2026 AT Year 16 - ME - Hwy 15 Monson to Mt. Katahdin - 114 Miles
I left Waynesville on Wednesday, July 15th to make the two and one half day trip up to Millinocket, Me. My plan was to arrive in Millinocket, and stay in the AT hostel on 17th before being shuttled to the trailhead in Monson on the morning of the 18th. I had made prior arrangements with the hostel for a shuttle as well as a food drop halfway through the 100 mile wilderness. This way I wouldn't need to carry as much food.
On the way north, I first stopped at the Three Bear in in Marathon, NY. Nothing fancy, but clean. I went down the road to Reileys Restaurant for an all you can eat spaghetti dinner. The next morning I left early, stopping for breakfast at a nearby Dunkin Donuts. I then proceeded north. Mu friend, George, from Waynesville, had invited me to stay in their time share condominium in Lincoln, NH, which was only about a four or five hour drive from Millinocket. I drove through a rainstorm, but it subsided by the time I arrived in Lincoln.
I had a good visit with George and his wife, Wanda, and slept on their sofa. I was just grateful to have a place to 'crash'. The next morning, I continued my drive through the White Mountains, crossing the AT below Mt. Moosalauke. It was a nice day driving through some big and small towns, and then up I-95 to the Medway exit.
I arrived in Millinocket relatively early and checked into the hostel. I decided to get a private room since there weren't many people there. I drove 15 minutes down the road to the Knife Edge Brewery for dinner. I ordered the unusual butternut pizza and a brown ale. I sat outside to eat with a clear view of Mt. Katahdin.
After returning to the hostel, I prepared the bucket for my food drop at Johnson Pond Road on July 24th. They were only there from 11-12 p.m., so I had to plan my route to arrive there. If I missed it an didn't call, they would report me as missing to the state police. I planned to arrive at Katahdin Stream Campground on July 29th, and had arranged Katahdin trail passes for 30th and 31st to account for the weather.
Day 1 - Hwy 15 Monson to Wilson Valley Lean-to - 10.4 miles
Day 2 - Wilson Valley Lean-to to Long Pond Stream Lean-to - 4.7 miles
Day 3 - Long Pond Stream Lean-to to Cloud Pond Lean-to - 4 miles
Day 4 - Cloud Pond Lean-to to Chairback Gap Lean-to - 7.1 miles
Day 5 - Chairback Gap Lean-to to Carl A. Newhall Lean-to - 9.9 miles
Day 6 - Carl A. Newhall Lean-to to Logan Brook Lean-to - 7.2 miles
Day 7 - Logan Brook Lean-to to Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to - 11.7 miles
Day 8 - Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to to Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to - 11.4 miles
Day 9 - Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to - 10.1 miles
Day 10 - Wadleigh Stream Lean-to Rainbow Spring Campsite - 11.9 miles
Day 11 - Rainbow Spring Campsite to Abol Bridge Campground store Parking - 11.2 miles
Day 12 - Zero Day Millinocket
Day 13 - Abol Bridge Campgound Store Parking to The Birches Lean-t0 and campsite - 9.9 miles
Day 14 - The Birches Lean-to cand Campsite to Mt. Katahdin - 5.2 miles then down to Roaring Brook Campsite to end hike
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