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  1. #1
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    Default 100 Mile Wilderness - QUESTION

    Hi fellow hikers -
    My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

    I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us...

  2. #2

    Default 10 days sounds about right

    Quote Originally Posted by spinarandi View Post
    Hi fellow hikers -
    My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

    I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us...
    I have never hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness that early, but you should be ok by the end of June. A 10 day schedule sounds reasonable.

    I have hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness in August, September and October and the streams and rivers were not a problem. I am sure they will be higher at the end of June, but should still be safe to cross.

    If you are interested, I have a detailed plan for a 10 day hike of the 100 Mile Wilderness southbound. I am willing to share it.




    Shutterbug

  3. #3

    Default Here is my 10 Hiking Plan

    Quote Originally Posted by spinarandi View Post
    Hi fellow hikers -
    My fiance and I are planning to do the 100 mile wilderness this spring (late June to over the 4th of July). We're intermediate hikers and were hoping to do it in 10 days.

    I was wondering if anyone could share their tips in terms of the time of year we'll be hiking (will the streams be too high to ford?). Also, just looking for general advice from those who have come before us...
    Here is my plan which includes a side trip to explore Gulf Hagas.

    10 Day Plan for Hiking the 100 Mile Wilderness

    Day 1 – Golden Road to Rainbow Stream
    Start at Golden Road
    Cross extensive cedar bog
    Pass the Hurd Brook Lean-to
    Rainbow Ledges
    Rainbow Lake
    Pass Rainbow Spring Campsite
    Rainbow Steam Lean-to
    14.8 miles for the day

    Day 2 –
    Cross outlet to Murphy Pond
    Pass old logging dam
    Cross Pollywog Stream on bridge
    Pollywog Gorge
    Crescent Pond
    Cross gravel logging road (possible pickup point)
    North summit of Nesuntabunt Mt.
    Pass unusual rock formation
    Wadleigh Steam Lean-to
    8.1 miles for the day

    Day 3 –
    Cross Wadleigh Stream
    Sand beach on Nahmakanta Lake
    Gravel beach
    Cross Prentiss Brook
    South end of Nahmakanta Lake
    Cross gravel road
    “Wood Rat’s” Spring
    Side trail to Nahmakanta Stream
    Pass Nahmakanta Stream Campsite
    Ford Tumbledown Dick Stream
    Ford branch of Nahmakanta Stream
    8.5 Miles to Mahar “Tote Road”
    Take side road to White House Landing
    Overnight at White House Landing
    8.5 miles of the AT plus the blue blaze trail to White House Landing

    Day 4 –
    Return to AT via Mahar “Tote Road”
    Cross Deer Brook
    Side trail to Pemadumcook Lake
    Cross Twitchell Brook
    Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
    Potawadjo Ridge
    Sand Beach on Lower Jo-Mary Lake
    Cross inlet brook at W end of lake
    Antlers Campsite
    Cross old logging road
    Ford several streams at Mud Pond
    Cross gravel logging road next to bridge
    N shore of Cooper Pond
    Cross Jo-Mary Road (Possible pick-up)
    Church Pond
    Cross Cooper Brook
    14 miles -- Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

    Day 5 –
    Cross outlet of Crawford Pond
    Cross gravel Kokadjo-B Pond Road (pick-up?)
    Summit of Little Boardman Mt.
    Pass spring
    Cross outlet of Mountain View Pond
    Viewpont
    Ford East Branch of the Pleasant River
    Pass East Branch lean-to
    Cross B inlet Brook
    Cross a gravel fork of West Branch Raid (possible pick-up?)
    11.7 miles and steep climb to Logan Brook lean-to

    Day 6 –
    Side trail to Logan Brook Ravine
    Summit of White Cap Mtn (elev. 3,654)
    Junction with White Brook Trail
    Summit of Hay Mtn.
    Summit of West Peak
    Sidney Tappan Campsite
    Summit of Gulf Hagas Mtn.
    7.2 Miles to Carl A. Newhall Lean-to

    Afternoon for exploring Gulf Hagas
    Return to Newhall Lean-to for overnight
    * Camping in the Gulf Hagas area is illegal, but there are some places one can camp south of Gulf Hagas.


    Day 7 –
    Hermitage (stand of old trees)
    Pass Katahdin Iron Works
    West Branch of Pleasant River
    Cross main haul road
    Pass small stream and spring
    East Chairback Pond
    Steep ascent to Chairback Mtn.
    Summit of Chairback Mtn.
    Chairback Gap
    9.9 miles to Chairback Gap Lean-to
    82 miles on AT


    Day 8 –
    Summit of Columbus Mtn
    Cross old tote road and outlet stream
    Monument Cliff on Third Mtn
    Cross a bog
    Summit of Fourth Mtn
    Traverse Fourth Mtn Bog
    Pass Cloud Pond Lean-to
    Summit Barren Mtn
    Barren Ledges
    10.9 miles to Long Pond Stream lean-to

    Day 9
    Slugundy Gorge and Falls
    Ford Long Pond Stream
    Reach Bodfish Farm
    Ford Vaugh Stream and waterfall
    Ford Wilber Brook
    Pass Wilson Valley Lean-to
    Cross Canadian Pacific RR
    Ford Big Wilson Stream
    Cross Thompson Brook
    Cross Big Wilson tote road
    Pass through deep rock gully
    Cross Beaver Dam
    Ford little Wilson Stream
    Little Wilson Falls (largest on AT
    Cross gravelhaul road
    Cross small James Brook
    Traverse rim of Bear Pond ledges
    Skirt Mud road
    Cross outlet stream
    12.3 miles to Leeman Brook Lean-to

    Day 10
    Pass Lily Pond
    Pass top of ridge
    Cross old power line right-of-way
    Bell Pond
    Cross Old Stage Road
    Ford Goodell Brook, outlet to Spectacle Pond
    Me. Highway 15
    3 miles to Highway 15 (Monson, Me.)
    108 miles on AT

    Monson is 3.5 miles from trail head
    Stop at Monson, Me
    Shutterbug

  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shutterbug View Post

    I have hiked the 100 Mile Wilderness in August, September and October and the streams and rivers were not a problem.



    My quess is that you missed the hurrican in '99.

  5. #5

    Default right, but I was in 2005

    Quote Originally Posted by TD55 View Post
    My quess is that you missed the hurrican in '99.
    I missed the hurricane of '99, but was there when the hurricane passed in 2005. I holed up at Whitehouse Landing while it passed. Northbounders were delayed for a couple of days at the Pleasant River, but it was down by the time I got there.
    Shutterbug

  6. #6
    jersey joe jersey joe's Avatar
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    Default

    General Advice: Bring bug spray!!!

  7. #7
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    Default

    This is fabulous - thank you so much for sharing!

  8. #8
    ...Or is it Hiker Trash? Almost There's Avatar
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    DEET or Die!!! Be flexible, last year with the rains in June everything was running high. At times some crossings were impassable. If you can deal with the bugs you should have a great time!
    Walking Dead Bear
    Formerly the Hiker Known as Almost There

  9. #9

    Default

    started june 23 last year with no problems. bring deet.

  10. #10
    Registered User Morning Glory's Avatar
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    Bugs, bugs, bugs. Did I mention bugs? I hiked it two years ago the week before July 4th. The bugs were out if full force. Several SOBOs I passed looked like they had been eaten alive. One of those nets to wear over your head would be strongly recommended and plan on tenting.
    Soli Deo Gloria

  11. #11
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    Default

    Is it easy to re-up on food though? Theres no towns or maildrops there right? So I guess I have to carry 10 days of dog food and human food. yayyy.....

  12. #12
    Registered User Phreak's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SelfRevolution37 View Post
    Is it easy to re-up on food though? Theres no towns or maildrops there right? So I guess I have to carry 10 days of dog food and human food. yayyy.....
    You can be resupplied at Jo Mary Road for roughly $40-50. Or swing by White House Landing for a limited resupply and an awesome 1lb burger.

  13. #13

    Default

    Bring a tent, it will still be buggy and sleeping in shelters will be very unpleasant unless you have bug nets.

    Personally I really dont like Chairback Gap shelter. It is right on the trail, the water source is a moose wallow with the trail crossing upstream of the water source and the privy is a real long walk from the campsite. There are a couple of tentsites that are a bit more private. There are several stream side campsites a few miles east of the gap, but they arent on a map and a lot of folks need to stop at Chairback Gap Shelter as the preceeding day section of the trail is a workout (lots of up and downs and some incredible rockwork whihc consists of hundreds of rocks steps.

    There are some real wet/boggy areas of trails especially east of Rainbow stream shleter. Be prepared to get wet hiking boots of switch to sandals.

    You may just miss the summer camp groups in the end of June

  14. #14
    Registered User boarstone's Avatar
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    Head net for the bugs...unless there is heavy rain while your hiking, streams between Rainbow and West Branch of the pleasant will be rock hops. Jo-mary road crossing is an easy hitch out if on a weekend, Crawford Pond road not so much. Heavy logging on Crawford Pond rd. crossing during the week. Cell phone service at Antlers campsite, Nahmakanta Mt and 1/4 mile south on Jo-Mary rd crossing at sign on birch tree.
    Do one thing everyday...that makes you happy...

  15. #15

    Default

    Not sure I would advertise Jo-Mary Road as an "easy hitch", although yes, there is more traffic on summer weekends.

  16. #16
    Registered User weary's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Just a Hiker View Post
    Not sure I would advertise Jo-Mary Road as an "easy hitch", although yes, there is more traffic on summer weekends.
    I agree. I've walked many a mile on the Jo Mary Road. Once I walked the 14 miles round trip to the campground store -- only to find it closed.

    Also on day 7 you will pass the road to Katahdin Iron Works. But the actual historic facility is around 10 miles to the east.

    I haven't been near the wilderness yet this spring, but southern Maine has had more than the usual amounts of rain. My garden remains mostly too wet to till. Streams usually are quite passable by now. But this year may be different if the heavy rains continue.

    Weary

  17. #17

    Default

    We were in the 100 mile area and south this weekend. . . the water looked pretty low for thi early in the season. . . . it seemed quite dry there and the bugs weren't numerous enough to even mention. . . . it was a great weekend. . .

  18. #18
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    That 30mph wind helped with the bugs, eh?

  19. #19
    2000 miler Doc's Avatar
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    Be sure and leave a note for the maintainer at Leeman Brook LT, he's a real nice guy. Oh wait, that's me. I was in yesterday for a work trip and all was fine. No real bugs, perhaps because of the cold night. Mud is not problematic and streams are flowing well. This is just the three miles or so on the Southern end so I can't comment on the rest of the trail. Right now it is raining in central Maine and promises to continue for the next several days, something that will surely change the conditions. Have a great hike.

  20. #20

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mudhead View Post
    That 30mph wind helped with the bugs, eh?
    It was certainly gusty over Lake Hebron but in the woods it was fairly calm. . . oh and btw way, a big thanks to Doc and all the trail maintainers. . . it was apparent that a lot of work has already been done. . . .

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