Day 19 Zero in Monson

Today was my first zero day since last Friday.  I stayed at Shaw’s Hiker Hostel.  They are very good at what they do. Great breakfast! Good resupplu and gear shop. Poet and Hippy Chick own and run it.  It been around since the 70’s

I visiting the AT visitors center and got an AT Hiker badge!  Never had one in 2070 miles. 

I had lunch at the Lakeshore Landing and had my first lobster roll sitting by the lake with a Smutty Dog Ale. 

Ballew’s sent me a little care package. Thanks Jim and Shawn!

Day 18 To Monson

Got up and out from my “stealth” tentsite by 5:50?  I knew I had 13 miles and thunderstorms possibly coming as informed by the SOBO (southbound) day hiker. So i wanted to done before the afternoon. 

It had rained all night and stopped as I woke up.   But no sooner the. I had started that it, the rained restarted. 

And it rained solids for 7 hours... drizzle, light, down pour, take your choice I got it. 

But today would be a gently up and down day with only two 500’ climbs. 

But I saw still another white stone!  I’ve seen them all

along the 2000 mile trek. But today, I thought the white stone in Revelation.  

And then I had to don by water shoes and ford a stream. 

I didn’t use the cable. 

Finally at 1:30 pm I arrive at Rte 15. I had no telephone signal with my TracFone, but s kind passerby let me call Shaw’ Hiker Hostel in Monson. They came and took me the 4 miles into town  

13 miles

2076 total AT Miles

114 to go!

Day 17 To Bald Mountain Rd Tentsite

I decided to do an 18 mile day so I could push into Monson a day early and pick up a day.  So I broke camp early and was on the trail at 6:40

It turned out to be a gray drizzly day with a climb

over Pleasant Pond Mountain. (2470’)

And Moxie Baldwin Mountain (2629’)

These are called “balds” for a good reason. 

Finally after a 12.5 hr day I got to my campsite. I picked up water from a dirty stream just before as there was no water as the tentsite. 

18 miles

2062.4 total AT

170 miles this trip 

Day 16 to Pleasant Pond lean-to

Up at 5:30 to be sure to be and the Kennebec River ferry by 9:00.  It was only 3.7 miles to Kennebec River but I heard there might be a long line.  So I wolfed down some trail mix, pretzel nuggets and jerky chasing it with water.  I’d get more to eat after I crossed the Kennebec in the town of Caratunk. 

I was sad to say goodbye to my lakeside camping spot. 

The trail followed the Pierce Pond stream and was very pretty. 

The Kennebec is a large river controlled by a dam upstream. Forcing it is said to be very dangerous. So the Maine guide service kindly provided a free ferry service by Old Town canoe 

There were two homers ahead of me who I’d been traveling with for a few days. 

But my turn came  and across I went. 

It was a short walk up into Caratunk where I went to the Caratunk House B&B. 6 miles to lean to

It was a little piece of hiker heaven.  It only do they let you shower and do your laundry for $10 they have pulled pork sandwiches and milkshakes!  And they have a restock store just for hikers with all the best foods and hiker needs!  I got cleaned up and well fed I the four hours I spent there.

But then I had push on to the next shelter

Always some nice scenery.  

Tonight’s supper would be pretzel nugget and a handful of dried fruit as appetizer. The the main course

Beef strognoff and hot chocolate. 

9 miles

154 miles this trip

2045.4 total

145 miles to go!

Day 15 To Pierce Pond Lean-to

When I got up at 5:30sm it was raining. The rain that started yesterday at noon continued all night. So I wanted a while. At 7 it stopped so I quickly broke camp. I took a quick look at the beach next to where I camped. Lots of great drift wood. 

I passed the 2021.1 mark

There were impressive bridges over several bogs!  Good conservation!

There some idyllic paths complete with white pine needles. 



Along the lake I munched in some blueberries. 

My camp was right along  the pond. I had a quick wash. 

13 miles

143 miles this trip

2035 total AT Miles

150 miles to go!

Day 14 to the Bigelows and the Flagstaff camp sitr

Out by 5:20 to beat the rain

This day would have three climbs

Beautiful morning

First climb on top at 5:10

Saw the pond and Campsite

To the south some curious bigBuilding's 

Not that rugged but a rock climb nevertheless 

On top of Mt Avery

Stanford Notch boulders

Blueberries!

Camped right by Flagstaff lake!

12 miles

Day Thirteen to Horns Pond Lean-to

Today was supposed to be a zero. But I only hiked 8 miles yesterday and got into Stratton at about 2:00 pm.  So I had all afternoon off to do chores... laundry, sort out food etc. So I decided rather than not walk, I’d do 5 miles to the next shelter.

I took off at noon. And climbed the nearly 1800’ feet to 3158’ altitude to the shelter. That had the advantage of cutting that off of the next day’s climb up the Bigelows. 

The pond at the campsite from above. 

The pond was stunning. 

Day 12 To Stratton

Got up and out by 6:40.  Before leaving, had a piece of jerky and and a handful of fruity trail mix. Got up to the cirque camp by 7:10. Then climbed steep pitch to 3365 before first break. 

Maine is incredibly rugged

Climbed South and North Crocker Mointains

Today I passed the 2000 mile mark!

Ended in Stratton.  Had supper at the white wolf restaurant. 

8 miles

112 this trip

2002 total

Day 12 To Stratton

Got up and out by 6:40.  Before leaving, had a piece of jerky and and a handful of fruity trail mix. Got up to the cirque camp by 7:10. Then climbed steep pitch to 3365 before first break. 

Maine is incredibly rugged

Climbed South and North Crocker Mointains

Today I passed the 2000 mile mark!

Ended in Stratton.  Had supper at the white wolf restaurant. 

8 miles

112 this trip

2002 total

Day 11 To South Branch Carabasset Campsite

Up and out by 6:40 

Crossed Orbeton Stream in stepping stones

Then climbed Spaulding Mtn 3122’

Rocky trail!

The very diffficult last 3 miles  down to the Soutj Branch of the Carabesset River

Crossing the Ford was okay since some put a 2x8 accross. 

Camped by the River

13 miles

104 this trip

1994 total

Day 10 To Poplar Ridge Lean-to

Big day with three big climbs totaling over 3000’

And it looked like a W. Up down up down up down

First up Saddle back Mt to 4120’

It was cold and windy

Then on to the Horn 3985’

And finally Saddleback jr 3655’

The descent was steep and rocky 

Arriving at Poplar Ridge

 I found a small monument to Géraldine Largay who got lost and does not far from the shelter in 2013. Her body wasn’t found until 2015

11 miles

89 miles this trip

1981 total