Any advice for a SOBO leaving in 17 days. I was wondering about food-is it necessary to take 7-10 days worth? Also, how is the terrain in that section. A few friends will be with me and are very inexperienced hikers. Water in that section? Frequency?
If anybody can help out, thanks!
roberto
For inexperienced hikers 7 to 10 days would be a good estimate. As for the terrain, that is relative. Compaired to southern Maine it is easy, compaired to walking around town it is very hard. There should be plenty of water.
Blue Jay
It will probably take 7 to 10 days to do the 100 mile trek but you can resupply if you need to, at White House landing.They have a limited supply on hand and will put you up for the night. There is also a lot of water in the 100 mile and a real lot of black flies and mosqitoes. Have a good hike and it you stay at Shaws tell Keith that Wild Bill says hi. Wild Bill
Roy Hickok
The terran in the 100 miles is pretty nice. There are a few climbs but they are isolated. You climb a mountian then go back down to the lakes and bogs. It is very wet and will be buggy with all the rain this year. A local can probable give you more info on the current conditions. It is a good hike for a first long trip.
I started the 100 miles with 10 days of food and reached monson with nothing left. I probably carried 20 lbs. of food but it was worth it. I kept thinking I had to much when I started at baxter but it was just enough. I understand you can stop at the white house landing you can resupply and they might hold packages for you. I caught a ride with the owner back in 2001 when I was hitching in Maine. The landing sounded like a nice place to stop and rest. I recommend 10 days of food since it gives you more freedom to take it slow. I also recommend the mosquito coil as a secret weapon. Burn one in the front of the shelter and no bugs!!! It works great.
Good luck.
Darth Pacman MeGA '99
Darth Pacman
A nice six dayer. Bring a fly rod…and the hip waders. Moose should be thick as the bugs.
Bushwhack
We’ve had a lot of rain lately, but everything between White Cap and Katahdin is flat. Afterwards, White Cap Range is not severely bad . . . but don’t let the elevation of the Barren-Chairback Range fool you into thinking its an easy stroll - it isn’t exactly the Bigelows, but it is tough.
Kineo Kid
Water-ha! With this wet spring up here? You’ll be swimming in the bogs, the rock hop across some streams I barely noticed last October should be … interesting.
Black flies are out I can attest. They breed in fast water, so remember that when camping, opposite of mosquitoes. With 2 inexperienced hikers, 10 days is way more suitable. Most thru-hikers I was with last year did it in 5-6 and that’s really too fast to see much. I want to go back this fall and repeat, slower.
Bill @ White House Landing will hold packages, for a fee. He only has cell service and is miles from Millinocket, so keep that in mind with his prices, etc. They’re not at all out of reach for the remote location. I would recommend sending a drop there for food. I don’t have the address with me, it was in last year’s Wingnut, should be again. It’s a good place, you get picked up by his boat. I met some SOBOs last year who took 13 days to get through the Wilderness and Keith @ Shaw’s said he never saw a SOBO eat that much of his breakfast before!!
Good luck Roberto and have a good hike. 
Bluebearee
They have been mentioned but need to be emphasized! I hiked SOBO leavinh June 12 in '01. BEWARE THE MOSQUITO GAUNTLET FROM RAINBOW LEDGES TO COOPER BROOK LEANTO!! The black flies were not too bad during that time, just a few at the higher elevations.
Keep an eye out for your friends though. On West Mtn in a bog near we saw the most amazing Carniverous Pitcher Plants. Awesome, blood red flowers and colorful bug eatin’ pitchers close to the ground. Stop and smell the “roses” just not too close with these. The countless white Lady Slippers are cool too!
Grimace
Why don’t you on the drive up north, stop by a AT intersecting road and cache food? Therefore you would not need to carry as much.
This is a common theme in many of Colin Fletcher’s books and I have used it myself.
make sure it is double bagged (bear cannister if you can afford it) and well hidden. 100-200 ft off the trail road crossing, north or south works fine.
Finally, leave a note inside the cannister or bag stating that this food if found is yours and could the discoverer leave it be?
Whazzup