Jeff and April Hike the AT

Day 16 Monday 7/26 Kennebec River to West Carry Pond Lean-To 151.2-165.2 = 14 miles  Breakfast at the lodge is fairly vegan friendly. I make a mixed bowl of cereals, frosted mini wheats, Honey Nut Cheerios, Raisin Bran clusters and cascadian farm granola. These are all more sugary than I’d ever eat at home. I top it with orange juice since there is no non-dairy milk. It’s surprisingly good. I also have a banana and a cinnamon raisin bagel with poison (Jif) peanut butter and grape jelly. It’s a sugar bomb. I have a love hate relationship with free hotel breakfast. It’s never healthy, but I always feel the need to get my money’s worth out of it! After breakfast 7 of us pile into the van and get driven the 2 miles back down the highway to the trail. Today we are crossing the Kennebec River. The nearest bridge across the river is 20 miles to the South, so the M.A.T.C and other sponsors pay some local guy to ferry hikers across in a canoe, two at a time. I guess hikers used to just have...

Day 11 Wednesday July 21st Leeman Brook Lean-To to ME Route 15 111.5-114.5 = 3 miles  Great resupply store in the attic above the gear shop at Shaw’s Hiker Hostel And impressive selection at Poet’s Gear Emporium at Shaw’s Hiker Hostel  The hostel is an old 2 story house and has a number of out buildings with more rooms and bunks. Our room was upstairs in the main house with prime viewing of the driveway and all the new arrivals. The main house and one of the out buildings. There was another garage building (containing a dorm) to the left and down the path in the back is the owners house with the gear shop and store taking up one side. Delicious veggie wraps from the Monson General Store  Monson General Store  Andy the hostel dog  Day 13 Friday July 23rd ME Route 15 to Bald Mountain Pond Lean-To 114.5-132.4 = 17.9 miles  Partial view of Hebron Lake from Buck Hill. Also a look back at the mountains of the hundred mile wilderness. Fording the East Branch ...