Hi everyone, My buddy and I are attempting the 100 mile (monson to abol) starting Oct 9. Never been to ME but have read/researched alot about the trail (including the great write up by Kodas, Condon, Scherer and Weegar !). I do have a couple questions hopefully you hikers in the know can field.

1. is there absolutely NO cell service along the 100 miles ? It'd be nice to keep the families at home updated but even if holding the phone high atop White Cap bring 0 bars... it'd save some pack weight not bringing it at all.

2. are bugs still an issue in October ?

3. I accuweathered MIllin.last year mid October and recall mainly highs around 55-60 and lows 35-40. Is that the general temp in that area ? Are teens and 70's pretty much non existent ?

4.We'll have tents but hope to hit alot of the shelters. Is this a crowded time of year on the trail ?

5. We plan on being shuttled from Abol to Monson. Is parking the car near the Abol general store / campground a problem ? WHo would I contact to make parking arangements there ? We figure on Abol instead of Millin because we'll most likely be coming off the trail saturday evening - most likely too late to hitch a ride to Millin.

6. Are food drops the way to go ? Where along the trail does this usually happen. ?

Sorry for all the ? - I figure the better prepared the better chance we have ! Thanks all !

Steve J

1) I got some service on the ridges with Verizon.
2) I doubt it. They weren't much trouble last September.
3) Count on mountaintops being 10-15 degrees cooler. Ice may be a problem up high (speaking from my experience in the White Mts. around that time of year - higher, but farther south. Last Sept. I had no nights below freezing and only one just above.
5) There's plenty of parking near the store at Abol Bridge. There's a campground there and self serve shelters and sites right across the road with "honor system" payment (cash drop down a secure outside vault).
6) There are a few places where you can drive in and drop food - along dirt logging roads. I didn't do it. Left Monson with about 35 lbs. in my pack and it lasted all the way to Abol Bridge. If you can go to Whitehouse Landing for a night you can get their wonderful 1lb. cheesburger. It's worth whatever it cost (I didn't pay attention, I just put it on my card).

just a reminder to turn your cell phone off when not in use. a cell phone battery gets run down within hours when searching for towers.

just a reminder to turn your cell phone off when not in use. a cell phone battery gets run down within hours when searching for towers.
Very good point. I had mine shut off except when trying to call out. Battery lasted all week.
I got a very weak signal at Abol Bridge which did not allow for a completed call. I tried the pay phone, but because my wife's phone was also Verizon (like mine) there was a problem making that connection too, and I lost my money.

good stuff. thanks guys...

Hi everyone, My buddy and I are attempting the 100 mile (monson to abol) starting Oct 9. Never been to ME but have read/researched alot about the trail (including the great write up by Kodas, Condon, Scherer and Weegar !). I do have a couple questions hopefully you hikers in the know can field.

1. is there absolutely NO cell service along the 100 miles ? It'd be nice to keep the families at home updated but even if holding the phone high atop White Cap bring 0 bars... it'd save some pack weight not bringing it at all.

2. are bugs still an issue in October ?

3. I accuweathered MIllin.last year mid October and recall mainly highs around 55-60 and lows 35-40. Is that the general temp in that area ? Are teens and 70's pretty much non existent ?

4.We'll have tents but hope to hit alot of the shelters. Is this a crowded time of year on the trail ?

5. We plan on being shuttled from Abol to Monson. Is parking the car near the Abol general store / campground a problem ? WHo would I contact to make parking arangements there ? We figure on Abol instead of Millin because we'll most likely be coming off the trail saturday evening - most likely too late to hitch a ride to Millin.

6. Are food drops the way to go ? Where along the trail does this usually happen. ?

Sorry for all the ? - I figure the better prepared the better chance we have ! Thanks all !

Steve J
I hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness late in October one year. The weather was still good -- no ice, but I was told it was an unusually warm year. You should be prepared for the temperature to drop below freezing.

It isn't crowded in October, but their will be a few nobos trying to make the Oct 15 deadline for Katahdin. Most of them will have passed Monson by Oct. 9. I met a few SOBOs. None of the shelters were full.

As for cell coverage, it seems to improve every year. I don't know if the coverage is better or if my phones are getting better. Either way, there seem to be more spots each year.

In my opinion, food drops are more trouble than they are worth. Eat light and carry your food. If you are plannng a food drop, Gulf Hagas is the easiest spot -- three days into your hike. JoMary Road is another good spot.

I havent verified it, but have read that in marginal signal areas, that you have a lot better chance of texting than using voice on the cell. The amount of data that needs to be sent is minimal with a text so it has a better chance of going through.

Not sure what sort of hunting seasons may be in effect at the time, but make sure you find out as even though this area seems remote, you may encounter hunters.

I havent verified it, but have read that in marginal signal areas, that you have a lot better chance of texting than using voice on the cell. The amount of data that needs to be sent is minimal with a text so it has a better chance of going through.

Not sure what sort of hunting seasons may be in effect at the time, but make sure you find out as even though this area seems remote, you may encounter hunters.
PM Boarstone about cell coverage. The wilderness is her backyard and stomping ground.

We just did the 100 mile wilderness at the end of July. As to the question of parking, shuttling, and food drops, I would suggest using Katahdin Air. We had a great experience with them and it isn't as expensive as one would think, especially factoring in time and the food drop logistics. They will come get you at Abol Bridge (where there is a place you can park your car while you are hiking, just let the owner know). They flew us to Crawford Pond where we put down a bear canister with food for the second half of the trip. Then we flew to Spectacle Pond, which is right at the start of the 100 mile wilderness. It was a great way to start the trip and the pilot spent the flight pointing out various landmarks along the way. On our way down onto Spectacle Pond, we saw a bull moose swimming across it.

Hope this helps.
rpcv

Hi everyone, My buddy and I are attempting the 100 mile (monson to abol) starting Oct 9. Never been to ME but have read/researched alot about the trail (including the great write up by Kodas, Condon, Scherer and Weegar !). I do have a couple questions hopefully you hikers in the know can field.

1. is there absolutely NO cell service along the 100 miles ? It'd be nice to keep the families at home updated but even if holding the phone high atop White Cap bring 0 bars... it'd save some pack weight not bringing it at all.

2. are bugs still an issue in October ?

3. I accuweathered MIllin.last year mid October and recall mainly highs around 55-60 and lows 35-40. Is that the general temp in that area ? Are teens and 70's pretty much non existent ?

4.We'll have tents but hope to hit alot of the shelters. Is this a crowded time of year on the trail ?

5. We plan on being shuttled from Abol to Monson. Is parking the car near the Abol general store / campground a problem ? WHo would I contact to make parking arangements there ? We figure on Abol instead of Millin because we'll most likely be coming off the trail saturday evening - most likely too late to hitch a ride to Millin.

6. Are food drops the way to go ? Where along the trail does this usually happen. ?

Sorry for all the ? - I figure the better prepared the better chance we have ! Thanks all !

Steve J

I can't comment on cell phone coverage. I don't have one, and have only rarely used my wifes.

Bugs will not be an issue. They disappear with the first heavy frost and that will have happened by the 9th.

See above for a weather hint. Bugs don't disappear until freezing has occurred. Days are unlikely to be lower than the high 30s. 50s are more likely. Expect freezing temperatures on some nights -- maybe down to the mid 20s. I walked through in 1993, starting Oct. 5. I was chilly most nights and burned the last of the wood at the shelters to keep warm. But I had a 45 degree sleeping bag, augmented by a down jacket. Snow is not unusual -- both on the trail and on the summits. Ice is possible.

I don't know about parking, but when I do the 100 miles, I either carry enough food to complete the 100 miles, or I stash food at the intersection of the trail and the Jo Mary Camp Road. If you are driving to Abol Bridge, just take Roiute 11 from Monson. A sign announces the campground located on the road. The trail is 10 miles, plus or minus, from Route 11. Stash your food in a sturdy container with a secure top (think duct tape). Return to Route 11 and head north. You will run into Millinocket in an hour or so, may be less. I've done it many times, but never paid much attention.

If you are able to climb Katahdin consider it a rare bonus. The chances get pretty slim during the final two weeks of October. You can always come back in December when the winter hiking season opens. Though read the Baxter regulations first. Both the rules and the weatherare pretty severe for winter ascents.

Weary

I hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness late in October one year. The weather was still good -- no ice, but I was told it was an unusually warm year. You should be prepared for the temperature to drop below freezing.

It isn't crowded in October, but their will be a few nobos trying to make the Oct 15 deadline for Katahdin. Most of them will have passed Monson by Oct. 9. I met a few SOBOs. None of the shelters were full.

As for cell coverage, it seems to improve every year. I don't know if the coverage is better or if my phones are getting better. Either way, there seem to be more spots each year.

In my opinion, food drops are more trouble than they are worth. Eat light and carry your food. If you are plannng a food drop, Gulf Hagas is the easiest spot -- three days into your hike. JoMary Road is another good spot.




Thanks Shutterbug, I've never been this far north nor have I done this distance in one clip. I have thin gloves I use for jogging. Are gloves like these a good idea to combat the exposure or a waste of space / weight ?

Also, while I don't expect to see any garbage cans sitting on the trail are there cans/areas within some of the campsites where you can lose a bag full of your Mtn Outhouse collection ?:)

SJ

We just did the 100 mile wilderness at the end of July. As to the question of parking, shuttling, and food drops, I would suggest using Katahdin Air. We had a great experience with them and it isn't as expensive as one would think, especially factoring in time and the food drop logistics. They will come get you at Abol Bridge (where there is a place you can park your car while you are hiking, just let the owner know). They flew us to Crawford Pond where we put down a bear canister with food for the second half of the trip. Then we flew to Spectacle Pond, which is right at the start of the 100 mile wilderness. It was a great way to start the trip and the pilot spent the flight pointing out various landmarks along the way. On our way down onto Spectacle Pond, we saw a bull moose swimming across it.

Hope this helps.
rpcv

Never knew that was an option. Sounds like a blast but I think the only puddle hopping I'll do will be of the 2 ft variety :D

I can't comment on cell phone coverage. I don't have one, and have only rarely used my wifes.

Bugs will not be an issue. They disappear with the first heavy frost and that will have happened by the 9th.

See above for a weather hint. Bugs don't disappear until freezing has occurred. Days are unlikely to be lower than the high 30s. 50s are more likely. Expect freezing temperatures on some nights -- maybe down to the mid 20s. I walked through in 1993, starting Oct. 5. I was chilly most nights and burned the last of the wood at the shelters to keep warm. But I had a 45 degree sleeping bag, augmented by a down jacket. Snow is not unusual -- both on the trail and on the summits. Ice is possible.

I don't know about parking, but when I do the 100 miles, I either carry enough food to complete the 100 miles, or I stash food at the intersection of the trail and the Jo Mary Camp Road. If you are driving to Abol Bridge, just take Roiute 11 from Monson. A sign announces the campground located on the road. The trail is 10 miles, plus or minus, from Route 11. Stash your food in a sturdy container with a secure top (think duct tape). Return to Route 11 and head north. You will run into Millinocket in an hour or so, may be less. I've done it many times, but never paid much attention.

If you are able to climb Katahdin consider it a rare bonus. The chances get pretty slim during the final two weeks of October. You can always come back in December when the winter hiking season opens. Though read the Baxter regulations first. Both the rules and the weatherare pretty severe for winter ascents.

Weary

Are fires common at the shelters at that time of season ? I'll have a good down to 20 degree bag - that and my hat / vest / shell - (been out as low as 32 degrees) - hopefully that will do it

:)Here goes:
For cell phone coverage, it can be had from Chairback/Barren range, Hay Peak, Whitecap is iffy. Not again until Antler's campground, again at Potaywajo ridge and Nesundabunt Mt. Maybe Rainbow ledges.

Just let the folks at Abol know your leaving your vehicle so they don't send out someone to look for it's owner.

It will be cold at night, stay out of the valleys between peaks. Water crossings can be iffy w/heavy rain and it will be cold. And there's LOTS of water crossings.
Expect lots of wind, during the day/night and on the peaks.

Fall colors will be great, moose will be abundant, some bulls may still be in the rut.
Bear season and bird season will be under way.

Food drop can be had at Cooper Brook trail/road crossing.
Bring plenty of hot drink mixes/soups.

Are fires common at the shelters at that time of season ? I'll have a good down to 20 degree bag - that and my hat / vest / shell - (been out as low as 32 degrees) - hopefully that will do it
All the shelters have fire places and grills to put pots on. You can build fires if you want. You are unlikely to find many other hikers by mid October. In 1993 I met only one other party -- a groups of thru hikers I had last seen at Harpers Ferry. We all had gotten off the trail for short periods for varied reasons and were rushing to make Katahdin before the park closed and before snow blocked a final ascent of the mountain.

Weary

Thanks Shutterbug, I've never been this far north nor have I done this distance in one clip. I have thin gloves I use for jogging. Are gloves like these a good idea to combat the exposure or a waste of space / weight ?

Also, while I don't expect to see any garbage cans sitting on the trail are there cans/areas within some of the campsites where you can lose a bag full of your Mtn Outhouse collection ?:)

SJ
Need more glove for AM/PM sitting around if you are cold blooded like me.
I can tell you where several dumpsters are in the area, but you won't want to walk that far...
:)Here goes:



It will be cold at night, stay out of the valleys between peaks. Water crossings can be iffy w/heavy rain and it will be cold. And there's LOTS of water crossings.
Expect lots of wind, during the day/night and on the peaks.

Fall colors will be great, moose will be abundant, some bulls may still be in the rut.
Bear season and bird season will be under way.

This means some blaze orange. If you see a moose, keep your distance and keep one eyeball on it. Foul tempered. Clump of trees, between you and it, so the antlers fetch up if it comes after you. They can reach out a considerable distance. Not small trees.

If you smell something kind of rank, and wonder if it is you, or you stepped in something, there is a bull nearby. Prudent to use caution. Make tracks, unless the wind is in your face.

Swiss Miss season. Have fun.
Food drop can be had at Cooper Brook trail/road crossing.
Bring plenty of hot drink mixes/soups.

just a reminder to turn your cell phone off when not in use. a cell phone battery gets run down within hours when searching for towers.

I would like to add to this. I just got a new cell phone from Verizon because I was a Unicell customer. The phone they me gave will run down the battery even when it is turned off because the phone is on standby.( Their explaination) They told me this after replacing two phones and two batteries after I complained. My Unicell Motorola phone would hold a charge for weeks when it was shut off but not so this LG base phone I got from Verizon.

I ended up with the LG phone and two batteries so I can take one or both batteries out of the phone. The batteries will run down in less than a week when the phone is shut off.

Hi everyone, My buddy and I are attempting the 100 mile (monson to abol) starting Oct 9. Never been to ME but have read/researched alot about the trail (including the great write up by Kodas, Condon, Scherer and Weegar !). I do have a couple questions hopefully you hikers in the know can field.

1. is there absolutely NO cell service along the 100 miles ? It'd be nice to keep the families at home updated but even if holding the phone high atop White Cap bring 0 bars... it'd save some pack weight not bringing it at all.

2. are bugs still an issue in October ?

3. I accuweathered MIllin.last year mid October and recall mainly highs around 55-60 and lows 35-40. Is that the general temp in that area ? Are teens and 70's pretty much non existent ?

4.We'll have tents but hope to hit alot of the shelters. Is this a crowded time of year on the trail ?

5. We plan on being shuttled from Abol to Monson. Is parking the car near the Abol general store / campground a problem ? WHo would I contact to make parking arangements there ? We figure on Abol instead of Millin because we'll most likely be coming off the trail saturday evening - most likely too late to hitch a ride to Millin.

6. Are food drops the way to go ? Where along the trail does this usually happen. ?

Sorry for all the ? - I figure the better prepared the better chance we have ! Thanks all !

Steve J

On the bug issue I just got back today from two days in the 100 mile wilderness. The bugs are tapering off now. Mostly some mosquitos and the larger horse flies but it wasn't really very bad. Only reached 75 degrees where I was both days and was not as humid. Lots of rain.