Is this section difficult to hike because of terrain? Or is it because you'll be unable to get food, etc. for quite some time? Also how long does it take the average hiker to get through this section?
Is this section difficult to hike because of terrain? Or is it because you'll be unable to get food, etc. for quite some time? Also how long does it take the average hiker to get through this section?
Happy Lifetime Sectioner!
On a scale of 1 to 10 (for the whole AT) I'd give it a 7.5. (With 10 being the most difficult.) When I did it, there was no resupply between Abol bridge and Monson. Not sure if that's changed or not. I did it in seven or eight days... the first time I ever averaged 15 miles/day for a week straight. It was beautiful. Prolly the nicest stretch of AT anywhere, in my opinion.
It's the distance, in my opinon. Western Maine is more difficult. There are resupply options in the 100 Mile if you choose. A southbounder might take 7 or 8 days, a northbounder 5 or 6.
Teej
"[ATers] represent three percent of our use and about twenty percent of our effort," retired Baxter Park Director Jensen Bissell.
I did it southbound with no resupply in about 8 days I think. The last one was a long one because the guy I was hiking with was a vegetarian and he ran out of food (PPP on his part) I found the trail itself pretty easy but a lot of roots, rocks, and mud.
I also found it to be one of the more "un-wilderness" of the trail in spots. We got to a lean-to one day and found a group of kaki clad hikers that looked like the stepped out of Eddie Bauer - we called them the Eddie Bauer Group. We were 3 or 4 days into the hike and had at least 2 days of rain. We were wet and mud covered and these guys had "staked-out" the leant-to. We asked "how the hell did you get here?" Seaplane dropped them on the lake. We went to camp on the lake shore and we actually had to wade around the point to find a spot with no tents.
In the lakes area there is the constant drone of planes. Then just south of Antlers Camp my brother stated throwing up blood. He caught up to us at a lean-to where we were taking a lunch break. He said "I am heading back to that last logging road to try and catch a ride." We packed out and chased after him but he was gone. 5 minutes on the road and we hitched a ride as well all the way back to Millinocket and tracked him down. The next day we hitched back in and finished the hike without him.
So, IMO, not so WILDERNESS.
Last edited by the_iceman; 02-14-2007 at 19:46.
The heaviest thing I carried was my attitude.
Montani semper liberi - Mountaineers are always free
Desire is the main ingredient for success
I think those 8 days included the little detour ro Millenocket
The heaviest thing I carried was my attitude.
Montani semper liberi - Mountaineers are always free
Desire is the main ingredient for success
I did it nobo in 4 1/2 days. some tough stretches but if you're in "trail shape" it goes by pretty fast. I was in a hurry to get off the trail and didn't stop to "smell the roses". I would recommend taking 8 days at least to appreciate this section. I would likeo t go back someday and see it.
You can resupply at White House Landing a little more than half way through. But they are VERY expenisve (as in they nicke and dime you. However..they DO have 1 pound cheesburgers....that is hard to pass up!)
I think most folks went through in like 6-7 days. I took a full 10. It is so beautiful.. and so remote..why rush it. So ya carry an extra 10 pounds in food..so what? You're in trail shape by then and like I said it is some of the finest scenery on the whole AT.
As to terrain..some of it is easy. Much of it can be muddy. parts are very rugged (the chairback range!). It ain't the Mahoosics but it ain't Shendoha Nat'l Park either!
Take your time and enjoy this section is my advice. Unless the weather is bad..then you'd probably just want to get through quick as ya can.
Don't miss the Antlers camp site. A real gem!
DavidNH
I did it in '05 in 7 days/6 nights. If you're just starting out, it's challenging enough but I found it much easier than the rest of Maine. As others have noted, not as much "wilderness" in that there are plenty of signs of civilization and you'll meet people but it is the longest AT segment without a public road crossing. There are a few stream fords so be careful there if they're running swiftly.
Enjoy the lakes and the view from Whitecap.
The 100 mile is not terribly difficult, but by the time I got there, my feet were so torn up the roots were hell. Stubbing a toe normally isn't so bad but when they are like boils, that is a much different story. And you will see more than your share of roots in that section!
One good thing. The stars are INCREDIBLE. I got up in the middle of the night and felt like I could see into forever. More stars than I'd seen in years.
And there are blueberries the size of marbles.
A man said to the universe, "Sir, I exist."
"However", replied the universe, "that fact does not instill in me a sense of obligation."
I like to take 10 days -- but mostly because usually I was doing things besides hiking, like inspecting and taking notes on the trail to guide my maintainers. or, in 1993, killing time because I was meeting my wife at Katahdin Stream on Oct. 15 and had time to enjoy my final days on the trail.
Except for White House Landing, resupply in the area takes more time than just hiking through, since it's several hitchings to get to the nearest town. The alternative is to arrange in advance for a pick up which is expensive.
I usually arrange for someone to meet me at a road crossing half way through. Once I luckily arranged with a brother to bring in some fresh steaks. Lucky, because a companion fell and broke her wrist four miles from the rendezvous. I and my grandson got the steaks. My companion got a ride to the Millinocket hospital.
Weary
It's not much of an isolated area anymore. The first 2 1/2 days out of Monson is slightly difficult but for the most part, the rest is flat. It can be accessed so easily now that when I hiked in 2002, 5-6 hikers slack packed the whole 100 miles.
geek
If you look in the MATC Guide, it gives estimated hiking times for each section. Most thru-hikers are generally around the minimum published hiking times. But, as others have posted, some take longer. It all depends on your goals for hiking
Generally speaking, is the 100 miles difficult? That's a relative term. Certainly as others have posted, Western Maine and the White Mountains are much more difficult.
Does the "100 mile wilderness" include Katahdin itself? If not, I'd certainly agree that most of it is not that difficult. When I did it long ago it certainly felt quite remote, and did it with no resupply. For those who feel "less than whole" for not having forded the Kennebec, take heart. There are two or three fun river fordings, though most likely you'll not get more than shin or knee deep.
Last edited by rafe; 02-15-2007 at 14:21. Reason: typo
I found the Barren Chairback range a little tough, but that was about it. I took the full 10 days, wish I'd had longer to linger on this magnificant section. great spots include. cooper brook falls leanto, antlers campsite, rainbow springs leanto, rainbow ledges, .. That first little mountain going sobo I won't forget. Nesuntabunt Mt. looking over Nahmakanta lake was breathtaking. White House Landing, and Peadmuncuk Lake were great... Take time to Canoe.. Start or finish at Katahdin, what a great Mountain.. TAKE YOUR TIME.. Have a blast.. Peace, I'm out...
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.
Henry David Thoreau