Maine!

As I sit here in Monson, Maine, I'm only 109 miles from the base of Mount Katahdin and 114 miles from completing the Appalachian Trail. My body has fallen to bits, my hiking partner's body and pack are falling to bits, but we're still moving. This is the last stop before the end of the trail and we will start what they call the "100-Mile Wilderness" tomorrow. Everyone is tired, excited and still loving the trail, but the overall consensus is that it's time to end this trip, this hike. Who knew I would actually make it this far ... and without blue-blazing (taking shortcuts), yellow-blazing (hitch hiking), or even slack packing (leaving most of your gear at a hostel and taking only day snacks and being picked up to go back to the hostel that night so you don't have to carry a full pack). Jogle and I aren't called "white blaze kissers" for nothing.

The first half of Maine lived up to it's reputation of being the toughest part of the trail. Starting out in the rain was tough, but the skies cleared and blessed us with 6 days of sunshine to get to where we are now ... just that little 114 from the end. It seems that most people hit their lowest point during that stretch - it's the definition of so close, yet so far away. We made it here in what may not feel like one piece, but in one piece nevertheless.

Like I said ... we leave tomorrow to finish this trail. Seven days through the wilderness and then one day to summit (it's a 4100-foot climb to the end). If all goes well, then we will summit Katahdin on October 1st, which happens to be my hiking partner's (Jogle's) birthday - what a present! Wish us luck and I'll put up another post when this trail is finished.

I've been able to post about 30 photos in the 6 posts below!

Maine Pictures

Jogle fording an easy stream; Moxie Bald Pond; Jogle on Moxie Bald Pond at Sunrise; stream to ford (feet got very wet); unique white blaze on tree

Maine Pics

Jogle and I at 2000 miles!; finally ... a moose; stream; "Captain" Dave - operator of the ferry across the Kennebec River; Jogle preparing for the ferry crossing

More Maine Pics

Changing leaves; Snackies & Wildflowers enjoying lunchtime; sunlight and satisfaction at the summit of North Crocker Mountain (town waiting at the bottom of the mountain); Medium Rare, Snackies, Jogle, Rickles, and Snackies' brother (visiting) at the Stratton Motel; sunset view from Avery Peak of Bigelow Mountain Range

Maine...

View from Spruce Mountain; lots of mud; Eddy Pond; Saddleback Mountain - Katahdin (the trail's end) in the background; view from Saddleback Jr.

More Maine

Grey Jay; Jogle climbing up Baldpate Mountain; Jogle atop Baldpate Mountain; it's good not to get lost; sad, abandoned, wet socks

Maine Photos

Welcome to Maine; Mahoosuc Notch (1.1 mile ravene of jumbled boulders the size of cars and small houses) - next 4 photos

Bear Photos (White Mountains, NH)

White Mountains, NH Photos

Mountains; Jogle on Webster Cliffs; Sunset at Mount Madison; Mt. Washington summit; view from Carter Ridge

White Mountain Photos

Jogle on Mt. Lafayette; White Mountains; Presidential Range; Jogle on Webster Cliffs; Thoreau Falls

Only 297.9 to go ...

We walked (hobbled, limped, staggered) out of the White Mountains today and are taking tomorrow off in Gorham, New Hampshire. Now we're sitting only 16 miles from the Maine border and 297.9 miles from the end of the trail atop Mount Katahdin. The Whites lived up to their reputation for being tough. We had miles of boulders and rock scrambles, but the scenery made all of it definitely worth the haul. The highest point, Mt. Washington, has the worst weather in the U.S. and is known to have some kind of a view from the top only 1 out of every 10 days. For us ... blue skies, only 30 mph winds, and 100-mile visibility from the top. Needless to say, we got lucky. In fact, all of our weather in the Whites was good.

Now, I've seen over 20 black bears along the trail in nearly every state, but have yet been able to get a good picture. Shortly after our decent off of Mount Madison (not a bit I would recommend to anyone who likes their knees and enjoys their sanity), we were taking a break when a black bear came up over a rock less than 30 feet away and walked toward us. I was able to get some good pictures before it occurred to us that the bear was approaching us rather alarmingly. We jumped up and hollered at the beautiful creature and it headed up the ridge in the other direction. We were so excited to get pictures of a bear at last even though the moose continue to elude us.

So we're on the last leg of this journey and still have some big mountains and a lot of water ahead of us in Maine. We're hoping to summit around September 28thish, but we'll just see how things go. Today actually marks 5 months on the trail for me. I'm happy to be out here, but like everyone else, I'm looking forward to finishing the trail. Southbounders we've been seeing at the beginning of their hike towards Georgia say that northbounders have a haunted look on their face. I'm sure we look a bit tired at this point.

Sorry no pictures, but this computer doesn't allow for it ... next time.