We have done this hike two times – once in 2007 as a day hike and again 2008 as part of a backpacking trip.
August 21, 2007
This was our first hike after summiting Katahdin. Even though everything still hurt, we decided to hike to get everything moving again.
On the way to the trail head, we saw a cow and her calf on the Golden Road!
Cow & Calf
When Python got out of the car to get a better picture the cow started to climb the bank to the road to protect her baby. The cow was not happy we were there.
Cow On The Golden Road
Katahdin from Abol Bridge
The trail had a bed of soft pine needles during most of the hike but there were also lots of roots.
Soft Trail
Hiking in pain is no fun; Python's knees still do not want to bend. Her knees even hurt when she sleeps!
At Hurdbrook Lean-to we met a nice young lady from Unity College.
Hurd Brook Lean To
She was leading a freshmen orientation group and they were heading to Nahmakanta Lake. Unfortunately, one of the girls in the group got bitten by something and she had to hike out with 4 guys so she could go to the hospital. We met the evacuation party twice on our hike.
When we were eating lunch at the lean-to, some kind of rodent kept bluff charging us for our food! The brave little critter was definitely cute but we were not going to give him any food.
Bluffer charging critter
We joined the Richardsons for dinner at Roaring Brook campground.
Dinner with the Richardsons
August 17, 2008
We hiked out to the Abol Bridge and we were passed by NOBO thru hikers Grasshopper and her husband Brake Man just before the sign for the 100 mile wilderness.
One Hundred Mile Wilderness sign
When I reached the camp store, I saw the Abol Ridge Runner Bluebearee getting ready to head out. I screamed Bluebearee! and she came over and gave me a hug even though I warned her that I smelled really bad. She looked so cute in her little Ridge Runner outfit.
She had lunch with us and thru hikers 5 Bags, Downstairs, and Hopper.
Thru-hiker Downstairs Dave's lunch
Hopper was going to summit Katahdin tomorrow on his 21st birthday. We saw a dog named Ronya wandering near the road and the thru hikers told us she belonged to the thru hiker named Rhino (he was famous for building big fires).
Dragonfly and Dirigo took Dragonfly's car to Katahdin Air Service (KAS) to get Dirigo's truck.
Dragonfly is so happy to see her car!
On the way to KAS, they saw a car upside down on the side of the road. People had already stopped to help with the accident and someone asked Dirigo to call 911. They raced to KAS and called 911.
While Shoe and I were waiting for the truck, we saw Trish from KAS heading out of the campground in her minivan and she pulled over when she saw us. We jokingly harassed her about getting dropped off at the wrong sand beach and demanded a discount.
Trish
She told us about her weekend camping trip and said that her kids left earlier in the family car. Well, it turns out that her kids were the ones in the accident that Dirigo had passed! The oldest daughter broke her collar bone but the other 2 kids and the dog were okay.
We booked a room at the EconoLodge in Millinocket and did laundry. We talked briefly with Forest Gimp at the pizza joint near the motel when she stopped in to order a pizza.
Shoe wanted to do some trail magic for the thru hikers at the Birches, so we bought a bucket of ice cream and a sheet cake. We asked them to write "Congratulations and Happy Birthday" on the sheet cake (Hopper was turning 21 tomorrow). We went to the Birches and talked with Barefoot, Grasshopper and her husband, and section hikers Preacher and Pi. We drove down to Katahdin Stream campground and saw 5 Bags with his family and he told us that a family at the campground had invited Hopper to join them for dinner. Unfortunately, we did not get to see Hopper that night.
Campfire at the Birches