Dugan
New member
Started off to hike the 100 mile wilderness from Monson to Katahdin on Monday with my uncle, trail name Cracker. First day we went north from US 15 to Wilson Valley Shelter. Cracker had some trouble with the slate ledges, which were wet and slick from rain the night before. The falls at Little Wilson are incredible. Both Little and Big Wilson were boots off crossings. Big Wilson was running about mid-thigh deep. The chill of the water was very refreshing.
Yesterday morning we packed up and headed out with the intent to get somewhere between Cloud Pond and Chairback Gap Lean-to. We moved right along to the ford of Long Pond Stream, about knee deep on me. We made our way up to Long Pond Stream Lean-To where I saw that VFTT notables Neighbor and Chickety signed into the register on 8/13. Sounded like they are doing well and feeling strong. From the lean to, we began the steep climb up Barren into the Chairback Range. I pulled ahead of Cracker and waited for him at the tpo of Barren Slide - great views (and hmm... does the base of that slide look like a fun rock whack?). I waited and waited, and was about to begin descending to find him, when he appeared, favoring a leg and wincing.
We compared notes, looked at maps, saw the hills of the Chairback Range and Gulf Hagas ahead, then knowing that discretion is (at least occasionally) the better part of valor, decided to turn around. Meanwhile, I'd met a gentleman named John who was lunching at the head of the slide. As he was day hiking, we quizzed him about finding a shorter route back to civilization. We came up with a plan that I'd hike ahead with John to a boat he had on Lake Onawa, he'd take his boat back to a camp for car keys (while I ran back to help Cracker), come back for us, then take us over to his car to give us a ride into Monson. Not only did he do all this, he also carried Cracker's heavy multi-day pack. As we hiked ahead, leaving bandanas, socks and such as trail markers for Cracker - we met a couple headed up and asked them to keep an eye out for him. As I ran back up for Cracker, turns out they were giving him a ride down the road.
Cracker creaked out of their car. At this point, he had very little mobility in his right knee - definitely turning around was the right thing to do. Cracker gimped down an old, rough woods road to where John was going to return. Thanks to the couple, we made it back just as John returned. We had a beautiful boat ride across Lake Onawa, gazing up at Barren Slide and spooking a cormorant. On the drive to Monson, the first major town we got to was Guilford, where Cracker has a friend who works as pharmacist at Rite-Aid. As we drove by, John agreed to stop. Cracker struggled out of the car, limped into Rite-Aid, and as the coincidences piled up, there his friend was behind the counter.
John left us at Rite-Aid - refusing all offers of dinner or payment. We returned to Cracker's friend's house for the night. Along the way, we learned that the friend had plans to drive to Millinocket to look at a cabin in prep for moose season, and the friend offered to bring us right back to Cracker's truck at Abol Bridge. Never was ditching off the trail for an injury so easy.
I regret not finishing the hike and not spending more time with my uncle. I do not regret our decision to turn around. I'm even more glad we met John the kindly stranger and ran into Cracker's friend. With Cracker in the condition he was in, it probably would've taken 3-5 days with me relay hiking the packs to get back out to 15 and get into Monson, then call to find a shuttle service back to Abol. Fortunately, with their help, we were out in hours. The views of Katahdin from the Golden Road were tantalizing. The 100 mile wilderness will be there for another time.
Meanwhile - my gear is packed, I've got food for several days, pet care is arranged, and my feet are itching to be out on the trails... anyone want to hike?
Edit:
Our shuttle from Abol to Monson was Katahdin Outfitters. Douglas, the grandfather of the owner, shuttled us down on Monday morning. It was his 81st birthday. He drove mostly logging roads. He provided a thoroughly enjoyable tour along with local history and information.
Yesterday morning we packed up and headed out with the intent to get somewhere between Cloud Pond and Chairback Gap Lean-to. We moved right along to the ford of Long Pond Stream, about knee deep on me. We made our way up to Long Pond Stream Lean-To where I saw that VFTT notables Neighbor and Chickety signed into the register on 8/13. Sounded like they are doing well and feeling strong. From the lean to, we began the steep climb up Barren into the Chairback Range. I pulled ahead of Cracker and waited for him at the tpo of Barren Slide - great views (and hmm... does the base of that slide look like a fun rock whack?). I waited and waited, and was about to begin descending to find him, when he appeared, favoring a leg and wincing.
We compared notes, looked at maps, saw the hills of the Chairback Range and Gulf Hagas ahead, then knowing that discretion is (at least occasionally) the better part of valor, decided to turn around. Meanwhile, I'd met a gentleman named John who was lunching at the head of the slide. As he was day hiking, we quizzed him about finding a shorter route back to civilization. We came up with a plan that I'd hike ahead with John to a boat he had on Lake Onawa, he'd take his boat back to a camp for car keys (while I ran back to help Cracker), come back for us, then take us over to his car to give us a ride into Monson. Not only did he do all this, he also carried Cracker's heavy multi-day pack. As we hiked ahead, leaving bandanas, socks and such as trail markers for Cracker - we met a couple headed up and asked them to keep an eye out for him. As I ran back up for Cracker, turns out they were giving him a ride down the road.
Cracker creaked out of their car. At this point, he had very little mobility in his right knee - definitely turning around was the right thing to do. Cracker gimped down an old, rough woods road to where John was going to return. Thanks to the couple, we made it back just as John returned. We had a beautiful boat ride across Lake Onawa, gazing up at Barren Slide and spooking a cormorant. On the drive to Monson, the first major town we got to was Guilford, where Cracker has a friend who works as pharmacist at Rite-Aid. As we drove by, John agreed to stop. Cracker struggled out of the car, limped into Rite-Aid, and as the coincidences piled up, there his friend was behind the counter.
John left us at Rite-Aid - refusing all offers of dinner or payment. We returned to Cracker's friend's house for the night. Along the way, we learned that the friend had plans to drive to Millinocket to look at a cabin in prep for moose season, and the friend offered to bring us right back to Cracker's truck at Abol Bridge. Never was ditching off the trail for an injury so easy.
I regret not finishing the hike and not spending more time with my uncle. I do not regret our decision to turn around. I'm even more glad we met John the kindly stranger and ran into Cracker's friend. With Cracker in the condition he was in, it probably would've taken 3-5 days with me relay hiking the packs to get back out to 15 and get into Monson, then call to find a shuttle service back to Abol. Fortunately, with their help, we were out in hours. The views of Katahdin from the Golden Road were tantalizing. The 100 mile wilderness will be there for another time.
Meanwhile - my gear is packed, I've got food for several days, pet care is arranged, and my feet are itching to be out on the trails... anyone want to hike?
Edit:
Our shuttle from Abol to Monson was Katahdin Outfitters. Douglas, the grandfather of the owner, shuttled us down on Monday morning. It was his 81st birthday. He drove mostly logging roads. He provided a thoroughly enjoyable tour along with local history and information.
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