Part of this hike I actually did yesterday, but it was such a small piece that I included it here. Yesterday, I decided to walk the half mile section of the AT that goes down the Tote Road (Perimeter Road) in Baxter State Park.
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After reaching Katahdin Stream Campground, I retraced my steps, completing this small section of the trail twice.
Today, with the help of Dan, Peirce, and Darcy, I was able to drop my car at Abol Pond. They then gave me a ride up to where the AT heads south off the Tote Road. Thanks for the lift. They are off to hike North Brother, South Brother, Fort, and Coe which I had attempted yesterday with partial success. I wish I had known ahead of time, I would have switched the two days around. I'm heading south today, hoping to run into some nobos who are nearing the end of their 2,175 mile journey.
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Over some bog bridging
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Passing Elbow Pond
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More bog bridging
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Daicey Pond
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I have plenty of time for today's hike, so I guess that I'll hit any side trails that I come across.
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Remains of Toll Dam
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Little Niagra Falls
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With all the rain we got yesterday, I imagine this is a peak time to see Big Niagra Falls.
It was nice, but it wasn't Niagra Falls. Oh wait. It was Niagra Falls.
It just wasn't THE Niagra Falls.
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There were lots of fairly impressive cascades to watch today as the trail followed Nesowadnehunk Stream
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I saw a nobo and asked, "Are you thru hiking?"
"I sure am," he replied.
"Congratulations, you're almost there."
"Is Katahdin close?" the man joked.
"It sure is. Do you have a trail name?" I asked.
"Dealer Dan"
"What, uh, do you deal?"
"Drugs," he kidded. "No, I play cards with some elderly friends. They have trouble dealing, so I'm the designated dealer. I got the name before I started the trail and decided to use it as my trail name."
"Good luck finishing the trail tomorrow."
"Thanks!"
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At one point today, I noticed the trail getting very narrow. I wasn't on the AT anymore. I retraced my steps for a minute and found two logs with two thin ropes as holds going across the stream. Be careful across this!
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I got to the other side, but didn't see a white blaze. I looked for the AT but only saw a couple renegade paths. I crossed back across and decided I better back down the trail until I come to the last white blaze I saw. I didn't go far when I realized the trail was supposed to cross the stream in a different spot. There had been a small bridge that was secured to a tree. There was just one problem, the tree fell down, wiping out the bridge.
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I then realized that the other 'bridge' that I crossed was a temporary bypass. I went back across the logs for the third time and followed one of the renegade paths a few yards back to the AT. From this side of the creek, I got a better view of the remains of the bridge that was wiped out.
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I saw another nobo coming.
"Congrats, you are almost at Katahdin!"
"Thanks" he said.
"Do you have a trail name?"
"Yes, it's Sheep Head."
"Sheep Head?"
"It's a card game."
Having just met Dealer Dan, this was way to much of a coincidence.
"Really, I just met Dealer Dan."
"He's my brother. We've hiked the whole trail together. He was anxious to get to the base of Katahdin so he left before me this morning."
"Do you have any more brothers coming this way?"
"No, but there is a young fellow named Comet who is close behind."
I warned Sheep Head of the knocked out bridge ahead and continued on my way.
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I met Comet a few minutes later but forgot to get his picture. He told me that two more nobos named Mike and Plugger were close behind.
A few minutes later I saw the gentlemen.
"Hi, Mike and Plugger," I said.
"What are you a magician?" one of them said.
"No, I met Comet. He told me who you were. Congratulations on nearing Katahdin."
This was great! I got to meet a total of 5 nobos who would be finishing the trail tomorrow.
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Nesowadnehunk Stream dumped into Nesowadnehunk Deadwaters where I saw a couple of kayakers.
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This is the sign in station for nobos entering Baxter State Park
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Over a small bridge
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There would have been a good view of Katahdin from here on a nice day. Here's a picture I 'borrowed' from Runtrails' website.
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From here I walked out to the road where I was with Brent two days ago. I then retraced my steps for about a tenth of a mile to the Abol Stream Trail.
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I'm off the AT now, but I need to get back to my car. I followed this road . . .
. . . went across a bridge or two . . .
. . . and came out at Abol Pond where I had left my car.
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I drove back to camp for some supper. I was not very well prepared (as far as food). I quickly learned from Mike (left in the picture below) and Darcy (cooking) that vegetarian meals are possible at a campsite. I'll be ready next year.
Dan (front) and Peirce (back) are sitting at the picnic table. I didn't get to hike with them during this stay at Baxter so this is the only picture I have of them. We hiked a lot of the same hikes just on different days. Dan, Peirce, and Darcy had trouble finding the herd path to Fort today in the fog, so Dan and Peirce will return tomorrow. Everyone else today made a trip over to Katahdin Lake.
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Here's a picture of Mike with smoke from the fire blowing in front of him.
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Mike had a whole production each evening in preparing his supper. I refer to him as the 'god of fire'. He has more fun preparing supper than a person should be allowed to have. He definitely brings 'comic relief' to the campsite. Susan, who you will meet later, also brought some laughs to the campsite as it took her 'forever' to boil water for her noodles.
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Tomorrow, I climb Mount Katahdin.
