Trip summary: Stratton to Monson

[Papa Bear]

Hello all

I just got back from an AT section hike in Maine on Tuesday (Stratton to Monson) and this weekend I'm going up to New Hampshire with 4 friends to do 6 days in the huts. Busy me. Maine was great, except for the mosquitoes.

Here's an album of pictures from the hike: http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_Stratton_Monson
Unfortunately not all the shots are in good focus. Sorry. I've just put captions on major landmarks (Mountains, Ponds, etc.) although all the shots have the date and time as a minimal caption.

I haven't had time to put together a report but I will when I get back again. Here's a few points:

Maine is great! It's the most remote place I've hiked. Most roads you cross are dirt and they are 20 miles from no where. The shelters are in good shape and the ponds are idyllic. The two towns I crossed (Caratunk and Monson) have populations of around 100. The Bigelow range is fantastic. I was lucky to go over them on a sunny day. The first sight of the Kennebec was quite moving. Sort of like seeing the River Jordan! The 2 river fords (Piscataquis, West and East branches) were no big deal. 30 seconds to cross, 10 minutes to take boots off, cross, then put boots back on - Oh, well.

Thru hikers: I met 6 NOBOs (Lucky Day, Demian, Flick, Grunt, Squirt and Journeyman) and all but Journeyman recognized me from brief encounters on my section hike in Maryland and Pennsylvania in May! What a coincidence. They're all doing well but they are tired and can't wait to get done.They all left Monson for the 100 Mile Wilderness on July 15 (actually Luck Day was a day ahead).

I met many SOBOs, probably at least 20, and lots of camp groups, primarily on the Bigelows.

Now to get ready for New Hampshire.

Pb

[Streamweaver]

Awsome pics!! Sounds like you are living it up!! I havnt been to Maine in Tooo long!! Have a good one! Streamweaver

[Mini-Mosey]

Papa Bear: You've done it again!! As Streamweaver said, awesome pictures!! I look forward to your trip report(s). Guess you're in NH now!! Mini-Mosey

[asmtroop3]

Thanks for early mornin' hike Papa Bear.
I didn't even sweat and I can still make it to (yuc) work on time.

Great pics

[MOWGLI]

Hello all

I just got back from an AT section hike in Maine on Tuesday (Stratton to Monson) and this weekend I'm going up to New Hampshire with 4 friends to do 6 days in the huts. Busy me. Maine was great, except for the mosquitoes.

Here's an album of pictures from the hike: http://gallery.backcountry.net/papabear_2003_Stratton_Monson


Papa Bear, I really enjoyed your photos. I attempted to send you a PM today, but your mailbox is full.

I am tentatively planning a hike for next August from Stratton to Monson with my 15 year old daughter. She has not yet gone baclpacking, so we have a couple of trips to make between now and then.

I'd be interested to learn how you handled this shuttle. My goal would be to hike NOBO and stay a night at Shaws at the end of the hike.

[Footslogger]

Hey ...thanks for the memoroies PapaBear. When I left Stratton last September on my thru there was freezing rain and darn near zer visability. We got snow just as we were dropping down to the old Avery Shelter plaque. Had snow the rest of the way through the Bigelows. So, it was great to see the terrain under clear skies.

Sure wish I lived closer to that area. Man, I miss the AT

'Slogger
AT 2003

[A-Train]

Haha, funny how this year and a half thread was resurected. Anyway, hello PapaBear! Met you back in PA in May 03' at a shelter (Birch Run?). Funny to see you ran into my friends in Maine, good memories. I would have seen you again had I not taken off 9 days...

Be well

[Papa Bear]

Hi A-Train. I remember you and it was fun to see the other guys from Pennsylvania when I got to Monson. Especially wierd was having Demean walk into Pierce Pond lean-to and recognize me - remember Demean (aquablazing on the Shenandoah)? Here's the 2003 trip report (http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2h6gy/papabear/AT2003_Stratton_Monson.html) I think previously I just had a link for the pictures.

But that was last year. This year I finished the 100 Mile Wilderness and summited on a great day. The link to that story is 100 Mile Wilderness + Katahdin report (http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze2h6gy/papabear/AT2004_Maine_Adventure.html) And guess what, It was Deja Vu all over again: whom do I meet at White House Landing but Shuk, a Canadian section hiker who also remembered me from that rainy May of 2003 in Pensylvania! Remember him?

MOWGLI16: Don't see how my mail box can be full since it's empty. Anyway, Keith Shaw will shuttle you anywhere. Last year he took me to Bangor to catch a bus. This year he shuttled me various places. Call Shaw's at 207-997-3597. Tell him I sent you. Remind him I'm the one whose wife called the sherrif when the rivers flooded. He got a laugh out of that one.

Just got back from a weekend in Maine. Hiked 4 peaks (Boundary, Gosford, Boundary Bald and Coburn). in 1 - 2 feet of snow. Love Maine. Here's the link: 4 Maine peaks in the snow (http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4232)

[MOWGLI]

Haha, funny how this year and a half thread was resurected.

Thats one of the great things about this website. A person planning a section hike or thru-hike could get all the information they need from the archives using the search function. Of course, human nature being what it is, most folks like too ask their own question - even if it's already been asked 15 times previously. And that's OK.

Papa Bear. Thanks for the info. I'll contact Shaws as I get closer to the hike.