As luck would have it, my sister and her family were in Maine and headed toward their summer vacation spot off the coast of Maine the day after i climbed Katahdin.

Little Gott Island is just south of Mount Desert Island/Acadia National Park.

I’ll be here for one week, then back to the middle Atlantic states to finish the last 700 miles of the AT.

There’s a land bridge connecting Little Gott and Big Gott Islands at low tide

Ram Island:

My neice, Sadie with Big Gott Island in the background:

I’ve got my own private sleeping cabin (oh, yeah):

Mount Desert Island in the background (looking north):

Gott Island Post Office:

Local cemetery:

Resting up and enjoying the beauty of coastal Maine,

Junco 

This Navajo phrase can be translated “I walk in beauty”. I recite it many times each day on the trail.  It expresses a sense of wonder and appreciation.

That’s how I felt when I got to the summit yesterday.

On the way up were some spectacles:

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I walked in beauty, 

Junco



Left the 100 mile wilderness this morning and crossed Abol Bridge to get over the mighty Penobscot River.

This was the river that Henry David Thoreau followed to get from Bangor ME to Katahdin in the mid 1850’s when he wrote his book  The Maine Woods.

I was joined by my good friend Juan Durer (Wanderer) who I had not seen for over two months. We were both very happy to run into each other to share the final Katahdin event together.

We caught up on our recent experiences and realized that we hike at the same pace and like taking breaks.

He introduced to cold Ramen, which he had for lunch.

He showed me a picture of a cool toad he had seen recently
Any ideas what type of toad this is?

Now we are at a campsite ready for the final 5 mile, 4100 foot vertical ascent of the northern terminus of the AT.

Long John (Baxter State Park trail steward)

Winter green

Ambitious beaver

SO excited, 

Junco

Just walked out of the wilderness. Had no cell signal and my phone battery died yesterday. 

Not enough cell service to upload photos.

That was very beautiful but very hard – trail was uneven with roots and rocks – many ponds, lakes, and rivers. Saw and heard many loons. Saw 3 bald eagles at Rainbow lake yesterday. 

On my way to camp at the base of Katahdin so I can climb it tomorrow.

Junco

Got my first 20 mile day today. My food bag was lightening up and the terrain was relatively flat. Much of the trail was along ponds or streams. The forest was so healthy and open with huge hemlocks, red spruces, and northern white cedars.

So many things to see

In case you are wondering, there is poison ivy in Maine.

Remarkably impressed by the beauty and serenity of rural Maine,

Junco

After the rains yesterday, it cleared and dropped down into the low 40’s. It was hard to get out of my sleeping bag this morning.

Saw these interesting pink objects on top of some Indian pipes 

Heading up to white cap peak today, which reportedly has a view of Katahdin

Closing in on it,

Junco

I’ve been scouring the countryside for these babies and ran into some beauties in the fourth mountain bog.

My son, Matt, and I have been growing carnivorous plants for a few years so it is fun to see them in their native habitat.

A nice bolete

Some pretty scenes from yesterday evening

Then it started to rain last night and rained most of the day today. The trail  got messy.

The hemlocks up north are healthy and majestic

Red squirrel – they can be annoying.

Red spruce (top) and white spruce

Fruit of the “stinking Benjamin” trillium

Spring peeper (“X” on the back)

Huckleberries

Lots to see out here,

Junco




Met this family yesterday and have been hiking with them today as well

They are hiking the 100 mile wilderness and then plan to climb Katahdin. The boys , Keith and Blake are ages 9 and 7. Truly inspirational!!

I saw a pair of pine martens scurrying across the forest floor yesterday evening. They almost ran right into me. They got frightened and climbed a tree – ser if you can see one in this photo – right of the tree trunk. Looks like a cross between  a fox and a weasel.

I hope to complete the 100 miles in 6 days.

Here are some sights.

A hemlock (shorter needles) and a balsam fir

A cool treat sent to me from my sister-in-law Vicky .

Loving this wilderness section,

Junco

Just left Monson ME with a very heavy pack

Enjoyed some draft blueberry soda while in Monson

Had a new pair of Hoka’s mailed to me. Got nearly 500 miles from the old ones (had several holes in the upper fabric which I covered from the inside with duct tape):

Now on to this long wilderness stretch

Weather looks good for today and tomorrow!!!

Big toothed aspen:

Looking forward to the Maine wilderness,

Junco

I hit the jackpot yesterday and today when I ran into Bob Popp and his son Evan

Bob, on the left, is the state botanist for Vermont.

I learned SO much from him about ferns, plants, and trees. I had a million questions and he answered them all. 

I’m in Monson ME and about to enter the 100 mile wilderness, so I may not be able to blog for several days! 

Maine Black Bear ice cream

Check out this female spruce grouse​​

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​Heading deep into the wilderness of Maine for 6 days, 
Junco