There was a light freeze last night, my hanging water shoes froze. Good thing we were tenting. It's warmer in the tent, if only to block a breeze. Kyley got into camp about dark, as did Luigi. There apparently were other hikers in the shelter across the river last night, they came over and caught up on trail after I left camp this morning.
We had a large bog to cross just yards after leaving camp, not a place to fall in at seven in the frosty morning. The it was up and over Little Boardman Mountain. The trail up was rocky, but not too steep although it seemed to continue a long time. Up top I got a brief period of LTE cell service, so I checked email. A relative, Herb Johnson (husband to Rosalie Donnell) has passed away. His funeral will be after I finish this hike, perhaps I'll be home in time to go. He'd been ill a while so, while the news is very sad, he's at rest now.
After the peak, the trail improved a bit and I made quick time to Kokadjo-B Pond road and my resupply bucket. Mike and Jade were still breaking camp when I arrived just after nine. Mac and Pace showed up a bit later. I dumped my trash, loaded up another four days of food and headed north.
We'd been told that after Little Boardman the trail would become really nice. And it did! Sure, there were the usual bogs and puddles rom the recent rains, and even some real bogs with big boards. I had to ford the dam at Cooper Pond, but then it was time to zoom. I got to Cooper Brook Falls shelter about eleven, and had lunch. Then it was a run to Antlers Campground. I made Mud Brook by three, and had to ford the last crossing. There's a rope strung over, good thing because the current was very strong and the bottom too bouldery to trust hiking poles. So I hung on the rope and carefully made my way over. Then I waited for Mac and Pace.
This camp is really pretty. There are a lot of places to put a tent, a fire ring and a grey water area. We hung our food just in case. Kyley, Ghost, Mike and Jade, and three section hikers are also here. And I have LTE cell service! Very weird to be out here and still be connected.
10/5/15 - Trail Camp, Wadleigh Pond Rd
The lake last night was so still the stars were reflecting off the surface. Far off in the distance I heard a loon calling in the moonlight. If it hadn't been so cold I'd've stayed awake. As it was I dove back into the warmth of my bag.
This morning we were on trail a bit after seven and the nice, smooth trail promptly disappeared. In its place was the usual AT trail, rooty, rocky and boggy. We were facing a thirteen to Wadleigh Stream shelter but we added three miles so as to clear Nesuntabunt Mountain.
Potaywadjo Spring shelter has a new privy, and it's pretty fancy. Poop#2 it's called. Jade went to the spring and reported its a pool with a sandy bottom and the spring flows up through the sand.
By none we were on the shore of Pemadumcook Lake, and could see Katahdin. Looking across the water, with the trees changing color on the far shore and the mountain piercing the blue sky really energized us. Good thing because the trail was tough going around the lakes today.
The trail follows Nahmakanta Stream for a good ways, and we thought we'd have to ford it. Not fun, it's a large and deep stream. We did have two fords, but one we managed to rock hop. I managed to keep my socks dry today.
The trail around Nahmakanta Lake was horrible, and Prentiss Brook was a swamp. I managed to stay dry, but it was slow going. Hiking poles are a must.
At Wadleigh Stream shelter, I finally got to see the memorial plaque for my friend from my 2007 hike, Buffalo Bobby, who died near there from a stroke in 2011 while on his third thruhike. I teared up a bit, I will admit.
Nesuntabunt Mountain took us up to 1500ft, and was a steep, rocky climb. There were some stone steps thanks to the MATC. From the top, you can see Katahdin, only sixteen miles away. Due to the terrain, the trail takes thirty five miles to reach the summit. So close though!
Tomorrow we hike seventeen miles to Hurd Brook shelter for our last full day in the 100 Mile Wilderness. The trip is almost over.
10/6/15 - Hurd Brook Shelter
We had a couple of vehicles drive past our makeshift camp last night, but they didn't stop although they couldn't miss seeing our tents. About nine an owl made noise for maybe ten minutes, but the rest of the night was quiet. The stars and moon were bright but I slept well.
My last night in the 100 Mile Wilderness. And only one more night on the trail. My hike is nearly finished and I don't know what to do afterwards. I'm happy that I'm finally finishing a thruhike of the Appalachian Trail, but I'm also sad because I have to leave this simple life and go back to the complicated real world.
This morning we were on trail and soon at Crescent Pond, where Mike, Jade and Kyley had camped. The trail around the lakes is awful, rooty and rocky and very boggy. The guidebook shows the elevation as pretty flat, and that's mostly true, but the terrain really can slow you down. I'd hate to go through here during bug season.
Rainbow Stream shelter is in a small gorge, and in warm weather would be a nice place with a swimming hole. The shelter I wouldn't stay in, the "baseball bat" floor is actually a floor made from four inch diameter logs place parallel, and only roughly smoothed off. No splinters, but not a uniformly level floor either.
We ate lunch at Rainbow Lake Campsite. It's not as pretty as Antlers, being more in the trees, but the spring had very good water. Again the trail along the lake was horrible.
We got to Rainbow Ledges about three, and got a great closeup look at Katahdin. Also, two bar LTE Verizon cell service.
Hurd Brook shelter is down in the trees. Again, it has that baseball bat flooring, so everyone tented. There aren't really level spots, I ended up in a rocky area behind the shelter where I'd not put a tent if it was going to rain.
Tomorrow we will hike 3.5 miles to Abol Bridge, then another 9 to Katahdin Stream campground. Day after tomorrow we will summit. The weather is forecast to be clear, with a high about 48F. I'll probably have to wear almost all my clothes and layer off and on as I hike the mountain.
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