September 2, 1981 -Breakneck Ridge Shelter to Monson Hostel ‘Shaws’-
Left Rainbow Stream Shelter late. It is a miserable day which is wet and cold. We decided to make a run for Hurd
Brook lean-to. We all made it in very good time. Chris Miller wanted to keep his only pair of long pants in good
shape so he got behind all of us and streaked with his pack on. I stopped for a quick snack and here he came up
the trail in his altogether! He later put on his long pants anyway since he got very cold and wet and about froze.
After making it to the shelter we tried drying our clothes out and cooked something good and hot to eat. This was a
big bond fire night also. We spent much time in gathering large quantities of wood for the final big fire. It was very
good on a cold night for it would clear up nicely in the night. We all sat around and talked until late and since we
could not sleep many of us tossed and turned all night. Mice were a problem and we lay awake hearing them eat
our last bite of food. We would turn our flashlights on and when locating them throw rocks at them, the little
rodents! We never did get one! In 1981 most of the shelters in Maine had the baseball bat floors. In 2006 there
were only three left. They are at Hurd brook Lean-to, Rainbow Stream Lean-to and Popular Mountain Lean-to.
They are not comfortable to sleep on but they are history and some should be preserved for all to see. The
shelters had these floors in the days when it was acceptable to put spruce bows on the floors for warmth and
comfort.
Left Rainbow Stream Shelter late. It is a miserable day which is wet and cold. We decided to make a run for Hurd
Brook lean-to. We all made it in very good time. Chris Miller wanted to keep his only pair of long pants in good
shape so he got behind all of us and streaked with his pack on. I stopped for a quick snack and here he came up
the trail in his altogether! He later put on his long pants anyway since he got very cold and wet and about froze.
After making it to the shelter we tried drying our clothes out and cooked something good and hot to eat. This was a
big bond fire night also. We spent much time in gathering large quantities of wood for the final big fire. It was very
good on a cold night for it would clear up nicely in the night. We all sat around and talked until late and since we
could not sleep many of us tossed and turned all night. Mice were a problem and we lay awake hearing them eat
our last bite of food. We would turn our flashlights on and when locating them throw rocks at them, the little
rodents! We never did get one! In 1981 most of the shelters in Maine had the baseball bat floors. In 2006 there
were only three left. They are at Hurd brook Lean-to, Rainbow Stream Lean-to and Popular Mountain Lean-to.
They are not comfortable to sleep on but they are history and some should be preserved for all to see. The
shelters had these floors in the days when it was acceptable to put spruce bows on the floors for warmth and
comfort.
| Mike Rowlands, John G, and Steve Robinson acting like truckers. |
| John G, Marjorie Johnson, Steve Robinson, Chris Miller, Katahdin in back! |
September 10, 1981 - Hurd Brook Shelter to Katahdin Stream Campground Daisy Pond-
Up at dawn. Very cold. I drank some hot tea for breakfast and make a run for Abol Bridge. I had no food left and
could just see that little store in my mind! As I crossed over the road and saw the first sign of civilization in the last
100 miles and seven days I knew we had just done something rare and good. I looked up and for the first time saw all
of Katahdin 14.5 miles away, by trail. It is only about three miles in a straight line. This mountain sets off by itself in
the middle of bogs and is gigantic!! It’s a 4000 foot climb tomorrow for us in 5 short miles and we are at the base
now. WOW!!! We all stopped by the Abol Bridge Campground store and ate, ate, ate. I ate so much I almost died.
In front of the store the road to the north is private one owned by the lumber companies. We saw huge logging
trucks coming out of the forest and one truck we saw was capable of grossing out a 380,000 pounds. It had two
trailers behind it and it had 36 or 38 wheels under it. After getting all the groceries needed until we finished the trail
we started hiking to Katahdin Stream Campground. We had wieners, buns, and corn on the cob, baked beans and
all the trimmings for supper. This was the best I had ever eaten on the trail itself and out of town. It started to rain in
the night and we hope we can walk to the top in the morning.
Up at dawn. Very cold. I drank some hot tea for breakfast and make a run for Abol Bridge. I had no food left and
could just see that little store in my mind! As I crossed over the road and saw the first sign of civilization in the last
100 miles and seven days I knew we had just done something rare and good. I looked up and for the first time saw all
of Katahdin 14.5 miles away, by trail. It is only about three miles in a straight line. This mountain sets off by itself in
the middle of bogs and is gigantic!! It’s a 4000 foot climb tomorrow for us in 5 short miles and we are at the base
now. WOW!!! We all stopped by the Abol Bridge Campground store and ate, ate, ate. I ate so much I almost died.
In front of the store the road to the north is private one owned by the lumber companies. We saw huge logging
trucks coming out of the forest and one truck we saw was capable of grossing out a 380,000 pounds. It had two
trailers behind it and it had 36 or 38 wheels under it. After getting all the groceries needed until we finished the trail
we started hiking to Katahdin Stream Campground. We had wieners, buns, and corn on the cob, baked beans and
all the trimmings for supper. This was the best I had ever eaten on the trail itself and out of town. It started to rain in
the night and we hope we can walk to the top in the morning.
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