Maine SoBo trip report rated G

BirdBrain · Dec 16th 2013, 4:14pm

max.patch wrote:

**** **** **** ****

wow the g-rated filter works.

No it didn't. It let you in. Now where is that "just kidding" smiley face? :woohoo:

max.patch · Dec 16th 2013, 4:15pm

bazinga!

milkman · Dec 16th 2013, 4:15pm

poo-poo and pee-pee.

BirdBrain · Dec 16th 2013, 4:16pm

Hey! No thread driftt!

milkman · Dec 16th 2013, 4:24pm

BirdBrain wrote:

Hey! No thread driftt!

Max started it.

milkman · Dec 16th 2013, 4:27pm

BirdBrain wrote:

How 'bout them Patriots?

Dolphins say how 'bout 'em!

BirdBrain · Dec 16th 2013, 4:48pm

milkman wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

Hey! No thread driftt!

Max started it.

Oops. Sorry. Did not notice that. Drift away then.

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 6:04pm

BirdBrain wrote:

July 13
I do not know what people would call trail workers. Angel is not the proper word. They hold a place slightly above angels.

Seraphim. Angels of the higher order.

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 6:11pm

BirdBrain wrote:

http://blog.ctnews.com/dennis/2010/12/08/fisher-cats-in-connecticut/

Article on fishers for those that are not familiar with them. Magnificent animal.

Only predator that will take a porcupine. They are related to the mongoose, and tackle a porkie using the same sort of tactics of exhaustion that a mongoose uses against a snake. Magnificent creatures, indeed. (And their fur is magnificent, too, so I won't complain too much about trapping them.) But they're best admired from a safe distance. They're nasty!

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 6:17pm

BirdBrain wrote:

Where is everyone else's story. Am I the only one hiking or can tell stories? I am not being nice here. I just am hoping someone will give as detailed account on NH. :whistle:

I haven't hiked NH in over thirty years. One of these years I might get back there.

I don't do extended trips, so I don't do extended trip reports. I occasionally write up one or another of my clueless weekend jaunts over at my blog. Since most of my trips aren't A-T trips, I've been uncertain about the propriety of posting reports at an A-T site.

hikerboy · Dec 16th 2013, 6:44pm

AnotherKevin wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

July 13
I do not know what people would call trail workers. Angel is not the proper word. They hold a place slightly above angels.

Seraphim. Angels of the higher order.

that's a Latin word isn't it

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 7:09pm

hikerboy wrote:

that's a Latin word isn't it

Hebrew, the last time I checked. Although the Vulgate uses it untranslated, so I suppose it's Latin as well now.

Sarcasmtheelf · Dec 16th 2013, 7:16pm

AnotherKevin wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

http://blog.ctnews.com/dennis/2010/12/08/fisher-cats-in-connecticut/

Article on fishers for those that are not familiar with them. Magnificent animal.

Only predator that will take a porcupine. They are related to the mongoose, and tackle a porkie using the same sort of tactics of exhaustion that a mongoose uses against a snake. Magnificent creatures, indeed. (And their fur is magnificent, too, so I won't complain too much about trapping them.) But they're best admired from a safe distance. They're nasty!

Only predator that would take on porcupine? My buddy's old dog would gladly take on a porcupine whenever he had the chance, though I can only guess that the Fishercats are far more successful (and incurred fewer vet bills) than that old dog

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 7:20pm

Various creatures will take on a porcupine. I meant 'take' a porcupine, as a streetfighter might say, "I can take that punk."

hikerboy · Dec 16th 2013, 7:20pm

AnotherKevin wrote:

hikerboy wrote:

that's a Latin word isn't it

Hebrew, the last time I checked. Although the Vulgate uses it untranslated, so I suppose it's Latin as well now.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/seraphim

BirdBrain · Dec 16th 2013, 7:21pm

AnotherKevin wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

http://blog.ctnews.com/dennis/2010/12/08/fisher-cats-in-connecticut/

Article on fishers for those that are not familiar with them. Magnificent animal.

Only predator that will take a porcupine. They are related to the mongoose, and tackle a porkie using the same sort of tactics of exhaustion that a mongoose uses against a snake. Magnificent creatures, indeed. (And their fur is magnificent, too, so I won't complain too much about trapping them.) But they're best admired from a safe distance. They're nasty!

I have a story of a close call with a big female fisher that I will tell when I am home and not typing on a phone.

Sarcasmtheelf · Dec 16th 2013, 7:29pm

AnotherKevin wrote:

Various creatures will take on a porcupine. I meant 'take' a porcupine, as a streetfighter might say, "I can take that punk."

I should have added a smiley to my comment, I was just having fun getting nostalgic about the bad behavior of a good old dog.

AnotherKevin · Dec 16th 2013, 7:52pm

My brother has a Boston terrier that keeps getting into trouble because he hates all other animals, and loves bringing my brother presents. (My brother's girlfriend doesn't appreciate dead opossums left on the porch!) He's tangled with a couple of porkies and come off the worse for it. One of these days he'll probably catch a timber rattler and that'll be all she wrote.

Trillium · Dec 16th 2013, 10:41pm

BirdBrain wrote:

Trillium wrote:

Why did you trap the fishers? For the meat, for the fur, for a bounty? or were you trapping something else and the fishers just happened to be caught? Just curious.

In 1979 a good female fisher would fetch $180 and a male about $150. I killed animals for money. I grew up doing it and did not think ill of it. I am not opposed to those who do it still. I just like them more alive than stretched on a board these days.

I own a fur coat. I do not have an issue with trapping for the fur.

Followed the link in the next post and they are quite a stunning animal.

Rasty · Dec 16th 2013, 11:10pm

BB - The picture problem has been fixed. Let me know if you want your thread cleaned up of all the picture problem posts.

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 12:04am

Rasty wrote:

BB - The picture problem has been fixed. Let me know if you want your thread cleaned up of all the picture problem posts.

Thank you Rasty. It is probably not an issue. Even with the discussion, I think we are below 10% thread drift.

grayblazer · Dec 17th 2013, 12:23am

Thank you Rasty. It is probably not an issue. Even with the discussion, I think we are below 10% thread drift. ;)[/quote]

I have no hiking stories. I'm not really a hiker, I just play one on TV.

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 12:43am

July 17

Only 7 miles before we were out of the 100-mile Wilderness. The elevation profiles appeared to show a very easy day. Looks can be deceiving. It was not all that hard, but it looked very easy. It was up down up down all morning. The girls were to meet us in Monson. We were going to get out of the woods before they arrived. All looked good.

Just after Leeman Brook Lean-to my right quad started to tighten. I drank plenty of water throughout the month. I used Nuun as an electrolyte. Hydration was not my problem. Favoring my right knee was. By the time we got to Bell Pond I was in trouble. At this point I was in agony. Of all the pains I thought I would face, quads were not on my radar.

When we exited of 1st leg of our month long journey, I looked for a spot in the stream to soak my leg. Just down stream from the outlet of Spectacle Pond I found another beautiful jacuzzi. After a half hour soak in the cool water my leg was feeling better.

With a sense of accomplishment we headed for town with our thumbs in the air. We walked the 3.8 miles into town without an offer of a ride. With about a mile to go my leg started cramping again. I knew it was just a matter of time before I would be hobbled again. I decided to pick up the pace and left my partner in the dust. I drank a large Gatorade bought from the gas station and returned to Lakeshore before we reunited.

My hiking partner and sister were staying at Lakeshore. My wife and I were staying at Shaws. The guys decided to check in and wait for the gals in our respective lodgings. Both establishments have great management. Both are friendly and accommodating. We ate suppers at Lakeshore and breakfasts at Shaws. I highly recommend that plan. Shaws requires a head count the night before. Lakeshore serves supper as you come in and order.

The hostels are a family environment. You are encouraged to shower and borrow some of their extra clothes almost immediately. Who can blame them. We took the large bedroom near the corner of the street. It has 2 beds. One was used to spread out gear and reassess. You can use your imagination on the other.

I will list a few of the gear changes on the next day's report. When it was time for sleep the skies opened up. It rained for the 1st time since the last night in Baxter. I could not help but chuckle. Good weather seems to follow my vacation. It has been a running joke for about 15 years. We sail about 2 weeks a year. We always get good weather. This is not lost on my hiking partner. He sent me a text that said something like "I would not expect anything else".

grayblazer · Dec 17th 2013, 12:48am

Merry Christmas! (required thread drift)

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 12:52am

Little Wilson Falls

Lichen patch

A scary sign

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 1:03am

Okay readers, there is your fix.

grayblazer · Dec 17th 2013, 5:47am

BirdBrain wrote:

Okay readers, there is your fix.

You "fixed" me alright.

BTW, I did not see a fisher, but I saw a Kingfisher on Paynes Prairie the other day.

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 8:48am

grayblazer wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

Okay readers, there is your fix.

You "fixed" me alright.

BTW, I did not see a fisher, but I saw a Kingfisher on Paynes Prairie the other day.

I think I met a Fisher in the chess room. I was spastic or Spaski or something like that.

LoboSolo · Dec 17th 2013, 8:56am

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 8:59am

LoboSolo wrote:

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

Shhhhh.... I am trying to convince people that I did something tough. Cyber hikers are easy.

hikerboy · Dec 17th 2013, 9:00am

BirdBrain wrote:

LoboSolo wrote:

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

Shhhhh.... I am trying to convince people that I did something tough. Cyber hikers are easy.

you could resupply every 2 days if you had the money.

hikerboy · Dec 17th 2013, 9:02am

or you could just take a seaplane from monson to white house landing the way oz,army ant and invisible man did.
aeroblazers.

LoboSolo · Dec 17th 2013, 9:02am

slackpack too

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 9:02am

hikerboy wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

LoboSolo wrote:

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

Shhhhh.... I am trying to convince people that I did something tough. Cyber hikers are easy.

you could resupply every 2 days if you had the money.

Or you could just do it in 4 days.

hikerboy · Dec 17th 2013, 9:05am

BirdBrain wrote:

hikerboy wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

LoboSolo wrote:

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

Shhhhh.... I am trying to convince people that I did something tough. Cyber hikers are easy.

you could resupply every 2 days if you had the money.

Or you could just do it in 4 days.

4 is pushing it a bit too much. its too beautiful to rush through, unless the bugs are eating you alive

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 10:37am

hikerboy wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

hikerboy wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

LoboSolo wrote:

that "scary sign" fails to mention there's a bunch of roads with vehicles on them all the time

Shhhhh.... I am trying to convince people that I did something tough. Cyber hikers are easy.

you could resupply every 2 days if you had the money.

Or you could just do it in 4 days.

4 is pushing it a bit too much. its too beautiful to rush through, unless the bugs are eating you alive

Bugs are not an issue. They only eat people from away.
I agree on taking your time. Zippy and Diddo did it in 4 though.

SuperMan · Dec 17th 2013, 10:47am

I was up above Caratunk one year as the SOBO were coming through. They were fucked up in a huge way. You didn't have to stop to eat. You just opened your moth and got it filled with insects. Guys were dragging stuff and not bothering to fix it. So I set up camp by a stream. As they came up I told them they could sit under my mosquito netting if I could re-pack their pack for them. Every one of them accepted my offer. They got a break from the bugs and I told them to watch as I re-packed their stuff. When they put their packs on to leave each one marveled at how much lighter it seemed. I told them to just re-pack it the way I did and they'll have an easier hike.

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 11:11am

What is a mosquito net?

hikerboy · Dec 17th 2013, 11:12am

BirdBrain wrote:

What is a mosquito net?

its what mosquitoes use to catch butterflies

BirdBrain · Dec 17th 2013, 11:12am

hikerboy wrote:

BirdBrain wrote:

What is a mosquito net?

its what mosquitoes use to catch butterflies

Thanks. I get confused easily.

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