Day 122 - 2,000 Miles (August 8)

I just did my first 2,000 miles today. Since I'm not planning on returning to Georgia, I'm also hoping this is my last 2,000 miles. There are only about 170 miles remaining between me and Katahdin. I've actually walked many more miles than 2,000. The 2,000 miles are just trail miles.

The trail conditions may be the worst that they have ever been. Maine has had record rain and cold temperatures. The trails are streams. We are walking in ankle deep muck and mud. Everything is slippery. Climbs up and down are very dangerous. Possibly everyone has taken serious falls that could have taken them off the trail if they fell wrong. The streams are no longer all fordable, but information on which streams are not fordable is not being disseminated. The ferry at Kennebec River may or may not be closed tomorrow. If it closes, we will be stuck with no way across until it opens again.

Stripe, New Guy, Memphis Tim, and I slack packed Bigalow Mountain today. We got a shuttle to the south side of the mountain, and walked back to the Straton hostile. It was nice not having to walk with a heavy pack. The only reason I did this section is because I was with three other people. Bigalow Mountain has ridges above the tree line. It rained all day. The temperatures felt like it was near freezing at the higher elevations, and the wind was very strong. It was very relieved to be off the mountain.

Limeonaid arrived at the hostile from Rangely. She said that Loafy is talking about leaving the trail. He hiked back to Rangely when he saw the stream we crossed yesterday. I think he made a very good decision not to ford that stream. It was waist high and very fast with rapids just below where we forded. Fording that stream was one of the most dangerous things I did on the trail. Cricket is still at the Poplar Ridge shelter waiting for the waters to recede. People are giving him food while he waits.

If visibility was clear, we should be seeing Katahdin from the higher peaks. Unfortunately, visibility is less than a quarter mile. We have had very few views since entering Maine.

I'm hoping to be in Monson in three days if all of the rivers are fordable. Monson is the last resupply before the hundred mile wilderness. It should only be five days through the hundred mile wilderness. Katahdin should be the final day. It should be really good to finally see Katahdin, and then see it get closer and closer every day. However, it's possible we will not see Katahdin once until we are there unless the weather clears.

The weather and trail conditions are so bad that we are all just looking forward to finishing. I would like to hike the remaining miles. However, there may be many streams that are not fordable. I think nearly everyone has decided that we will keep hiking, and will do our best to hike every remaining mile as long as its safe. Blue and yellow blazing may be necessary in order to continue our hike to Katahdin. The weather forecast for the next week calls for rain. Waiting for the weather to clear doesn't appear to be an option at this time. There is no break in the rain in the forecast.