Local Trail Hikers Entering Final Days of Journey

The local Applachian Trail hikers, Shawn McCartong (Pace) and Karl Weiss (Hungus) are in the final days of their journey from Georgia to Maine on the trail. In this entry, they've entered Monson, a city along the trail in Maine.

Pace

I woke up this morning and had no clue where I was. I knew I was in a bed but couldn't understand why I heard cars, there are no cars in the woods. Then I remembered we were in monson, at a hostel. These momentary lapses happen. Once I was acclimated I woke up Hungus and we got to packing. I had packed my food the previous day so I went to get us breakfast. Sausage egg and cheese on an English muffin with coffee, chocolate milk and orange juice, from the gas station. 

Upon my return Hungus had turned on the tv in our room and "the sound of music" VHS was in there. We watched as we packed and ate. I caught Hungus's attention just as mother superior was about to sing "climb every mountain" I made him listen to the words. We had a good chuckle as to how this could be an AT song. "climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow...". This heightened our already jubilant spirits. 

I decided to weigh my food bag, 16lbs!!!! Just food and not all of it fit in the bag. Hungus said he was better off not knowing his pack weight. My entire pack weighed 45lbs, 50 with water. We bummed around the hostel a little while longer. Watched some pulp fiction, chatted with our friends and settled up our bill. We caught a ride to the trail and by 1220 we were on the brink of the wilderness!! 

Daystar, Gribly, Hungus and myself set off into the 100 miles wilderness. We traversed around some lakes and pudded around to the first shelter where we had lunch. From there we made our way to Wilson falls. Beautiful exposed plates of slate creating a 60' drop. All the slate was stacked with vertical cracks. We sat there drinking in the majesty. We hiked down stream and crossed little Wilson stream (rock hop). The trail then went up to a pond. We crossed the pond on a 200' long beaver dam which lead to an old road bed. The trail followed the bed next to the pond and then shot up to a ridgeline. Along the ridgeline we had views of vast wilderness. Green mountains dotted with maple trees turning fire red. After a half mile the trail cut to the opposite side and started down hill. Weaving thru a pine forest we saw carpets of moss stretched out in every direction. The trail brought us gently down to the Wilson tote rd, an old woods rd. We followed the old rd and big Wilson stream for 0.6 until we came to where we needed to cross. It was a ford. It was later in the day at this point and chilly. We decided to camp and ford in the morning. 

The four of us just finished dinner and conversations about what we have accomplished thus far. These last days are going to be amazing. We can't wait to soak in the beauty of everything. 

Thou our packs are heavy 
our spirits remain light 
and in such splendor 
I bid you all good night