Day 5 - "be in the moment" (6/7/2016)

After the rough day that ended well yesterday, I'm adopting a new attitude of "be in the moment." This part of the trail is beautiful, so rather than chasing miles I'm going to find nice places and stop and see how far I get. It'd be a shame to get so caught up in making progress that I spend too much time looking at the map instead of the scenery.

I'm also formally adopting the name Taipan as my trail name. Only Beef Jerky and Kangapard know me as Supple Leopard, and I doubt I'll see them again. Those old timers have way more seasoned walking legs than me. Kangapard will be sad I didn't take her suggestion of FlexCat if she ever hears.

On the recommendation of Squirt and Sweetpea from Kentucky I stopped at a beautiful beach on Nahmakanta Lake, where I met Lost & Found, a 72 year old (!) who was completing her last section of the trail after 20 years of section hikes.

Also passed Nathan and Duke, two guys who are carrying 65lb (30kg) packs, because of too much food. They were hunkered down trying to gorge on double and triple rations to lighten the load. Nice to know I'm not the only one whose planning didn't play out as expected.

Today has alternated between threatening rain and blue skies. Should be a warm night, but I'm putting up the fly just in case.

Started: Nahmakanta Stream
Ended: Jo Mary Road
Distance: ??

Day 4 - Nero (5/7/2016)

I felt horrible today. I think the reason the last miles yesterday were so bad is because I'm ill. I took it easy with long beach rests, little food, and only 8.5 miles (a short day is called a nero: near zero).

Now I'm sitting on the banks of Nahmakanta Stream. While I eat my Lipton Cup-A-Soup, the sunset is dancing over the rapids that lead into the swimming hole I was skinny dipping in just a few hours earlier.

This morning I had breakfast over the tranquil pond (Crescent). No sounds but the croaking of a frog, and fish leaping for their meals.

Those are what make the hard times worth while.

Also heard a whole pack of coyotes howling in the distance while Beef Jerky, Kangapard and I broke camp this morning.

A mixed day with discomfort, but so many rewards.

Start: Crescent Pond
End: Nahmakanta Stream
Distance: 8.5 miles

Day 3 - Fourth of July (4/7/2016)

Spent the day walking "with" Beef Jerky and Kangapard.

It's a consensus view that Supple Leopard is out. I think I want to take a piece of Australia with me on this trip so maybe I'll go with Taipan.

The last two miles today were excruciating. I don't think the terrain was so bad, but I hit the wall pretty badly. Then trying to make dinner went sideways when my filtration pump stopped working. Water is pretty important as a rule, so I started planning what happens if I don't have a reliable filtration system (hint: There's no answer that can be described as a win). I can treat up to 24L of water with tablets after which I'm down to boiling every drop. It's hot. I'm going through a lot of water. There's no way to finish the 100 mile wilderness that way.

It turned out that cleaning the filter solved the problem. Luckily the rasp on my Leatherman is perfect for the task, but I'm starting to see why no one else is using pump filtration anymore.

I have to admit I am starting to reconsider this project on Day Two of real hiking. On a scale of 1 to 10, Day 3 gets a 3.


Start : Hurd Brook
End: Crescent Pond
Distance: 15.7 miles ( 25 km)

Next Destination

My next stops will be Caratunk, ME and then Stratton, ME. I should get to Stratton by the 18th. I'll definitely pop into Stratton for a resupply and to check mail, but I might not stay overnight.

I had a delightful surprise package from an old friend that was so unexpected it almost made me cry (it was also food and I was soo very hungry....;) )

Serje Robidoux 

c/o General Delivery 

95 MAIN ST 

STRATTON, ME 04982-9998 

ETA: 18/07/2016

If you do mail something, send me an email with [TopPriority] in the subject line. If I miss your letter/package, I can call the post office and ask them to forward it on.

Day Two - Into The Woods (3/7/2016)

[These journal-style entries will be posted whenever I can get a chance to queue them up, but they will be delayed from th actual dates]

This is my first real day on the trail after the slackpack up and down Katahdin yesterday. Now it's 7-10 days with nothing but me and my pack.

Despite cutting a huge amount of food, I'm pretty sure I have too much. I've decided that in a few days I'll hang a really low food bag as a sort of bear piñata.

It also turns out that the word Supple is not as widely known as I'd thought, so the trail name Supple Leopard is really not working. I'll have to rethink or get a new one.

I'm sleeping in a shelter tonight with Beef Jerky and Kangapard, two older hikers who are doing a flip-flop (they hiked north from Georgia to Harpers Ferry, and are now hiking south from Katahdin). Nice pair, lots of experience and Kangapard and I bonded over our affection for Oz.

Start : Daicey Pond
End : Hurd Brook Lean-to
Distance : 11 miles (17.6 km)
[Ed. note: Apologies for typos, I'm doing this from my phone because the hostel I'm at has terrible wifi.]

Away we go

Day 1 was today. Slackpacking up Mt Katahdin and back.

Not much to say except that I almost cancelled the first day because of the threat of hail and thunderstorms. When you're above the tree line, you make a great lightning rod. In the end, I decided that if I have to die by lightning on a mountain, then I have to die by lightning on a mountain.

I didn't die by lightning on a mountain.

Tomorrow it's on the trail for real (as in with a full pack, and several days of food, and no chance of blackened haddock and a pint of IPA at the end). I'm already tired and craving a burger.

A few people have asked about how to send me things on the trail. I'll try to post mailing addresses that I can pick mail up at. The first one will be Monson ME's post office [Ed: on the 11th of July, if all goes according to plan]. Use the following address:

Serje Robidoux
c/o General Delivery
2 GREENVILLE RD
MONSON, ME 04464-9998

If you do mail something, send me an email with [TopPriority] in the subject line. If I miss your letter/package, I can call the post office and ask them to forward it on.

Some photos of Day 1:

Registered for the climb 

It's official: As of now, I'm heading Southbound
on the Appalachian Trail.

The view on my way up.
If you look closely, there are some people there.

The same view on my way down.
If you look closely, there are still just rocks and a cloud.

Also, I have to thank my dad, who very awesomely drove down here with me and has ferried me about and taken care of errands while I play around in the woods. Best. Dad. Ever.

One More Sleep

Hard to believe this crazy idea I had a few weeks ago is about to be a thing I'm doing.

Here's what has to count as 8-10 days of food.