Virtual AT: Caratunk to Monson

"Hello!
Beans back..."

This is our plan for today.  Caratunk to Monson.  Mostly flat once we get past Moxie Bald Mountain.

 A good day's hike.

We will be staying and resupplying in Monson, everyone does, as Sunday we will begin the 100 Mile Wilderness.

We're getting close to the end of this journey...

Are you still with Us?

Breakfast in town and let's go....

First crossing the Kennebec River.

Then up Moxie Bald Mountain

And the Moxie Bald Fire Tower

The View From The Top

 Past the Moxie Bald Lean-To

And we are now 2057 miles in on the AT.

(...in a few more days we will be Summiting Mount Katahdin!!!)

Hike with Griz to Monson

https://youtu.be/5jeNCUX4rdo

(...after this section several suggested Griz needs a hardhat and his new trail name should be "Headbanger"...lol)

Taking the trail past Horseshoe Pond. 

And down into Horseshoe Canyon

Past a beautiful waterfall!

The trail is deteriorated somewhat though this area and in many places ovegrown and a little confusing...but at last we reach Lake Hebron

And can take Pleasant Street right off the trail into Monson, Maine.

The quintessential Quaint New England Town.

Like something out of a Rockwell Painting.

The Monson General Store

Spring Creek BBQ

The Hardware

Historical Society

The Pie Lady's Boarding House

Which is a boarding house...and yes...there is pie...

We are home for the night...maybe even two.

Take a look around Monson.

Gear up for our venture into the 100 Mile Wildeness.

(...this is the sign just outside the beginning..)

Make no mistake.

This is serious stuff...

The boarding house was originally run by Sydney Pratt (aka The Pie Lady)

who passed away in 2015 at 84 years old.

Since she loved to bake pies she told everyone to

"...just call me The Pie Lady..."

and the name stuck.

Now Keith Shaw runs the place.

Yes...you can still get pie.

Not baked here anymore...but still delicious...and I see a wedge of tiny wild blueberry pie in my near future!!!
After some of that BBQ, of course!

See everyone Sunday as we begin the 100 Mile Wilderness!


Love,

"Beans"

                                                 Our Progress Today!

Virtual AT: Stratton Maine to Caratunk Maine

"Beans...ready to leave the White Wolf in Stratton and press on..."

A hot breakfast of Pancakes with Maine Blueberries and we are on our way!

And a horticultural tip from another plant lover who let me know if I snag one of the bazillion pine-cones I encounter along my way, it will become a living souvenir of my hike.

Check this out.

Plant it half way in dirt...water every day and it will spout!

I have to try this now!

(realtime)

Back on the trail...and past the Horns Pond Lean-To

Horn's Pond

and up close

and the Lean-To

Suddenly, I am very happy about our decision to stay in Stratton last night!

We have really lucked out on the weather, as well! The White Blaze App says 45 degrees right now but a high of 60 by noon. Very odd for Maine this late in the year. We could have well been hiking through snow.

It is clear and beautiful today!

Going to make some miles!

We head to the Bigelow Preserve

The Bigelow Range from Little Bigelow

Not a cross...but a sign.


Although the map clearly shows a lean-to in this area...damned if I can find it!!!

More of Bigelow's Preserve

A Hike in Bigelow Preserve

https://youtu.be/L-X47FELvkk

(...okay...Emily's hiking partner is a bit obnoxious...and may have to be pushed off a mountain...lol)

Just saying...Accidents Happen. All the Time.

Down past Flagstaff Lake

And to our destination of the night

Caratunk

An ice cold Coke at the General Store

And the Caratunk Lodging Cabins

 Inside

In another day we will start the infamous 100 Mile Wilderness...so for tonight and tomorrow we are going to seek out all the decadence we can!

Night!

Love,

"...warm...well rested...well fed...freshly scrubbed...Beans"

We are here!!!

Virtual AT:Saddleback Mountain to Stratton Maine

"Beans...hitting the virtual trail"

Waking to another beautiful day on the AT.

Today is special...today we will reach mile 2000.

I'm excited.

So let's get started!

Our next landmark

Spaulding Mountain

Another 4000 footer.

And the Spaulding Mountain Lean-To
 

Seeing the elevated bag reminds me...not all hazards on the trail are bears, rutting moose or snakes.

This morning "Timberline", a fellow NOBO hiker,  was medi-evacuated after he stepped in a hole in the ground that was home to several hundred of these

Less than an inch long...their stingers do not pull out like a honeybee and these wasps (yellow jackets) can each sting you over and over. The venom hurts like hell.

By the time he realized what he has stepped in he had roughly 30 stings in his lower legs and calves. Requiring medical attention and effectively ending his thru-hike less than 200 miles from The Prize.

After hiking all those miles...

What their nest looks like.

Remember to be vigilant. They are foul tempered, and easily upset.

We have also reached Maine in October.
The height of  Moose Rutting Season.

Remember those "trains with antlers" I warned you about in New Hampshire.

Yeah. It is exactly like that.

We are much too close to the end our trail to end up "moosed"!


Anyway...

Onward to Sugarloaf Mountain.

If you think this Mountain sounds familiar...it might...

At the top is a very popular ski resort.

Well known the world over.

The Trail up Sugarloaf

 

 And at the Summit

And our descent...

A brief jog to the left on 27 to Stratton...and on the way we hit Mile 2000.

To hit this milestone feels exhilarating...even virtually. 

There is a small sign nailed to a tree...careful...you will miss it!

(...personally...I feel like there should be a brass band and someone handing you a cold beer and a ham and cheese on rye sandwich and telling you "Great Job!"...but that is just me...)

We have been on this trail adventure since JUNE!

Only 190 miles to go.

I found a thru-hiker's necklace I really like on eBay. I am going to order it when I finish to commemorate this long journey.

Stopping for a brief rest in Stratton and getting a hot meal and a cold drink to celebrate!

The Rustic Forest Restaurant- Copolin Dinner House

Don't let the plain clapboard appearance fool you...inside is fine dining.

Serving everything from lamb chops and rosemary potatoes to lobster roll.

Pricey...but hey...we're worth it. 

We've trekked 2000+ miles to get here. 

And an impulsive decision to stop for tonight. Stay at the White Wolf...well known to AT Hikers...clean up first before dinner, and enjoy a night on the town.

Our little core group of thru-hikers agree...and soon we are standing beneath hot showers...losing the trail funk, and then off for a wonderful well-deserved meal made by someone else...and cooked in...well...more than water and a single pot.

We will start again tomorrow.

Love,

"Beans"

Today's Progress...about 32 miles.