07/21-07/25 Monson to Caratunk

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 of the Piscataquis River near an old beaver dam and lodge. 

Bald Mountain Pond at twilight 

Day 14

Saturday July 24th

Bald Mountain Pond Lean-to to Pleasant Pond Lean-to 

132.4-145.5 = 13.1 miles 

Rock spiral someone made on a side trail up the North Peak of Bald Mountain. View of the main peak of Bald Mountain. The only reason we have a view is that there was a forest fire in the early 1900s and the vegetation hasn’t regained a foothold on the bare rock.

View from North Peak of Bald Mountain. It was blueberry heaven on the way up. 

View of Moxie Pond from North Peak of Bald Mountain 

Alpine blueberries 

Zoomed view of the terrain to come. Just past Moxie Pond is Pleasant Pond Mountains and just visible below it to the left is Pleasant Pond where we set up camp for the night.

A little rock cave that the trail goes through 

Popcorn lichen growing in the alpine. It’s fragile and slow growing, the coral of the mountains!

View back to Moxie Pond and Bald Mountain from Pleasant Pond Mountain 

View north from Pleasant Pond Mountain

AT survey marker at the top 

Forested summit without much of a view. The views were all had at open rock ledges.

Looking West on the way down Pleasant Pond Mountain

Day 15

Sunday July 25th

Pleasant Pond Lean-to to ME Route 201

145.5-151.2 = 5.7 miles 

Calling The Sterling Inn from the courtesy phone at the community center in the town of Caratunk  

The porch at Sterling Inn 

Newspaper article on the wall at Sterling Inn 

A giant salad at the Kennebec River Brewing Company with maple balsamic dressing. For some reason the salad doesn’t look as big in the photo, but it’s the biggest restaurant salad I’ve ever gotten!