Day 47 (August 10)

Today was a perfect hiking day. I made 22 miles and had two swims at Crawford Pond and Jo Mary Pond. Hard to believe this is a wilderness. I'm staying in a shelter again tonight. Weve got a campfire going. It's only 50 miles to Katahdin. It took the 100-mile wilderness for the AT to seem like a trail. Take care.

Day 46 (August 9)

Today started out early -- 2:00 a.m. I had to get out of the shelter because the old guy lying next to me was snoring -- bellowing -- too loudly. He finished off each wheeze with a sort of mucus gurgle that was just too much. Of course most of us snore, so I couldn't hold it against him... The rain had stopped, and I had a great sleep until 5:00. Covered a lot of ground today: almost 19 miles and five mountains:
Chairback, Gulf Hagas, West Peak, Hay, and White Cap Mountain. I could see Katahdin from the top of White Cap -- still 73 miles away. I am stealth camping tonight. I like doing that; it's quiet. I pick up my bucket drop at a secret location 13 miles from here. Looking forward to that since my food supply is about caput. Looking forward to another rain-free day tomorrow. Today was perfect! Take care.

Day 45 (August 8)

Short, 10-mile day today. I started by climbing Barren Mountain, Fourth Mountain, Mt. Three and a Half, Third Mountain, and finally Columbus Mountain. At 3:00 p.m., the sky unloaded again. I was five minutes from the nearest shelter, so that's where I'm at tonight. The wilderness was no small challenge today: lots of ups and downs. I had no mouse problem last night, but the guy sleeping next to me did. The mice were scampering all over his pack which he had hung on the wall. He had three individually-packed prunes the mice literally threw out. It sounded like basketballs hitting a wood floor. They don't like prunes: didn't even nibble through the wrapping. Two more days of mountains before the last 40 miles of wilderness which are completely flat but boggy. Take care.

Day 44 (August 7)

I left Monson for the 100-mile wilderness this morning. Had a great hike in beautiful weather, though it rained in the afternoon. I made 18 miles. I'm staying in a shelter again because of the rain. We'll see about the mice tonight; I've got everything hanging. The wilderness so far hasn't seemed too wild: logging roads, train tracks, but the trail is about the same as it has been. The weather is supposed to be good for several days now, so I might have hit it right to dry out the bogs that are common on the trail. Well see. Take care.

Day 43 (August 6)

I am taking a zero today before heading out into the 100-mile wilderness. Staying at the Lakeshore House B&B in Monson, Maine. Great food and beer. Monson is a dying little town, though it used to have a thriving slate rock quarrying business. There claim to fame is having provided slate for both JFK's and Jackie Onassis Kennedy's sarcophaguses. The quarries are filled with water now -- some 700 feet deep.

Beautiful Lake Hebron is right in back of the B&B I'm staying at. I plan to swim this afternoon. I bought resupplies this morning, half of which I put into a five gallon bucket for a drop at about the mid-point of the wilderness. The hostel provides this service so that you don't need to carry so much weight. They give you a treasure map with which to find your bucket when you hit a particular forest road. I know I can beat the bears, but I'm a little worried about those damn mice... Lovin' every minute. Take care.

Day 41 (August 4)

Today was a great hiking day. I left the Sterling Inn at 8:00 a.m. and was at the shelter by 4:30 p.m. The first two hours were drizzly, but when I summited Pleasant Pond Mountain, the sun came out. I dried out, had some snacks, and moved on. I'm staying in a shelter with mice and four other guys. I'm going to beat the mice tonight. Stay tuned. 

Two days from Monson and the beginning of the hundred-mile wilderness.

Day 40 (August 3)

Today I spent my first zero in Caratunk, Maine at a B&B called the Sterling Inn. Great place. I planned to dodge forecasted rain showers, but it turned out to be nice. I got several articles written, which was good. Heading north to Monson in the morning which should take three days. The hundred-mile wilderness begins at Monson which is the penultimate challenge in Maine. Katahdin follows. Take care.