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
Just got to the top of Bald Mountain and got a cell signal so I can upload photos
This is the last big climb for a while.
Sunset last night:
Nice things from today:
Katahdin looms:
Better weather these last two days. Tomorrow looks nice, too.
LOVING Maine when it doesn’t rain,
Junco
Just left Caratunk
While in town, I met up with my friend Book ‘n Boot who broke her arm back in Virginia. She is hiking section hikes in New England and we did a 6 mile section together today.
Visited Pleasant Pond
See the loons?
More from today
All for now,
Junco
Took a day off yesterday in Caratunk ME. Friends from northern VT came to visit and took me on a white water rafting trip
Laura, son Zach and husband Pat are friends from Chinle
Zach is an experienced River guide and piloted our boat down some class 3 ( and maybe a class 4) rapid.
The weather was fine and the water was warm.
Then Pat and Laura returned me to the AT
Following in the footsteps of Benedict Arnold:
West Carry Pond
Then this afternoon the AT crossed the Kennebec at a spot that required a canoe ferry, since there is no bridge and the current is strong
A few more from today
White cedar bark
Pierce Pond
A tributary to the Kennebec
Enjoying one of Maine’s finest rivers,
Junco
For the past few days I have been really struggling with very difficult terrain and bad weather – constant rain and wind/cool weather. My tent had gotten soaked on Friday night and I was dreading setting it up in the rain. I had just summitted two peaks above tree lines and was cold and wet. When I reached the shelter I was hoping to sleep in, it was full/overflowing with very tired/wet hikers.
I decided to push on, looking for a tent site. As I approached a dirt road, a young man passed me (Jeffrey Lipinski) – I had met him, his sister (Maggie) and her husband (Robby Campbell) the day before.
Jeff Robby and Maggie
Jeffrey asked me if I wanted to go to “Red Lobster” tonight. I was thinking this guy is nuts!
He further explained that the 3 of them were staying with Tom Dickey in Eustis ME that evening. Tom (and his dog Max) kindly invited me to join them
He served us fresh Maine lobsters and a veritable feast for dinner and breakfast.
Tom is a retired Coast Guard captain, born and raised in Maine. He knows how to prepare and eat a lobster.
Tom and Max with the claw from a 15 pound lobster
The town of Eustis is 25 miles from Canada/Quebec – we are way up north!!!
Here’s where we stayed:
See Tom waving on the porch.
This was one of the most incredible acts of kindness that I have ever experienced.
Blessed once again,
Junco
This very challenging mountain range is the last major series of climbs before reaching Katahdin.
Today starts with the steepest climb on the whole AT – it’s 1/2 mile long. I’ll keep track of how long it takes me.
Yesterday was beautiful in a misty/foggy way
Steep climbs. Hey wait – how do I get up that?
Had my phone/camera in a waterproof bag most of the day so I didn’t take too many pictures
Former beaver pond
Ready for some flat terrain,
Junco
It’s supposed to rain a lot in the next 3 to 4 days.
It started raining at 8 am and I’ve been hiking in the rain for 6 hours
It’s been quite dry in Maine this summer so the rain is welcome.
I use this app called Dark Skies which has been very helpful in areas where I have a cell signal. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy also supports a site that gives weather forecasts for each AT shelter.
As I was hiding from the pouring rain under a large balsam fir, a woman hiked by – she looked remarkably familiar
I told her that she bore a striking resemblance to one of my children’s teachers in Chinle. Turns out it was her sister. Mary Reeser – sister of Susan Reeser-Yazzie. Uncanny family resemblance. Mary lives in Maine and I may see her again when I get to Monson.
A few more:
Flagstaff Lake – I knew Flagstaff deserved a lake!
A lobster?
Trying to love the rain,
Junco
Left the alpine zone yesterday afternoon
Dropped into the boreal forest, dominated by balsam fir (on top) and red spruce (bottom)
Some shots in this part of the forest
? Cranberries
Also saw a few eastern white cedars.
Looking for pine martens, boreal chickadees, moose, and spruce grouse – not to mention migrating warblers.
Deep into Maine,
J
The alpine zone is the area above the tree line . In Maine, it is at about 3500 feet.
Stayed at the farmhouse inn in Rangeley ME last night
Conductor and I cooked a big breakfast today.
Some sights from the past 24 hours.
Maine is really incredible with its alpine zones and boreal zones.
200 miles to Katahdin!
Junco
kevin hikes 