Day 56 (August 19)

Today was my first day as a SOBO, i.e. a south bound hiker. It was so good! Beautiful weather, easy walking -- I made 17 miles by 2:00 p.m. The trail crossed a highway just outside Chesire, Massachusettes, and there was a Dunkin' Donuts less than a half mile away. I ate four donuts; a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich; chocolate milk; and coffee. Nice! I couldn't believe how quickly I ate that stuff, and I could have eaten more. Another eight miles, and I came into Dalton, Mass. I decided to stop at 2:30 p.m. and stay with Tom Levardi. He allows hikers to tent in his yard, shuttles people around, and has a half dozen bikes for hikers to use for riding around town. And it's all free. The neighbor lady even brought over watermelon. It was a great stop! Tom has been offering his hospitality for 35 years. Incredible American. Take care.

Day 53 (August 16)

Here is the Millinocket hostel where I escaped after the seven inch rain and which I left to climb Katahdin. I'm heading to Massachusetts on the bus; my last bus travel was in college. I'm looking forward to visiting with Jim and Kim. Maine was extraordinary in so many ways! Take care.

Day 52 (August 15)

I climbed to the summit of Mt. Katahdin today, the northern terminus of the AT. It was a beautiful day after yesterday's monsoon. I started at 7:30 a.m. and got down from the mountain six hours later. It can take five to 10 hours to complete the five-mile, up-and-down route. There are some pretty difficult rock and boulder scrambles with steep ups and downs, but all ages and genders seem to be able to get to the top. It is a majestic mountain and an honor to climb every step. The top of Katahdin is the first piece of land in America to feel the sun every day. I was so pumped, the ascent seemed to fly; not so coming down. It wasn't as difficult as I expected being very steep. It was just long.

At the bottom I hiked another 10 miles back to where we left camp in the rain yesterday for Millinocket. I can't miss any of the trail. I got a hitch back to town from a couple 75 year old buddies out for a drive on the back roads. What a hoot. They were drinking beer, and had chosen to drive the back roads so as to not be bothered by state police. I became the bartender for the two six packs in the back seat of the pickup. Each of them had three bottles of beer during the 18-mile ride. Great guys. They have lived in Millinocket all their lives. The town is dying, though it once had six separate paper mills. Millinocket used to produce the largest volume of newsprint in the world. The '63 High School B-ball team won the all New England state tournament at Boston Square Garden. They told me that moose population isn't what it use to be and that both of their wives are retiring soon from driving school buses. You can learn a lot in 18 miles at 40 mph whilst avoiding pot holes on either side of the road...

It was quite a day in Katahdin again. Pictures just don't do it justice.

Day 51 (August 14)

I woke up this morning to a puddle in my tent and the sound of running water along its edge. It rained all night and until this afternoon -- about three inches total. I packed up in the rain and got a ride to Millenocket with two other hikers whom I have been hiking and rafting with. I'm staying in a hostel tonight. There are probably a lot of thru-hikers here; they come out of the woods when it rains this hard. It's so nice to get dried out. We will catch a shuttle back to the base of Katahdin and summit tomorrow. It will be a long, 20-mile day: five up and down Katahdin and another 10 from Abol Bridge to Birches campground -- a section we planned to do today. Then, I'm taking the bus down to where Kim and Jim will pick me up. First 600 miles just about completed.

Photo of some old guy with Katahdin in the background.

Day 50 (August 13)

Today was another zero day, i.e. no miles. I and two other thru-hikers rafted the Penobscot River, a level four to five rapids river. We had a blast! Two guys fell out, one in the first 30 seconds. I threw up after running the first rapids but settled in after that. I bought photos and a video of the trip taken by the rafting company. They are terrific. It is raining heavily tonight and supposed to rain tomorrow for the last, 10-mile hike to the campground at the base of Katahdin. I'm hoping the weather allows for a summit on Friday. Another great day on the AT. Take care.

Day 49 (August 12)

Today was an awesome day on the AT. I only hiked 16 miles, but I was a rocket! I got to Abol bridge by 12:30 p.m. where a store is located. The weather is suppose to be bad for the next few days, so I am going to raft the Penobscot river, a three-quarter rapids, with two other thru-hikers. I get to sleep in tomorrow until about 7:00 p.m., raft in the afternoon, and get ready to hike Katahdin on Friday. The weather throughout the 100-mile wilderness couldn't have been better. Katahdin looks daunting, but so has everything else up to this point. Take care.

Day 48 (August 11)

Another terrific day on the AT. Beautiful hiking weather in the 100-mile wilderness. I went 18 miles from Potaywadjo Spring lean-to to Rainbow Stream lean-to. Got two nice swims in on lake Nahmakanta. The trail followed the south side of the lake for about six miles. Beautiful. The trail went about 100 yards right along a sandy beach. The only tough climb was Nesuntabunt Mountain: bit of a kicker. At this campsite along Pollywog stream is an excellent natural swimming pool with a cascade of water feeding it. Perfect temperature water. 

The Penobscot Tribe is the dominant tribe in the region. Thus the native names for points of interest. Thirty miles to Katahdin from here.