Looking back, the 100 mile wilderness isn’t nearly as remote as its title suggests. There are hostels at either end running daily shuttles for slack packers (hiking a section of the trail without your pack on) and food drops. There are plenty of service roads and we have run into many day hikers and trail volunteers during our six day stint out here. The trail was actually crowded, but we were able to stay ahead of the bubble. There were rumors of hundreds of thru-hikers waiting in Monson (the town just south of the 100 mile wilderness) because of the bad weather we hiked through during our first weekend.
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Our first three days in the 100 mile wilderness just might have proved to be the hardest hiking on the trail. The trail over the Chairback mountain range is about as rugged as it gets. The rain didn’t do us any favors either. The rainfall flooded everything. Most of the trail over the Chairbacks was ankle deep in cold, still water. Instead of hoping over rocks to get across there were many streams that we had to ford. Dropping knee deep into a fast flowing stream that barrels over a waterfall just past you will bring you to your senses. One river that we had to cross was very wide. The water came up above our waists. There was an official from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy stationed there advising thru-hikers not to try fording it. But with an evaluation of our food situation we decided to cross.
I had made it just over halfway before the current swept me away. I was wearing some oversized rain pants that apparently had a small hole somewhere in them. At some point they ripped open and took on water, opening up like a parachute underwater. The current’s pull on me multiplied in seconds and I face planted into the river. I was pulled about ten yard downstream before I was able to secure my footing again. Luckily this isn’t the first time on this trip that all my stuff has floated downstream, so I was able to stay calm and get back up. The worst thing to do in a situation like that is panic. I happened to think it was hilarious so I don’t know what that says about me.
We got across safe with just a couple wet tortillas to show for it. We are getting closer and closer to Katahdin and I don’t want it to end…
It was around midday. We were sitting by a wide yet shallow stream. Bell sat on her pack, while I leaned against mine and planted my cheeks in the dirt. We were just eating some snacks and sitting there. It was a beautiful day; perfect hiking weather. Blue skies. Not too hot, not too cold. I remember looking at the rays of sunlight beaming through the swaying maple trees when it hit me. I just walked from Georgia to Maine. Then the other shoe dropped, this adventure was almost over. The very thought of it made me tear up. I turned to Lil Bell and told her what I was thinking about and we both agreed that we weren’t ready for it to be over. .
A few days later we were hiking in the rain. It was quite cool out and the wind had a bite to it, so there was no stopping the hike unless it was time to call it a day, and we skipped lunch. We still had two and a half miles to the shelter. Slick rocks and roots everywhere. It took all afternoon. It was while we forded the cold river that Lil Bell and I agreed that we were ready for the adventure to be over. . .
That night we made it to the shelter. It wasn’t crowded so we stayed there. Torrential downpour all night. The sound of the rain tapping on the shelter’s tin roof put me right to sleep. I woke up several times throughout the night just to listen to the storm. I’m not sure if I’m ready for the adventure to be over. . .
From the Other Side,
Pan and Bell
from the other side 