We hoped to wake to sunrise over Katahdin, but sadly it was foggy. Even early it was warm and muggy. Just 13.5 miles to Abol bridge, and that’s all for the hundred mile wilderness.
The two ladies who camped near us got up and out early, we didn’t move so fast, partly because we knew it wasn’t a tough 13.5 miles, partly for my part because I knew it’s the end.
I hiked along the shore of Rainbow Lake for a couple miles before the trail heads up to the ledges. From there the clouds started to clear and I was given some brief views of the mountain through the clouds, but it was also very hot.
The rest of the hike was rather easy. I stopped for lunch at the last lean to and talked to a retired guy there who set out to hike the trail after reading books like “a Walk in the Woods”, but ended up realizing that it was much harder than he thought. Beast caught up and ate lunch there too, but I got hiking again before she finished.
The trail comes out on a dusty gravel road and there was a sign saying “trail magic” with an arrow to the left, so of course I followed. At that point it was damn hot in the sun, the trees on the trail at least provided some protection, but on the road it was overwhelming.
I stopped quickly at the trail magic, drank a lemonade and a root beer and ate a meatball sub. It’s hard to explain how amazing real food is after hiking for several days in the woods. Even on this short trip I’ve lost weight and my body knows it.
I talked a bit to the guys there, but couldn’t stay long. Too many arrangement to be made. I continued over Abol bridge to the campground, went into the store and bought a 6 pack of beer, asked about a phone (there’s no service), which is $1 per minute. I sat outside drinking a beer on a Picknick table trying to figure out who to call. Talked to another hiker who offered space at her camp site, there were no sites left, just cabins.
Beast appeared and I offered her a beer, which she gladly accepted.
The problem with the shuttle is that would probably bring me into Millinocket, where there are hiker friendly options to stay, from there most people grab a shuttle to Medway and a bus from Medway to Bangor where there is a larger bus station and airport. That bus gets to Bangor 15 minutes after my bus to Portsmouth leaves, so I’d have to stay a night in Bangor. Obviously I didn’t want that, particularly when even day I delay probably means more money I’ll have to pay if my car got towed.
I called the 100 mile wilderness inn and they said they were just heading into the park for an emergency, but could get to Abol bridge in about 45 and we could discuss options then.
Beast and I had another beer. She set up camp with the other hiker who offered me space earlier.
Eventually my shuttle showed up, the driver said she couldn’t commit to a shuttle into Bangor until we got out of the park and she could check her schedule, but if she’s free she could take me to Millinocket for the night, then in the morning potentially get to Bangor.
I gave Beast a long hug goodbye and wished her luck and the second half of her journey (she’s a flip flop, so after Katahdin is heading to Virginia to hike south from there). There’s a certain bond you have with people you thru hike with that’s different from normal life. I’ll miss her, we did a great job of hiking alone together.
Once in Millinocket I was able to secure a shuttle to Bangor and a private room for the night. I met a guy named Jeff who hiked the trail in 1975, I told him that’s the year I was born and we both had a good laugh. We sat on the porch taking a bit with the owner. Eventually it was time to grab dinner, Jeff said he was headed to the one place open in town, and offered me to join. Part of me wanted to grab something fast and then go straight to bed, but I figured company and real food would be good. Unfortunately the place had a wait over an hour, everywhere is short of help. Luckily Jeff had a car so we drove to a pizza place on the edge of town and brought that back. Jeff cracks me up, everywhere we go he just starts joking and talking to everyone.
I ate a whole supreme pizza and a Klondike bar, and that’s after that meatball sub which I ate around 2:30! After that I was ready for sleep.
In the morning I got the shuttle to Bangor and got on my bus. The bus ride was uneventful, it took about 4 hours and dropped me downtown Portsmouth, about three miles from the park and ride. I decided to grab an Uber to the park and ride, mostly because I’d need the extra time if my car had been towed (I would have gotten to the park and ride until after 4 PM), however as luck would have it my car was still where I left it!!! From there it was less than an hour drive to my friend Kristen’s place just north of Boston.
The beginning of this trip was tough, all the rain and slippery, difficult trail, hurting my knee, breaking my camera, and being too focused on finishing the section and not focused enough on enjoying the journey. I’m thankful that the rain slowed, my knee healed, I was able to partly fix my camera so it’s at least usable, I changed my mindset, and I found some great friends to share the adventure with.
Here is a (temporary) link to the pictures from my camera now that I’ve been able to pull them off my camera and edit them: https://lightroom.adobe.com/shares/696cfb33e15e4d4da9ffcbd97d4bd0be