Appalachian Trail - Day 139 - Bald Mountain Pond to ME Route 15

Day: 139

Date: Sunday, 10 September 2023

Start:  Bald Mountain Pond (AT Mile 2065.8)

Finish:  ME Route 15 (AT Mile 2083.7)

Daily Kilometres:  30.0

GPX Track:  Click here for Julie’s Strava & Photos

Total Kilometres:  3387.7

Weather:  Mild, overcast and showery.

Accommodation:  Hostel 

Nutrition:

  Breakfast:  Pop tarts 

  Lunch:  Trail mix

  Dinner:  Bacon cheeseburgers & fries apple crumble & ice-cream.

Aches:  Dave - the usual niggles; Julie - nothing reported.

Highlight:  Reaching Monson, the last town near the trail for northbound thru-hikers and the start of the 100 Mile Wilderness.

Lowlight:  A couple more falls for Dave, but no damage done.

Pictures: Click here

Map and Position: Click here for Google Map

Journal:

We woke at 5:00am and were hiking by 6:00am on a cool calm morning.  During the first half hour the sun emerged over the pond to our right and shafts of brilliant orange sunlight angled through the forest creating a magical effect.

We were on a mission again today, with 18 miles to go until ME Route 15 from where we intended to go to the village of Monson and stay in a hostel for two nights.  The hostel ran shuttles from the trailhead every two hours and we figured that if the terrain wasn't too bad and we didn't mess around we could be there in time for the 4:00pm shuttle.

Our first challenge for the day was to ford Bald Mountain Stream where we both got at least one foot slightly wet despite taking great care.  Knowing there was another ford coming up across the Piscataquis River where the water was likely to be thigh-deep, we decided to keep our feet dry and took a suggested alternative roadwalk that was slightly longer.

As the morning progressed the sky became ominously grey and it began to rain while we took our first break, though it didn't last too long.  The majority of the roadwalk was along a traffic-free forestry road that wasn't very interesting but, on the plus side, we made good time.  We reconnected with the AT around 11:30am, having done about 12 miles in total and stopped a mile further on for a lunch break.  Although the roadwalk was a welcome change from the trail, it was nice to be back on the trail which, generally, was pleasant walking despite the occasional sections of rocks, roots and bogs.

Our last five miles for the day involved a gentle climb over the shoulder of Buck Hill and a heavier rain shower which made us glad we were staying in a hostel for tonight.  Rain showers are forecast to continue overnight and into tomorrow.

We reached Route 15 around 3:20pm and, after checking by phone with the hostel that we would have until 4:00pm for a shuttle, decided to try hitch-hiking and were picked up about five minutes later for the four mile drive into Monson.

After checking into the hostel, which seems to have a lot of hikers in residence (20+?), we were shown to our room and later had showers and did the laundry.  For dinner, we walked down to the local gas station and bought some take-out, eating it back at the hostel.  A few late thru-hiker arrivals included Matthew and Christine and some other hikers we know, and we were also introduced to an Australian girl from Sydney who is also staying here and on the final leg of her Appalachian Trail hike.

We were both tired and had an early night, satisfied with how the day has turned out.