100 Mile Wilderness - Maine

“Anyone out there hiked the whole 100 Mile Wilderness. It's on my wish list. I found out at thru-hiker.com that 20 miles per day is possible, which means the wholet thing could be done in a week, including travel.

Thanks for any info!”

“I would kill to hike that trail.”

“I would really like to hike this section also! I have not done any research on the 100 mile wilderness for a few years and I expected that there are a few more roads in this area since last I looked... True, false??? Twigeater, have you been on this section?”

“I've only done the ~40 miles from Monson to Gulf Hagas.

Let's do it in September after Isle au Haut! =D”

“I believe that the late Tarp Rat has done a chunk of this section of trail.


But he ain't no longer here to tell us about it.”

“:-(”

“I'm already booked up this summer and next, but summer 2005 here I come. I have a cousin who used to live in Maine. He has mentioned wanting to do this hike. He's already on board and so I though I'd find out some advice from my friendly TT'ers.”

“This could turn into the few, the proud, the stupid, the TT trip of 05!”

“I think Ped did all 100 miles with his son a few years ago. Where art thou Ped?”

“IIRC, there is now a hostel in the 100 Mile Wilderness that has a small store. You could do a limited resupply there.”

“Wow - someone who plans further ahead than me, LOL!”

“I don't know that I'm planning ahead so much as wishing and dreaming. I have all the local hikes and am getting enough experience to where I'm starting to hope for 1 or 2 big trips a year. We'll see.”

“Planning and wishin' and dreamin' is part of getting the most out of your trip.

Like Pennsy says, I did the 100 mile wilderness a few years back. My son, who went with me, turned 13 on the trail. We did it in late August and spent 9 days at it (plus driving and hitch-hiking time). It was a good time to go, because the bugs had died down quite a bit.

There are a bunch of logging roads that cross the 100 mile wilderness. There is also the White House Landing - about a mile off the AT via a logging road and a boat ride (we had to blow a horn for the boat). They will hold packages for a fee, you can buy some supplies, stay a night, order a meal or a snack...

I wouldn't count on 20 mile days - unless you are a real grey-hound on the trail. We carried 12 days of food and the first few days kicked our butts. After a few days, we were able to hike good mileage (13 - 17 miles) every day and have fun (stopping for long swims, etc.).

It is easier than most of the Maine AT (although we had a 22 mile day coming into Monson from the south the next year) - but I'd suggest allowing at least 10 days.

Search "mile wilderness" at the http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/ and a bunch of interesting threads will come up (along with stuff you don't want, the search engine won't let you use "100" as part of the search term.”

“Thanks for the info. I wouldn't want to do such high mileage that I couldn't enjoy it (no snipe remarks Town Dawg) on a trip like that. I'm doing 70 miles through the Smokies in 4 days, but that's 4 hours from home. For a trip where you have to fly the lazy enjoyment will be key.”

“Feel free to email or post questions if you have any. I'm glad to help, and besides talking about trips you've taken is almost as much fun as planning new ones (of course it doesn't come close to actually getting out there... remind me to be childless and independently wealthy in my next life).”

“I just sent you an e- dh, but have one more thought. I suggest you be sure to allow plenty of time and head from South to North. That way, if you make really good time, you can hike on into Baxter State Park and do Katahdin and the Knife edge. If you are slower than you hoped, you'll have the time you need. There is a special lean-to on the way to Katahdin for long distance hikers to stay without reservations - some people like to call it the thru-hikers lean-to, but you would qualify.”

“My understanding was that it was a good place to take a fishing pole cause you could hike from lake to lake and perhaps catch some fish for dinner. How is the wildlife through this area, Ped? Lots of moose and smaller varmits?”

“Can you say RACCOONS! LOL...”

“Bobo: I didn't do any fishing, but there lots of beautiful lakes... and I saw people fishing from canoes. There is a great lake side campsite called "Antlers" which was once the site of a hunting and fishing lodge.

My son saw moose (two together in the morning), I saw a lot of Moose and deer prints. I didn't see huge amounts of wildlife - a variety of birds (we heard loons) and plenty of the usual toads, snakes and smaller mammals. There are often chipmunks or squirrels who hang out near the lean-tos and designated camp sites.

The lakes are great for swimming, but not for standing around in unless you can see the bottom very clearly. There are leeches - I saw them several times - they move awfully slowly.”

“I didn't see any racoons (saw what looked like racoon prints though). Porcupines are supposed to be around, but I didn't see any. I also saw plenty of signs of beaver, but no beaver. I guess I ain't much of a naturalist.”

“As we hiked into one campsite, there were coons in the trees beside the trail just waiting for us. Big fat ones. Two of the guys in our group hung their food low and in their packs, and the coons had a field day. We threw rocks at 'em (didn't phase 'em one bit) and finally I went to bed cause the guys whose packs they were just snored away...
Course they were short on food for the rest of the trip.

Bloodsuckers are what keeps me out of most ponds on the trail. gross me out!”