100 Mile Wilderness - QUESTION

[spinarandi]

Hi fellow hikers -
My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us... :)

[Shutterbug]

Hi fellow hikers -
My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us... :)

I have never hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness that early, but you should be ok by the end of June. A 10 day schedule sounds reasonable.

I have hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness in August, September and October and the streams and rivers were not a problem. I am sure they will be higher at the end of June, but should still be safe to cross.

If you are interested, I have a detailed plan for a 10 day hike of the 100 Mile Wilderness southbound. I am willing to share it.

[Shutterbug]

Hi fellow hikers -
My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us... :)

Here is my plan which includes a side trip to explore Gulf Hagas.

10 Day Plan for Hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness

Day 1 – Golden Road to Rainbow Stream
Start at Golden Road
Cross extensive cedar bog
Pass the Hurd Brook Lean-to
Rainbow Ledges
Rainbow Lake
Pass Rainbow Spring Campsite
Rainbow Steam Lean-to
14.8 miles for the day

Day 2 –
Cross outlet to Murphy Pond
Pass old logging dam
Cross Pollywog Stream on bridge
Pollywog Gorge
Crescent Pond
Cross gravel logging road (possible pickup point)
North summit of Nesuntabunt Mt.
Pass unusual rock formation
Wadleigh Steam Lean-to
8.1 miles for the day

Day 3 –
Cross Wadleigh Stream
Sand beach on Nahmakanta Lake
Gravel beach
Cross Prentiss Brook
South end of Nahmakanta Lake
Cross gravel road
“Wood Rat’s” Spring
Side trail to Nahmakanta Stream
Pass Nahmakanta Stream Campsite
Ford Tumbledown Dick Stream
Ford branch of Nahmakanta Stream
8.5 Miles to Mahar “Tote Road”
Take side road to White House Landing
Overnight at White House Landing
8.5 miles of the AT plus the blue blaze trail to White House Landing

Day 4 –
Return to AT via Mahar “Tote Road”
Cross Deer Brook
Side trail to Pemadumcook Lake
Cross Twitchell Brook
Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Potawadjo Ridge
Sand Beach on Lower Jo-Mary Lake
Cross inlet brook at W end of lake
Antlers Campsite
Cross old logging road
Ford several streams at Mud Pond
Cross gravel logging road next to bridge
N shore of Cooper Pond
Cross Jo-Mary Road (Possible pick-up)
Church Pond
Cross Cooper Brook
14 miles -- Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

Day 5 –
Cross outlet of Crawford Pond
Cross gravel Kokadjo-B Pond Road (pick-up?)
Summit of Little Boardman Mt.
Pass spring
Cross outlet of Mountain View Pond
Viewpont
Ford East Branch of the Pleasant River
Pass East Branch lean-to
Cross B inlet Brook
Cross a gravel fork of West Branch Raid (possible pick-up?)
11.7 miles and steep climb to Logan Brook lean-to

Day 6 –
Side trail to Logan Brook Ravine
Summit of White Cap Mtn (elev. 3,654)
Junction with White Brook Trail
Summit of Hay Mtn.
Summit of West Peak
Sidney Tappan Campsite
Summit of Gulf Hagas Mtn.
7.2 Miles to Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

Afternoon for exploring Gulf Hagas
Return to Newhall Lean-to for overnight
* Camping in the Gulf Hagas area is illegal, but there are some places one can camp south of Gulf Hagas.


Day 7 –
Hermitage (stand of old trees)
Pass Katahdin Iron Works
West Branch of Pleasant River
Cross main haul road
Pass small stream and spring
East Chairback Pond
Steep ascent to Chairback Mtn.
Summit of Chairback Mtn.
Chairback Gap
9.9 miles to Chairback Gap Lean-to
82 miles on AT


Day 8 –
Summit of Columbus Mtn
Cross old tote road and outlet stream
Monument Cliff on Third Mtn
Cross a bog
Summit of Fourth Mtn
Traverse Fourth Mtn Bog
Pass Cloud Pond Lean-to
Summit Barren Mtn
Barren Ledges
10.9 miles to Long Pond Stream lean-to

Day 9
Slugundy Gorge and Falls
Ford Long Pond Stream
Reach Bodfish Farm
Ford Vaugh Stream and waterfall
Ford Wilber Brook
Pass Wilson Valley Lean-to
Cross Canadian Pacific RR
Ford Big Wilson Stream
Cross Thompson Brook
Cross Big Wilson tote road
Pass through deep rock gully
Cross Beaver Dam
Ford little Wilson Stream
Little Wilson Falls (largest on AT
Cross gravelhaul road
Cross small James Brook
Traverse rim of Bear Pond ledges
Skirt Mud road
Cross outlet stream
12.3 miles to Leeman Brook Lean-to

Day 10
Pass Lily Pond
Pass top of ridge
Cross old power line right-of-way
Bell Pond
Cross Old Stage Road
Ford Goodell Brook, outlet to Spectacle Pond
Me. Highway 15
3 miles to Highway 15 (Monson, Me.)
108 miles on AT

Monson is 3.5 miles from trail head
Stop at Monson, Me

[TD55]

I have hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness in August, September and October and the streams and rivers were not a problem.





My quess is that you missed the hurrican in '99.

[Shutterbug]

My quess is that you missed the hurrican in '99.

I missed the hurricane of '99, but was there when the hurricane passed in 2005. I holed up at Whitehouse Landing while it passed. Northbounders were delayed for a couple of days at the Pleasant River, but it was down by the time I got there.

[jersey joe]

General Advice: Bring bug spray!!!

[spinarandi]

This is fabulous - thank you so much for sharing!

[Almost There]

DEET or Die!!! Be flexible, last year with the rains in June everything was running high. At times some crossings were impassable. If you can deal with the bugs you should have a great time!

[vonfrick]

started june 23 last year with no problems. bring deet.

[Morning Glory]

Bugs, bugs, bugs. Did I mention bugs? I hiked it two years ago the week before July 4th. The bugs were out if full force. Several SOBOs I passed looked like they had been eaten alive. One of those nets to wear over your head would be strongly recommended and plan on tenting.

[SelfRevolution37]

Is it easy to re-up on food though? Theres no towns or maildrops there right? So I guess I have to carry 10 days of dog food and human food. yayyy.....

[Phreak]

Is it easy to re-up on food though? Theres no towns or maildrops there right? So I guess I have to carry 10 days of dog food and human food. yayyy.....
You can be resupplied at Jo Mary Road for roughly $40-50. Or swing by White House Landing for a limited resupply and an awesome 1lb burger.

[peakbagger]

Bring a tent, it will still be buggy and sleeping in shelters will be very unpleasant unless you have bug nets.

Personally I really dont like Chairback Gap shelter. It is right on the trail, the water source is a moose wallow with the trail crossing upstream of the water source and the privy is a real long walk from the campsite. There are a couple of tentsites that are a bit more private. There are several stream side campsites a few miles east of the gap, but they arent on a map and a lot of folks need to stop at Chairback Gap Shelter as the preceeding day section of the trail is a workout (lots of up and downs and some incredible rockwork whihc consists of hundreds of rocks steps.

There are some real wet/boggy areas of trails especially east of Rainbow stream shleter. Be prepared to get wet hiking boots of switch to sandals.

You may just miss the summer camp groups in the end of June

[boarstone]

Head net for the bugs...unless there is heavy rain while your hiking, streams between Rainbow and West Branch of the pleasant will be rock hops. Jo-mary road crossing is an easy hitch out if on a weekend, Crawford Pond road not so much. Heavy logging on Crawford Pond rd. crossing during the week. Cell phone service at Antlers campsite, Nahmakanta Mt and 1/4 mile south on Jo-Mary rd crossing at sign on birch tree.

[Just a Hiker]

Not sure I would advertise Jo-Mary Road as an "easy hitch", although yes, there is more traffic on summer weekends.

[weary]

Not sure I would advertise Jo-Mary Road as an "easy hitch", although yes, there is more traffic on summer weekends.
I agree. I've walked many a mile on the Jo Mary Road. Once I walked the 14 miles round trip to the campground store -- only to find it closed.

Also on day 7 you will pass the road to Katahdin Iron Works. But the actual historic facility is around 10 miles to the east.

I haven't been near the wilderness yet this spring, but southern Maine has had more than the usual amounts of rain. My garden remains mostly too wet to till. Streams usually are quite passable by now. But this year may be different if the heavy rains continue.

Weary

[warraghiyagey]

We were in the 100 mile area and south this weekend. . . the water looked pretty low for thi early in the season. . . . it seemed quite dry there and the bugs weren't numerous enough to even mention. . . . it was a great weekend. . .

[mudhead]

That 30mph wind helped with the bugs, eh?

[Doc]

Be sure and leave a note for the maintainer at Leeman Brook LT, he's a real nice guy. Oh wait, that's me. I was in yesterday for a work trip and all was fine. No real bugs, perhaps because of the cold night. Mud is not problematic and streams are flowing well. This is just the three miles or so on the Southern end so I can't comment on the rest of the trail. Right now it is raining in central Maine and promises to continue for the next several days, something that will surely change the conditions. Have a great hike.

[warraghiyagey]

That 30mph wind helped with the bugs, eh?
It was certainly gusty over Lake Hebron but in the woods it was fairly calm. . . oh and btw way, a big thanks to Doc and all the trail maintainers. . . it was apparent that a lot of work has already been done. . . .:sun

[PJ 2005]

A couple of those fords can get dicey in heavy rain. Take poles and be careful.

[boarstone]

Head net for the bugs...unless there is heavy rain while your hiking, streams between Rainbow and West Branch of the pleasant will be rock hops. Jo-mary road crossing is an easy hitch out if on a weekend, Crawford Pond road not so much. Heavy logging on Crawford Pond rd. crossing during the week. Cell phone service at Antlers campsite, Nahmakanta Mt and 1/4 mile south on Jo-Mary rd crossing at sign on birch tree.
.................
EAST branch of the Pleasant a rock hop ( the west is a ford)
Ok, lets not say an "easy" hitch out at Cooper, but it can be done.
The store at the Jo-Mary campground is open as is the campground. Showers (coin operated)
Serving breakfast 7-10 a.m. I think and store closes(noonish?) for 4 hours or so in afternoon, opening again around 4p.m.