Friday, August 22, 2025. Up at 6:15. Cool and sunny.
We have 18.6 miles to go. Estimating 5:00.
I got careless in my tent and tore a quarter sized hole in the netting. It’s the outer netting with a pocket attached, so I must have shoved something with a sharp edge into that pocket. Fixable with a patch kit but annoying.
I also had to put air in my sleep pad at 4:00am. I’m worried I have a slow leak. I need to figure that out before heading into the hundred mile wilderness.
On trail (mile 2061.8) at 7:15.
Stopped at 8:10 on the top of Moxie Bald Mountain. I need to call my doctor and get a rescue inhaler prescription sent to Millinocket. Fortunately that was successful! We made a hotel reservation in Bangor for tonight. It’s a 1 hour drive from Monson this evening. We get a real bed, bar, and restaurant. No rush as tomorrow will be a zero instead on a Nero day are hiking 18.6 miles today. Really looking forward to this evening as and a couple of bourbons.
Back on trail at 8:30. Stopped at Bald Mountain Pond for water and second breakfast. Easy descent from Moxie Bald Mountain.
Back on trail at 10:10. Should be a gentle downhill all day to Monson.
Stopped at 11:40 and mile 7.75 for a break and a snack. The last several miles were VERY Rocky!
And then we got a brief break with this lovely path.
Last few hours have been tough. Rocks, roots, and a lot of small steep ups and downs we had not expected. Last year I had to ford two streams. One was calf deep and one ankle deep. It’s so dry this year we walked across on stones.
Ran across Mary-Beth, Toni, cruise director, and Antlers on our hike today. Said good luck and goodbye to all of them.
Stopped at Horseshoe Canyon for a break and a snack at 2:20. Need to refill on water but not here. It is a canyon with the river waaaay at the bottom. We have 5.3 miles to go.
Reached the 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures in Monson (mile 2080) at 5:40. Awesome end to the first half of the trip.
Drove to Bangor for a hotel and meal. We have a day to kill tomorrow so no rush on things. Had a decent dinner at Texas Road house to celebrate the success of thfirst half of our trip.
Today was one of those slog it out days. No views, nothing special. You just have to get from point A to point B. Hike on, keep your head down, and suck it up.
Technical Notes:
- Pop tarts 360
- Fig bar 200
- Payday 240
- Fatty small sausage 190
- Seltzer 100
- Crackers 190
- Dinner and food in town
- Water liters 5
- Miles 18.9
- Time 10:15
- Up 2812
- Down 3245
- Calories consumed 4000
- Calories burned 3619
Leave a Reply