9/25 Back home

Back home after a long summer...I'll do a post-mortem on the hike in a week or two once things sort of settle in. Thanks for everyones support and encouragement along the way!

9/18 White house landing

Only 16 miles today, we are into White house landing for resupply and to crash in their bunk house. It will be nice to get out of the cold! Word has it that Saturday the weather should be ok, with a chance of crap on Sunday...lets hope that holds!

45 miles left
--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/17 Crawford Pond

OK, brrrr. We did 22.5 miles today, the hiking in Maine is pretty nice. But it is hard, constant little ups and downs, lots of roots and rocks.
We had a great view of Katahdin today from Whitecap Mtn. Boy that sucker is big! I think it is because there aren't any other big mountains around that it seems so impressive.

62 miles to go
--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/16 Pleasant River

20.7 miles today, beginning with our first ford. The water was about thigh deep and about 60 ft across to the other side. The water wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold....lemme explain, the air temp was about 38 degrees, the water, oh, call it 55 or 60.
But we made it safely, and dryly to the other side. We will repeat the exercise tomorrow morning as the Pleasant River looks too high to 'rock hop' across.

84.1 miles left
2089.9 miles done

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/15 Changes

We hiked out of Monson today, did 10 miles in the remnants of a cold front that came through (drizzle and overcast). Tonights low will be 38 degrees...brrrrrr.
Changes. I've noticed some changes recently that really bring home how close to the end we are. Folks that give you a ride to the trail, and day hikers you pass on the trail say 'Congratulations!' now instead of 'Good Luck!'.
Now when you leave town other hikers get up and shake your hand, look you in the eye and say 'hike safe'. We all know it may be the last time we meet. Before, you could usually count on running into each other in the next town, or the next, or 500 miles later. No more towns left. only 104 miles left.

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/14 Monson, Maine

We decided to zero today and hike out tomorrow. It would be nice to hit the hiker feed, but not that big of a deal.
Tomorrow is the first time we will have to ford a river. So far all of the brooks, streams, rivers and creeks that usually require fording have been so low on water that our feet haven't gotten wet yet. Another sign of just how dry this summer has been. Most folks have crocs or other camp shoes to wear during these crossings. Churchmouse and I don't carry them, seeing them as additional weight that would only be used a few times...why carry 14oz 2000 miles to avoid a day of wet shoes. So we are finally at the point where our decision is going to result in soggy socks...or will it?
I checked the hiker box and low and behold...river shoes! big enough for us both to wear, so we'll each carry one and will have dry feet! Ask and the trail provides!

Also, it looks like there might not be a real pay phone at Abol Bridge, so you all may have to wait until I get done to read the rest. Sorry!

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/13 Monson, Maine

15 miles into Monson today. I really like the terrain here in central Maine. Not too many ups and, usually, well maintained trails.
The woods here are very pretty, lots of moss on rocks, crystal clear mountain streams tumbling down rocky slopes to numerous ponds and lakes with small beaches and pebble bottoms. And, at this time of year, no bugs! Today, we saw a moose, a buck with small antlers. A moose is huge, friggin huge! Imagine something the height of a horse, but with the girth of a cow. Amazingly, it ran away down the trail and then into the woods with virtually no sound. We saw this with bears also, they have the ability to either crash through the woods, or just stealth away.
We haven't decided yet, but we will probably zero here tomorrow, then head out into the 100 mile the next day..TBD though, maybe a slackpack tomorrow then a zero as there is a hiker feed in town saturday and Sunday sponsered by Whiteblaze.net. Shanty is in town, and has been for a couple days, Sideshow should be in town tonight or tomorrow early. It would be cool to hike out all together, but who knows.
--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/12 Moxie Bald Lean-to

Today started out with crappy weather, but that shaped up by about 2pm. We had 19 miles to do, but only two climbs of note. The second climb was Moxie Bald. We got up top, the wind was howling, the sun was low (3:30pm at this latitude seems like 6pm to this mid-atlantic native) there was a chill in the air....but it was clear, clear all the way to Katahdin. So we finally laid eyes on her today. I thought it would be a more moving experience, but it was still pretty far away.

We head into Monson, Maine tomorrow. Our last trail town and the beginning of the 100 mile wilderness. I am looking forward to the 100 mile, but it means that after this set of updates, the next time you all hear from me will be from the base of Katahdin. There are no real roads, phones, cell service etc anywhere near the 100 mile wilderness...kind of cool.

132.4 miles left
--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/09 Little Bigelow Lean-to

Today we were going to slack pack, but that fell through. So we set off to tackle the Bigelow Range at 9:30. All was going well, and I have to say, the Bigelows are some very pretty hiking. Really nice, and what I think of when I think of 'Maine'.
But then it started to rain, and it rained all day, and all night. But still, it was an ok day all n all.

One interesting side note, we saw a Least Weasel. This critter, which we identified by a field book, is a little further south than its supposed range, so it would be a neat sighting if it was one.

We crossed 2000 miles hiked today...man thats alot o mile!
172.5 left

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/11 Northern Outdoor Resort

We did a mighty 3.6 miles today. It is raining, my leg was still swollen...oh well, we are still on schedule........
As luck would have it <G> there is a micro brewery on site! I really couldn't believe the co-inky-dink that we stopped at a place that makes their own (pretty good) beer. I know, I know, all you folks that know me are thinking that this would be a completely 'out of character' stop. I mean Beer and Brian? nah they don't mix..... hehehehehehe

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/10 Harrison Camp

Staying at a campsite tonight just short of the Kennebec River crossing. The river is dam controlled, but the water is released based on demand for electricity, not on a schedule. A hiker died recently fording the river ( there is no bridge) so the official 'trail' is via canoe across. There is even a white blaze on the floor of the canoe for us to 'follow'.

The terrain here changed dramatically today, as soon as we came out of the Bigelow Range it was very flat. Most of the rest of the hike will be easy walking compared to southern Maine. I for one am glad!
I got stung by a bee today on my left calf. I didn't think much of it (after the initial pain) until I took my shoe off this evening and my ankle was all swollen up. Could 'bee' a short day tomorrow!

154.8 left
--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/8 Stratton, ME

Hauled butt today into Stratton. Sideshow was already here, looks like he hitched from Rangeley to Stratton. Tomorrow we are going to slackpack the Bigelows, they look like the bigest chunk of nasty ups left.
The final date is set, Saturday Sept 22nd. Hopefully we will get good weather. We crossed under 200 miles left today!

187.8 miles left!

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/7 Stealthin'

Oh boy, it is good to be back on the trail! But man oh man, the firsat day back after 7 days off SUCKS! It is also hot and humid (by Maine standards). But it was a decent days hike, 14 miles out od Rangeley , we are camped by a waterfall so we will be lulled asleep by that. It should cool down to about 40 degrees tonight, so good sleeping weather.
Tomorrow we are busting ot a bigger day and hitting Stratton, ME. We are going to get in and get out as neither of us feel the need for a town day...I wonder why?

I have to say I have mixed emotions about taking a week of zeros (a Zeek if you will). On the one hand I got to see and visit with most of the folks I hiked with on the trail. I got to do some trail magic, and the week off puts me summitting with the crew I started with. On the other hand, it was a bit frustrating to be so close and have to wait to finish up. All in all it was, by far, a net positive. But I for one am ready for this adventure to be done. It looks like Shanty, Sideshow, me and Churchmouse will be rolling through the 100 mile wilderness together. Perhaps summitting on the same day ( the 21st). That would be very cool, the Pain Train reunited! So far we potentially have quite a crew coming out, Charlotte, my Mom, Martin, and :...Mystic! He is thinking about doing the AT again in 08 with someone he met while doing the Long Trail. It will be great if he can make it out, maybe I can talk some sense into him about the AT08 thing....or find out his schedu!
le so I can set up some wicked good trail magic. (y'all like the northern-speak there...wicked)

I had my first twinge of missing the trail while writing this blog entry. The waterfall, a cool night, good hang on the hammock, we had a fire after dinner ahhhh. And dinner was good, hamburger helper with cheddar and mozzerella on top and fajita chicken strips mixed in....mmm..mmm good!

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/6 Rangeley, Me

Well, we are back. Returning the car tomorrow, today was very succesful, we picked up Shanty, tomorrow we'll pick up Sideshow! And we ran into Buffalo Bobby, so mission accomplished! Looks like everyone is planning on the 21st/22nd timeframe. Cool!

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/3 Gorham, NH

We drove back up to Gorham, and the Whites. We ran into a couple guys we know at Pinkum Notch. Tomorrow I'm going to drop Churchmouse off at a trailhead south of Mahoosuc Notch so that he can hike (slack) it. If you recall, he missed that section because he was sick. I am also taking a couple coolers of sodas and beer out to trail magic some folks.

The next person we are trying to track down is Buffalo Bobby. He is an older guy we hiked with for a while, he is just a character. Then it is off to find Sideshow and Shanty. They should be getting close to where we are on the trail.

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/2 Hanover, NH

So we picked up Grizzle at the Inn at Long Trail, and headed 'north' on the pavement AT and hit Hanover, NH....to pick up Bigby! We intercepted him just as he was hiking into town. It was great to see young Bigby. We lifted a few pints and spent the afternoon catching up. He is doing well, his pack is still huge, but seems healthy and happy.

We dropped himoff this morning, then we will drop Griz back at the Inn, then head 'north' again and see who we run into.

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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9/1 The Inn at the Long Trail

We decided that we would head back down the trail and catch up with some of the folks that were behind us. First on the list was Grizzle. We met up at the Inn and had a good time listening to Irish music and having a couple pints of Guiness.
We also found out where Sideshow and Shanty were, looks like thay will be up near us (in Rangeley) when we get back on trail, they are planning on a summit date at about the same time as we are now.
Bigby is up the trail about a day, so we may try and track him down next.

--Brian
aka "Bytecode"

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