Trail Tales for September 7 - September 9, 2004

September 7-9, 2004

I hiked 19.6 miles on Tuesday, 12 on Wednesday and 16.7 today, most of which was in the rain, remnants of Hurricane Frances (thanks Grandma Counts!). "No pain, no rain, no Maine." I had been blessed with beautiful fall-like weather in Maine up to this point. The A.T.'s terrain in Maine is typically wet and spongy ground. The past few days have been extraordinarily wet, soggy, and very muddy which slowed my progress but not my spirit. Why hurry? I am intent on savoring my Maine experiences.

With plastic bags on each foot and gaiters covering my boots, I hiked over bog logs, bog bridges, and boardwalks, which are placed on the trail to protect sensitive wetlands. Today, I slipped on an unsteady boardwalk and did a turtle into the swampy trail. I just laughed...hard...out loud! Losing my balance and falling into Maine's wetlands can only be funny. I had to ford rivers and streams which meant that I hiked, sort of, knee-to-shoulder deep through rocky and muddy rushing water while I lifted my pack above my head. I was soaking, but I did manage to keep my gear somewhat dry. The plastic bags really worked well keeping my feet dry!

To cross the Kennebec River, hikers are ferried via a canoe after signing a release form and donning a life jacket. In 1985, a thru-hiker drowned attempting to ford the river. The dam releases water sporadically so it is unsafe to ford or swim across. In the past three days, I must have hiked past 10 ponds! It was a wet and wild three days in Maine! Rehydrating has not been a problem.

I am now in Monson, ME where I will dry off, enjoy a very long, hot shower, eat REAL food, do my laundry, polish my nails, as Ladybug smiles, and stop by the post office to pick up my final maildrop before I hike into the 100-mile wilderness. I am now hiking the final leg of my incredible five-and-one-half month-long odyssey. Eight days until I reunite with my family and I AM PUMPED UP!