Wow, we can't believe we've been on the trail for almost a month!  We've wanted to update the blog more, but surprisingly there aren't a lot of computers in the woods!  So here's a real long post of pics from the remainder of our stay in Monson, to the town of Rangeley where we're staying now. 

This was at the legendary all you can eat pancake, egg, sausage, bacon, hash browns and sunny delight breakfast at Shaw's Hostel in Monson.  From l to r are Nate, One Verse, Sean, Ellie, Jones (white shirt) So Kind, Sass, Vertigo

After So Kind found his wallet right before he had to leave!  He lost it the day before.  Turns out it fell into the first aid box at the hostel.

When you're in town, most hostels have loaner clothes.  Ellie is sporting the owner's great grandmother's skirt, and an appropriate shirt for the John the Baptist Mission

Our room at the Lakeshore House

The back patio of the Lakeshore House.  We never wanted to leave!

My pack hanging on the balcony at Lakeshore

This is the 100 Mile Wilderness Camp right outside of Monson.  Phil Pepin, who shuttled us to the start of the trail is getting it ready to be opened, but offered us a free stay on our way out of Monson

Our first thunderstorm was spent in the cabin lit by tealights. We've been really lucky!

Heading out the next morning.  Phil has some amazing old books on the trail.

Potter is an 18 year old from Nashville.  He was one of the first people we met in the 100 Mile Wilderness.  He made and sold pottery to finance his AT hike, hence his trail name.  Neko is the awesome dog taking a rest under the shelter!

On top of Moxie Bald Mountain

What you'd see if you were in my hipbelt pocket.

I'm officially a Mainer in my loaner clothes.  Old worn-out pocket-t, ll bean khaki shorts, and a bird guide

Eric and his son Zack, owner of The Sterling Inn and an amazingly hospitable man.

Mario, one of the house cats in the kitchen.  The cast iron wood stove is incredible!

Our room at the Sterling Inn.  Caratunk, ME

Dining room at Sterling

To get across the Kennebeck River you have to get ferried in a canoe. This was Craig the Ferryman.

Moose tracks.  We actually saw our first moose last week.  Unfortunately it was walking along the road on the way into Stratton, rather than by one of the hundreds of pristine lakes we've hiked passed!

This earthen dam is actually the trail too!

Hummingbirds on the porch of the Pierce Pond Camp

Sunset over Pierce Pond

The next morning

Tim Harrison, owner of Harrison's Pierce Pond Camp (and coincidentally one of the most amazing people in the universe!) making our breakfast on the cast iron griddle. 

THE breakfast.  12 pancakes made with Wild Blueberries, Raspberries, and his candied apples.  2 eggs over-easy, 3 sausage links, coffee, and oj.  Mike finished it all and has still lost ten pounds!

Trudy is Tim's miniature poodle that talks to the various taxidermied animals on command, knows her 13 different toys by name, and hunts down and kills red squirrels- one of the quickest things running around the forest!

Coming up Avery Peak, the highest elevation since Katahdin

Highest elevation also meant coldest night- it dipped down to the low 40

's.  This is Sister Ellie Blue.

One of our air mattresses has a tumor.  But thermarest sent us one for free!

West Bigelow.  The peak behind us is Mt Avery which we climbed the day before in the clouds

The White Wolf Inn in Stratton, ME.  Our home for the night.

Another hiker favorite is the Stratton Motel, but the rooms with air conditioning at the White Wolf were a bigger draw for us!

And check out the bed!

View from off the back porch

Buddah and St Francis live in Stratton.  Not sure what to think about the giant alien/baby head buddah...

The dreams of our blog have come to fruition!  Thank you so much Moms and Dads, and Sharon and Marty. 

Sunset over Statton

Inside the bar at the White Wolf.  Tabletop Ms Pac Man!

Scree slope coming off of South Crocker Mountain

Luxury

Saddleback Mountain.  2.5 miles all above treeline.

Our second moose sighting!

Now we're in the touristy, but fun town of Rangeley.  We'll be out of Maine in a week and into The Whites of New Hampshire.  Thanks for checking out the blog.  Our thoughts are with you all. 

Stratton, Maine.

We have cookies and more cookies, Fisher's popcorn, pizza, lemonade, and a six pack of beer...and Ms. Pac Man!

Hey y'all!
If anyone sends anymore cookies to Stratton, the post office is going to charge us rent!

We're still alive!  It has been two weeks since we have seen a tv screen, computer, used a real bathroom, took a shower, eaten a prepared meal, been in a car, sat on something besides a rock or log, had ice in a beverage, or felt air conditioning.  But here we are here in the mythical hiker town of Monson and have had a healthy dose of civilization and small town hospitality!

This has been an incredible two weeks through the 100 Mile Wilderness in Northern Maine.  We've waded waist deep through mosquito-infested bogs, climbed boulder fields that are nearly vertical, walked down trails steeper than a sliding board, and worked our way over rocks, roots, and mud for 114.5 miles.  It's been tough, but truly amazing.  We've camped in some of the most beautiful places we've ever seen.  The silence and serenity is only broken by an occasional plane flying overhead.   We've seen deer drinking and feeding on the bottom of pristine ponds, loons calling to each other in the dead of night, a surprised fox that walked right into our camp, frogs leaping out of the way of our giant steps, an enormous hare coming within ten feet of our tent, and many interesting varieties of bugs that don't try to suck your blood!

Right now we're at the Lakeshore House in Monson, ME.  It's a hiker hostel with a restaurant underneath that sits on the shore of a huge lake.  We're here with some hikers we met on the trail and a bunch of people heading northbound who are about to finish their thru-hikes.  Here's some pictures we've taken so fa-

Penn Station Baltimore, MD 10:30pm

Our hiker registrations at Baxter State Park before we summited Katahdin


View from the Abol Slide "Trail" going up Katahdin.  We had to scramble over car sized boulders for a few hours to get to the top!

The Tablelands of Katahdin.  After climbing steeply for 3 miles it gets to about 4500 feet and then levels off into a rocky moor.  The summit is where the clouds are. Led Zeppelin lives here also.

Approaching the summit.

At the top and the official start of our Thru Hike

A view from the "knife edge" near the summit.

Then we had to come down the Hunt Trail which is the official Appalachian Trail.  This was at the bottom of the rock scramble on that side of the mountain.  If you can see how small the people at the very top are you'll have and idea of how big this is!

View from inside the lean-to on our first night

The next day we took a canoe out on Grassy Pond in Baxter State Park.  That's Katahdin Mountain in the background

Rainbow Stream Lean-To in the 100 Mile Wilderness

Home for the night.

Indian Pipe Fungus.

Sporting the fashionable headnet look on Jo-Mary Lake

Swimming in the lake.

View from Chairback Mt- one of our toughest climbs

What Ellie felt like after we got to the top!

Our first moose sighting!

Barren mountain view

Barren Mountain from the bottom a couple days later.

Taking a break by one of the many streams we cross

Little Wilson Falls.  The pic doesn't do it justice- it's about a 60 foot cascade

Our last night before leaving heading into Monson.  Enjoying the frogs singing at dusk on the pond.

Will post more later.  Time for a swim in the lake with friends!  Thanks to everyone for al of the well wishes!