Day 7: Monson, ME. 114.5 miles from Mt. Katahdin, 2071.4 miles from Mt. Springer

We made it through the gates: survived Mt. Katahdin & the "100 mile wilderness" and are headed south. We've hiked more than 120 miles, but you don't "count" hiking up Mt. Katahdin to the start. There are rules about counting, and a whole lingo that goes with this Appalachian Trail.

Mt. Katahdin

Katahdin/Mt. Baxter has the same identity crisis as Alaska's Denali/Mt. McKinley, but President Obama hasn't shown up here to announce to Mainers what they should be calling it. 

The way up & down this famous trailhead is more climb than hike, I realized as I had my elbows and knees wedged between boulders scrambling for every few feet.

Katahdin has been in the national news lately because the administration of Baxter State Park wants to move the trail's end from within their boundaries. The recently ticketed the recent AT record setter for being on the summit with a group larger than 12. When we were on the summit, there were more than 100 people there, drinking in the views on a gorgeous Saturday, many of them were smelly AT hikers, but many were day hikers. It seems to the casual observer that Baxter Park is just having a little turf war with the AT.

The 100 Mile Wilderness

The trail is marked with "white blazes" on trees and rocks. In the wilderness, in places, it seems that someone has just run through the woods with a paint can, randomly painting blazes, with no worry for the path between. We navigated rocks, roots, mud and more rocks. Maine has rocks. All sizes. 

We were accompanied by critters from toads, snakes and spiders, to moose and porcupine.

We've heard some great tales from northbound hikers, my favorite being from the German who claimed he was "in a bear attack." Upon further questioning, this meant that he talked to a guy who had his pack taken by a bear. We have seen a couple families on the trail. A mom & dad with 5 kids (youngest 9) summited Katahdin the day before us in 50 mph winds. They had hiked all the way from Georgia, homeschooling along the way. We crossed paths with a single mom hiking with her 11-year-old and twin 5-year-olds. They were a few days from Katahdin, also originating in Georgia.