START LOCATION: Hurd Brook Lean-to
FINISH LOCATION: Katahdin Stream Campground
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 13.4
TRIP MILEAGE: 2,173.9
MILES TO GO: 5.2
We had a couple of latecomers catch up to us last night... Wallflower and Red Bear. The former joined Casper, NLC, Jim from LL Bean and I in the shelter. We slept in nice and late... 7AM. The mice were scared of us after last night's carnage. They didn't hit anyone's food. That was a nice way to start the day. We all headed out of Hurd at 8:30 or so with lots of spring in our step. We were excited, our foodbags were light and everyone was in a good mood. Today we'd enter Baxter State Park... The end of our journey.
Casper, NLC and I rolled fast through some very easy terrain the 3 1/2 miles to Abol Bridge. This landmark marked the end of the Hundred Mile Wilderness and our first opportunity to resupply since Monson last Thursday. As we pulled in it started to rain. Again... Fantastic timing. Abol Bridge is a speck on the map. It's only a general store and a campground. I stocked up on a bunch of junk food and we all had some pink microwaved hotdogs while we shopped. Spend a week in the woods and you're not picky.
From there we had 10 mi to get to Katahdin Stream Campground. The rain let up and we rolled 7 deep mostly the whole way. It was Red Bear, Wallflower, City Squirrel, Paul Bunyan, Casper, NLC and I in a big hiker platoon. The terrain was mostly flat and easy but as usual... plenty of rocks and roots. The excitement of the hike, besides being nearly complete, came in the form of two potential river fords of the Nesowadnehunk River. Casper and I were able to rock hop, but NLC opted for the safe (and smarter) doffed boots and ford technique. In hindsight, Casper and I were pretty lucky we didn't get wet.
We pulled into KSC around 3:30 and saw a bunch of familiar hikers all partying after their Katahdin summits. We partook in the festivities and had some snacks, sandwiches and mmm... beer. Casper, NLC and I checked in at the ranger station and met the very sweet Betsy Dawkins. She was able to get us checked into the same tentsite that my dad had reserved the following evening. This was great, because we wouldn't have to move sites when he and Casper's dad arrives. Bunyan and City Squirrel joined us at the site which made the nice tentsite cheaper than the dreary thru-hiker accommodations. We reminisced, had some laughs and talked about our plans after the hike, all the while chasing aggressive squirrels and chipmunks away from our food. We had a great time.
Tomorrow I'm planning a short 6 mile roundtrip day hike up "The Owl", a peak near Katahdin that should afford me some nice views of Katahdin itself and surrounding Baxter State Park lands. Then, dad arrives in the afternoon and we'll summit together on Friday. I can't wait.
-natedog
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