ME weekend #2, day 2

Saturday, July 2, 2016
Start: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to
End: ME 15/Monson
Miles: 17.9

After getting to sleep late (~9:45pm) due to SOBO noise, I woke up around 4:30am to the sun and drowsed on my sleeping pad until 5:30am. I broke camp and was on the trail by 6:15am.

I hiked by Bald Mountain Spring, Marble Brook, West branch of Piscataquis River, Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to, East branch of Piscataquis River, and Doughty Ponds.

Today, I saw 6 SOBOs, 2 weekend hikers, 3 day hikers, and 12 section hikers, including a crew of immensely polite Quebec teen boys out for a 17-day summer camp backpacking trip, from Moxie Bald to Katahdin. I let them borrow my phone to call back to base camp since their stove had died and their Verizon phone didn't get service.

I arrived at ME 15 (the south end of the 100-mile wilderness) by Monson at 2pm. I was able to get cell service 2 miles before the road and call my shuttle. The shuttle arrived by 2:15pm. Once I was back at the Sterling Inn, I showered and started my 5.5 hour drive back home. I decided to not stay the night since I had finished my hike much earlier than expected.

ME weekend #2, day 1

Friday, July 1, 2016
Start: Rt 201/Caratunk
End: Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to
Miles: 18.8 (+0.2 side trails)

I started out from Caratunk this morning after spending the night at the Sterling Inn. They had a lovely breakfast, with everything from OJ to coffee, bagels to English muffins, fruit to jam, cereal to boiled eggs. It was quite a spread. They provided me with a shuttle to the trailhead and I was on trail hiking by 6:45am. I made amazing time today, arriving at the lean-to 4.1 miles before my night's lean-to by 1:15pm. I took a half an hour break at that lean-to as well as at the peak of Moxie Bald Mountain. I arrived at my night's lean-to by 4:15pm. It's 6:15pm and I'm pretty much ready for bed.

Today, I hiked by Holly Brook (901'), Pleasant Pond Lean-to, up Pleasant Pond Mountain (2470'), past Moxie Pond and Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to (1312'), up Moxie Bald Mountain (2629'), and down to Moxie Bald Mountain Lean-to (1224'). At the peak of Moxie Bald, I got my first glimpse of Katahdin far in the distance. It was pretty damn cool. 

Today, I saw 24 SOBOs, including the 12 at the lean-to so far. I've met Charlene, Cucumber, and Hummingbird, as well as Broadway and Jay. I hiked by another 4 section hikers, as well two day hikers  (one of whom was open carrying with the holster's safety unbuttoned).

Many of the hikers at the lean-to are partaking of a lot of weed... like all other pot smoking hikers I've met this year, they do it inside the shelter, even when asked not to. Currently, I'm out by the pond after the smell started giving me a severe headache and nausea. I'm hoping they stop soon or move so I can relax on my bed.