McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 8/17/2024 | AT Mile 170.6 | Day Total: 21.9 miles | Gain: 3112 ft

Big mile day for today. As expected I was camped alone last night. Sleep really well with the stream rushing in the background.

The Ferry to cross the Kennebec River open at 9am and I started hiking today at 7. I was running a hour early but there’s rumor that there’s free public WiFi at the ranger’s office nearby. And sure enough it was true! I spent some time there then headed over early to the ferry.

I sat around and enjoyed the view of the Kennebec river until Greg, the ferry volunteer, showed up with his car at 9 sharp. He had a lab named Maggie and she was very sweet. Greg had to grab a few things including the paper we have to fill out before we crossed the river.

Right as Greg showed up another sobo section hiker walked up. Her name was Spots and she’s doing her last section of the trail this year. I helped Greg bring the canoe down to the water, there’s a painted white blade in the hull symbolizing the official route across the river. I was in the front paddling as we crossed while Greg was in the rear steering the canoe. I would have taken a picture mid trip but a canoe doesn’t paddle itself! All and all it took less than 2 minutes to cross.

There were about a dozen nobo hikers in line ready to cross this morning including Ian. Ian was a day ahead of us but after crossing the river yesterday got ill and backtracked 6 miles where he’d be ending his hike unfortunately. He was hoping to make it to Mt Washington for a month’s hike.

The trail after the Kennebec was slightly uphill following Pierce Pond Stream for the next few miles. These miles were pretty easy hiking. I passed Harrison’s Pierce Pond Camp that serves breakfast. You would have had to stay at the shelter nearby to do so.

I did have to cross the outlet of the stream coming from a pond. I preformed a shoes off bare foot crossing. It was pretty slick but I took it slowly. After the crossing there were some muddy sections of trail but a few parts had some cool swampy board walks.

I walked along the coast of East Carry Pond and most of it was bog boards

The last part of my day I had to climb 1100ft over two small hills before I got to camp. These were challenging at the end of the day. I talked with two guys doing a section hike and they said that if I go past the campsite (which another hiker was already at) there would be a few more sites near a rocky beach. I took their word for it and sure enough there was a beautiful site! It was a bit windy by the shore and the sites just up were a little bumpy so I went for the rocky beach camp. It’s quite windy so I made a small wind break with stones and drift wood.

I hid on the side of my tent where the wind was lessoned and cooked my dinner. It was super peaceful and the wind started to dial down as time went on. I’m facing the mountain range which I will climb tomorrow, the Bigelow’s.