Monson. We soon came to a dirt road and turned left along the lake into Monson. We arrived at 4:22 having hiked 15.7 miles in 10 hours averaging 1.57 mph. I turned my altimeter on at 8:22 but we still ascended 2530' while descending 2700' in 5 climbs.

Mike, a welder, gave me a Heinekens to wash down some trail dust. We put our packs in the car and got out our clean clothes. We got our room 5 back for $17.50 each. I took a long shower but couldn't get the shampoo to lather my hair. Ate supper of chicken drumsticks, potatoes, corn, milk, apple pie with whipped cream and broccoli for $10. It got dark about 7:05 and we were in bed by 8:00 p.m..

September 18, 2001 Tuesday Drive to Columbia, MD

We're up at 5:26 and put everything in the car. At 5:50 we start breakfast of 2 around meaning 2 eggs, 2 sausages, 2 bacon strips, 2 pancakes, potatoes, orange juice and milk for $5.

We are on the road south at 6:22 am. We stop at Papa T's off I-295 in Massachusetts for mushroom soup, pork barbecue sandwich and ice tea for $8. I fill the gas tank and we're off again.

I stay on I-84 at Hartford and continue across Connecticut and New York to Scranton, PA where we turn south on I-81 to I-83 at Harrisburg. We stop at a Cracker Barrell in York, PA for dinner of chicken and dumplings, potatoes, green beans, blueberry pie with ice cream and ice tea for $12.36. I drop Jack off in Elkridge and arrive home at 8:15 having driven 769.1 miles. Amazingly everything went smoothly on this trip and we even did better than planned.