Dave from Pine Ellis Hostel

Dave is the manager of the Pine Ellis Hostel.

NOTE: Dave is a real good guy. We had a few beers together and he gave me a really fine cigar for the trail. I highly recommend the Pine Ellis Hostel.

Pine Ellis Hostel, Andover, ME

Here is a picture of the Hostel I am staying at tonight.  Will post some of the down town later.

Andover, Maine

Made it into Andover Maine around 10:00 am this morning. Not much to report from the trail. A ton of ups and downs without any new or truly impressive views, just tough hiking. Anyway the feet are feeling better, still sore but that is normal.

Staying at the Pine Ellis Hostel. Will send a picture later. Owner is very nice.

Looks like it is going to be a tough resupply point. There is only a General Store and the supplies are extremely limited. That is going to be an issue as it is about 5 days from Gorham, N.H. which is the next town down the line. Current body weight is 205 so I figure losing another 5 pounds won't be the end of the world. Besides, need to travel light. Some of the toughest trail on the AT is coming up in the next five days. The lighter the better.

Zero Day in Rangeley

Need to take a rest day in Rangeley.  Feet are pretty swollen after 23 days of hiking.  It is hard to describe how beautiful this area is.  If I ever come into serious money I will definitely buy a summer home here.

Trail Beard

Decided to ditch the trail beard.  Everyone in town was looking at me like I was Charlie Manson!

Saddleback 3

Saddleback 4

Saddleback 2

Saddleback Mnt.

In Rangley, ME

Just climbed Saddleback Mnt.  That was tough and windy.  Will post some pictures.  Yesterday I saw my first moose.  Magnificent animal!  No picture though.  Surprised her on the trail.

Stratton Day 2

Looks like I am going to be spending Friday night in Stratton. Our ride back to the trail is going to be to late.  It is going to be a heck of a climb out of here.

Some of the Boys

Stratton, ME

Ok folks, made it to Stratton, Maine. Went over some 4000 plus foot mountains to get here and it looks like a lot more well into New Hampshire. Lightening the pack load has helped out immensely as I was able to put in two 17 plus mile days on the flats and have not been exhausted when making camp at night.

It rained last night which made the descent into Stratton precarious. I slipped 3 times on a 1.9 mile descent which took over two hours. Very dangerous stuff, the roots are the worse.

I have been using the Big Angus tent I picked up but it is very uncomfortable. This is definitely not tenting country. Most thru hikers from the south use Hennessy Hammocks with a built in rain tarp. Kind of wishing I went that route.

Anyway, still losing about a pound a day. Trying to up the calorie intake to 4000 a day. It is really becoming an issue tackling these 4K mountains.

I am pretty much hooked up with a good bunch of guys now all heading south. Things are definitely getting more intense as we approach the Maine/NH border. I hear that once through the Whites in NH, 80% of the physical effort is over. I hope so. I figure even if I do only 5 miles a day, I am through it in two weeks.

I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying not to get injured. It is very dangerous out here if you have not heard! :)

Mike

View from Avery Peak

4090 feet

New Hat

General Picture

100 mile wilderness 3

100 mile wilderness 2

100 Mile Wilderness

Looks like I have some connectivity.  I am in Monson, Maine having just completed crossing the 100 mile wilderness.  I am staying at the Lakeshore House hostel which is very nice after ten days in the woods.  

Monson, Maine

Ok folks, very limited to nonexistent 3g phone access out here or for that matter any cell phone access so I am using the computer at the Lakeshore Hostel in Monson to provide this update. Sorry no pictures till I can get better through put. I sent the pictures of Katahdin on July 3rd and they just posted yesterday. Will try to send some from the wilderness crossing I just made.

Anyway, when I started this trek I weighed 224 pounds. After ten days in the 100 mile wilderness I now weigh 210 pounds. At this rate I should weigh 40 pounds when I reach Springer, Georgia. Start placing your bets now on my exit weight. :)

The 100 mile wilderness was pretty wild. Each day was filled with climbing mountains,some between 2-3000 plus feet, fording streams, crossing bogs and combating biting black flies. The heat was unexpected, some days in the 90's with total humidity. Thank God there was plenty of water available.

Today I am waiting to hit the outfitters in the neighboring town to switch out the heavier gear I am carrying for light weight equipment. Every ounce makes a difference out here and I really do need to get my pack under 35 pounds and that is including food and water so we are talking minimal equipment and clothing.

I have surprisingly come across about a half dozen north bound thru hikers already. These people started in Georgia in March and have been averaging between 20 and 30 miles a day over this very mountainous terrain. Almost unbelievable when I am currently putting in around 10 miles a day. But after 2000 plus miles you should be in pretty good shape and they are carrying virtually nothing. A lesson to be learned there and one I will attempt to emulate going forward and within reason noting that I still have more then 2000 miles to go!

Stratton is the next stop which I should hit at a max in six days. Hopefully with lighter equipment I can narrow that time to four days. Till then all is well with me and I hope everyone is doing fine. Take care!

Mike

Katahdin 3

Katahdin 2

Katahdin

Made it to the top

Made it to the top ofMt. katahdin via the Hunt Trail.  Very treacherous climb with a few ledges with a good thousand foot drop.       

Lost the French guy.  He missed the taxi.

Anyway no phone access down below so after posting these pictures I will be out of touch for about ten days.

Have a great fourth of July!

NOTE: This was the first real climb of my life and in retrospect pretty funny. I did not bring nearly enough water and left my water filter in camp. Thought I was going to die getting back.

Anyway, while I was totally struggling to climb this thing I saw a guy behind me who just seemed to be floating across the rocks. He caught up to me in about fifteen minutes. An old Irishman. He looked at me crawling there across the rocks and says, "A remarkably well marked trail." Then just floats past my struggling fat butt.

Oh before I forget. The French fellow named William. I ran into him about a week later heading back north. Man that guy could hike. We spoke for a while on the trail. Turns out he was the real deal. No way I would have been able to keep up with him. At this point in my life I was still very distrusting of strangers. You get over that real fast on the trail. Everyone is pretty damn cool out there. Most down to earth and honest folks I ever met.

Medway, ME

Finally made it to Medway after our bus stopped to pick up sixty stranded children whose bus had broken down.  There seems to be a pattern developing here. 

Anyway Ron from the Katahdin Shadows Motel was nice enough to pick us up and shuttle us to the Motel.  I say us because I now have a temporary traveling companion.  A French fellow just in from Paris named William.  He just decided to hike a week, no plan, just winging it.  I guess he will be adopting my plan for the first week anyway.  I welcome the company but communication is difficult.  I feel like I am in Dances With Wolves!

Tomorrow we enter Baxter State Park and get our first view of Mount Katahdin.  I am looking forward to getting some serious hiking in.  Till then...

In Bangor, ME

Made it up here in a little more then 8 hours.  It really paid off leaving at 3:00 am.

It is definitely colder up here and I am glad I brought some warmer clothes and rain gear.  Right now I am waiting to catch the six o'clock bus to Medway.