Hundred Mile Wilderness

imported
#1

I am planning to section hike the AT thru the 100 Mile Wilderness from Abol Bridge to Monson, September of next year. I am a day hiker, with minimal backpacking experience. Looking at the DeLorme map, I see several lumber roads intersecting or coming close to the AT. This past summer I drove in for a day hike into the Gulf Hagas and was nailed at an entry gate with an $8 fee per person. (I consider that steep - willing to pay a few dollars to park a car - but $8 per person - outrageous) I was wondering about all the car shuttling involved, is it feasible? Is there a weekly pass for all gates?

Are there any lodges along the route I can take advantage of? Can I get by without a tent? Is early September crowded with thru hikers finishing up? How bad are the river fords at that time of year? Is swimming in the buff commonly done, or the trail or shores of lakes too frequented with boaters for this activity? (Should I pack a bathing suit?)

Any assistance and advice in this planning stage of this trip will be grateful. Any sources of valuable info along these lines would be helpful. I can hike comfortably 15 miles in 9 hours with 2000 feet elevation gain on a day hike. I figure I can hike about 10 miles comfortably with a 40 pound pack. What ideas does anyone have for daily breakdown of this trip? Could I get by without bug spray at this time of year?

Aaron

Aaron

#2

So many questions.

Car shuttleing: I’d suggest calling Keith Shaw in Monson. They have been doing this type of service for decades as part of their business.

Any lodges? A close to that as you will get are a couple of hiker hostels in Monson, namely Shaw’s and Pie Lady. And in recent years there is White House Landing about 70 miles from Monson.

Tent? Conventional wisdom is to always carry some form of shelter. Probably can get by without it, but there are some nice places to tent.

Is September crowded with thur-hikers? yes, but not with other hikers. In general, thru-hikers are a minority on the trail. But, most thru-hikers are trying to finish by mid-October, so the later in the month you are, the more thru-hikers are coming thought.

How bad are river fords at this time of year? In a normal year, they should be rock hopped without taking your boots off, or getting your feet wet. However, that can change if there is heavy rains, like the remnants of a hurricane. I met some thru-hikers that got stranded in Maine because of the run-off from heavy rains in September a few years ago.

Skinny dipping? I’d say that most of the shorelines are private enough so you could. Boaters? not an issue. Myself, I wore nylon shorts that dried quickly after I took a dip.

Daily breakdown? The AT guide to Maine recommends a minimum of 9 days from Katahdin to Monson. Most thru-hikers and others in good condition do it day or two faster.

Bug Spray? Not in September. June is month for bugs in Maine.

Peaks

#3

Um, what do you carry for the day that weighs 40 lbs? Man, if I had an meat ball sub that weighed that much I could have been carried through that section just to let the croo smell it.:>) It’s a super six day trip and you won’t need the shuttles. It’s pretty tame, great swimming every day.

Bushwhack

#4

Hiked this section with my 55 year old other who had never backpacked in her life. Though she experienced some pain, she made it through in flying colors averaging about 10 miles per day.

Skinny dipped every day, but beware of the leeches.

I say forget the shuttling as well. You can leave the tent at home, buti’d bring some sort of tarp for emergency. There are nice shelters, well placed throughout.

The only reason you paid 8 bucks to get to gulf hagas is because of the hermitage area, virgin forest if I’m not mistaken. They’re trying to keep it that way.

Grimace

#5

That was funny, what shelter was that? I was setting up my pathetic plastic tube tent and we had a miscommunication. I thought I asked her if she was a northbounding the AT (but I dunno, might have come out as a gargle through my scaggy facial hair) and she said yes, she was hiking the whole thing. I must’ve replied with a incredulous “oh” because she was like “what, you don’t believe I could?!” It was funny, we got things straightened out. Anyway, say hello for me and congrats on her completion of the wilderness, the barren-chairbacks are challenging when wet (and as I recall, we did get some rain thru there) -there, I actually got back on topic. cheers.

Sweeper

#6

The wilderness is pretty tame. Several of the shelters were full this year. We came thru in the middle of Sept. We had a couple of cold days with frost one morning. (Sleet on K on the 23rd) We enjoyed the hike in the wilderness it was a great relief after southern Maine. And a great finish to our hike. The lakes are great and no problem if you want to swim in the buff. But it is a great time to wash you clothes. I hiked in the same shirt and shorts everyday and they needed to be washed as often as possible!!! On scheduling your days. I suggest you read the journals on that section. But remember thru hikers are trail-hard. We did some 15 to 18 miles a day in the Wilderness, that would not have happened if we started there! Good luck on your hike.

Papa Smurf