Preparing in the 100 Mile Wilderness
well, I have received many questions about my little adventure in the 100 mile wilderness this summer, so, instead of answering the same question many different times, and in many different ways, I am going to write it here, seeing as this is my Appalachian Trail journal after all.
Starting weight:43 pounds My journey in the 100 town free zone, formerly known as the 100 mile "wilderness"/
Day One, Started in Monson, finished at the Long Pond Stream lean-to, distance was 15 miles. This was the worst 15 miles of the whole trip. The profile map makes the trail look relatively easy, with some small ups and downs. Well, these 15 miles never ended! they just went on and on to the point where I was ready to call the MATC and demand a helicopter lift out of there. There was nothing really to look at either, one cool waterfall, and that is about it.
Day two, started at the Long Pond Stream lean-to, finished at East Chairback Pond, distance was about 13 miles. The chairback range was really nice at times, and really frustrating at others. Barren mountain had a great view, well worth the climb at 7am(who had the brillant idea to put a shelter at the base of a long climb?)Ohh well, just another complaint for the great people of the MATC. the first mile out of camp was poorly maintained too, the only thing that kept me on the trail were the white blazes, and those were few and far between. The rest of the trail was typical Maine trail, enough rocks and roots to supply everyone in the United States with a gift and the trail would still have plenty of them. The rocks were also slippery because rain had been in the area a couple of nights earlier(what a storm that was, I was tucked away at Shaw's for that).I did not bother to look at the barren slide. The campsite was nice, I saw a moose there, not an official campsite, but people clearly camp there.
Day three, started at East Chairback Pond, finished at East Branch Lean-to, distance of roughly 18-19 miles. What a day! The whole day was the best I had had thus far in the "wilderness"! The trail was spectacular, not all that difficult. Gulf Hagus was nice, the part I saw of it, it was really interesting walking through the hermitage as well, I now have a lot of respect for those wise old trees. However, the climb up Gulf Hagus mountain and West Peak were quite difficult, very steep, a lot of rocks and an endless amount of roots. White Cap was spectacular, class 1 day easily, I could clearly see Katahdin off in the distance, was a view that is. I could have sat there all day staring out at everything I could see, just amazing. Nice weather overall, where is this yellow brick road though? I thought the Appalachian Trail was supposed to be a "Walk In The Woods"? Maybe Bryson was not paying close enough attention. At east bran lean-to I met my friend Robo, who has hiked 4,000 miles in his life, I ended up hiking with him for the remainder of my trip, great guy to have around.
Day four, east branch lean-to to Potawadjo Spring lean-to, distance of roughly 18-20 miles. Flat. Flat. Flat. The trail was really nice, not too many rocks and roots, realatively flat, just a really nice day on the trail, great weather as well. Robo and I trucked our way 18 miles to this shelter which was nice, way to many mice though. That's another thing, the varmants in the 100 mile "wilderness" were horrible. I am a humane person, but i was at the point where I was showing no mercy to these stupid little creatures. They have no fear of humans anymore, I also had a cup of coffee with Robo, so I was up all night fighting these bastards, he was amused, I was angered, I did see the humor in it in the morning though. Nothing much about this day though, had a great time on the trail. Up to this point I met a lot of great people, several thru hikers, and several section hikers. I also talked to my dad for the first time during my trip today, that was nice, he was getting a little worried, but i eased his tensions. You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Day five, east potawadjo spring lean to to rainbow springs lean to, distance of 20 miles, roughly. Tough 20 miles, I was caught in a small lightening storm on Nesuntabunt, Robo shrugged it off and kept moving, I insisted on going into lightening position while the storm passed. Again, really tough day, the trail was very tough on my legs. At one point it took us a hour and change to cover a mile, when we normal cover 2-2.5 miles an hour. There was nothing special about this section, except for the fact that it was very long and drawn out, slept like an angel when we got to the shelter. Robo helped me kill some of my extra food, I had too much for the section.
Day six, completion of the 100 mile "wilderness", rainbow springs lean to to Abol Pines campsite, distance of 15 miles. We made it out of the "wilderness" today, passed the famous sign they have up for southbounders, but they do not have one at the other end for NOBOders? Hmm, guess us NOBO's are just amazing like that. Nice ridge walking at the rainbow ledges. Rainbow mountain, if they really wanted hikers to climb this mountain, the trail would re routed to go over this thing, I am not walking my sorry ass 1 mile to climb another mountain on a day with no views just to retrace that one mile and go climb some more mountains that are on the actual trail. No view from Abol Bridge when we arrived, there was a spectacular one later that evening. Katahdin really is a special mountain. What a place to end a 2,000 mile journey, or if your name is Kirby, a 125 mile journey. I met a ridegerunner I know at the store at Abol Campground, it is really odd the places you meet people know. Another ridge runner I met in the "wilderness" gave away i was coming. It really si amazing how much more fellow hikers are interested in hearing your stories than average joe Americans, I guess they understand what you are saying and what you are going through. The state campsite there is really nice, right on the Penobscott river, met some cool people though, Robo seems to be able to start a conversation with everyone, no matter who they are. I suppose you get that skill after 4,000 miles, I prefer to mind my own business. To Katahdin.
Day seven I hiked to Katahdin Stream Campground VIA the Blueberry ledges trail, nothing special, felt no need to hike the AT in the park, I wanted to have a short day. Nice trail, poorly maintained, very difficult to follow.
Day eight, Mount Katahdin via the Appalachian Trail. What a day, a lot of boulder scrambles, lots and lots of boulder scrambles. 4 and half hours up, roughly the same going down. What a way to end the journey, it was nice being able to look back at what I had just covered, and beyond. Lots of people on the summit. Robo, myself, thru hikers Knify Spoony, Yardsale, Waffle, and Yorkie, all started in Georgia. Words really can not describe what i felt when I got there, I was upset I was not going to wake up the next morning and hike. the next day I was going to have to hang around in Millinockett as all my friends left for their journeys home. I had mixed feelings. I was proud I completed my first major long distance backpacking trip, while upset it was all over.
That was my journey through the 100 mile "wilderness". I had a great time, and i do look forward to my 2008 GAME hike on the Appalachian Trail. I am looking forward to the people I meet and the places I see. What a trip,Kirby
Ga>ME 2008
