Clearly the challenges of the trail are not at an end. After 9 hours of continuous downpour through the night, Gerry, Captain Hook and I awoke in the shelter to the sound of roaring water below the shelter where the AT continued and a silent spring could be found the night before. This didn’t seem to bode well for the amount of water that might be found on the trail this morning.
Chairback Gap
Today was a carbon copy of yesterday’s weather as Gerry and I set off on the climb up to traverse the Barren-Chairback range. Some solid ups and downs slowed us up quite a bit so we ended the day at Chairback Gap as the Camera Crew, Leki-less, and Camel moved on to tent by the river a few miles down the mountain. White Cap Mt. and a long climb awaits tomorrow along with our first views of Katahdin from the summit.
Long Pond Stream
Well, only the 100-mile wilderness awaits, and my friend Gerry arrived last night while I was with the rest of the gang at Shaw’s. Walked today with Gerry and NY Mule (Brett) along a fog-shrouded trail after leaving behind the very last trail town and my very last hitchhike. Suddenly, there are a lot of “lasts” taking place. Under 100 miles to go to Big K (Katahdin).
ME 15
One last short day heading into the town of Monson, ME before beginning the 100-mile wilderness tomorrow. Also, my last day alone on the trail since my friend Gerry from home is meeting me tonight to finish the trail with me.
Horseshoe Canyon
Today’s highlights: Tons of blueberry picking on Moxie Bald Mt. and our first real river ford across the West Branch of the Piscataquis River. Hiked most of the afternoon with Camel talking about cycling, and it made me anxious to be home on my bike for a nice long ride.
Bald Mt. Brook
A second straight day of easy walking after a good night's rest at Steve's bunkhouse in Caratunk. A great guy--he left us coffee on the porch this morning and even gave us each a postcard with an individual, personalized congratulations message for finishing the trail. It was one of the more thoughtful things I've seen on the whole trail.
US 201
Well, so I lied awhile back when I said that my last 20-mile day was actually going to be my last. So, now I'll say it again: "This is my last 20-mile day." There. A much easier stretch of trail today for Chris, Anna, and I to race along on, and with our early start we were gunning to catch the canoe ferry across the Kennebec River which only runs until 4pm.