Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness

"Did I tell you guys this run kinda of scares me?  I think that means I must complete it." - Daddy Long-Legs

The truth is, we were all scared. Our sanity depended on it. To not be intimidated by running Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness, unsupported, would surely mean that we either misunderstood the gravity of such an undertaking or were hopelessly optimistic that nothing could go wrong.

So it was that we found ourselves, a night before heading into the dark underbelly of the North Woods, receiving trail names from our distinguished host, Phil "Quadzilla" Pepin of 100 Mile Wilderness Adventures and Outfitters. Through much banter and argument, we became "Daddy Long-Legs," "Weenie Boy Pencil-Dick" and "Hotpant(ie)s." I'll leave it up to you to figure out who is who.

We slept relatively comfortably in one of Phil's divine bunkhouses and woke at 4:30 AM on Saturday for our shuttle to Abol Bridge. With stops for breakfast sandwiches in Monson and coffee in Millinocket, we arrived at the Abol trailhead at 7:15 AM. Phil wished us well, we shouldered our 17-20 pound packs that contained everything we needed for 100 remote miles, and at 7:20 AM our southbound adventure back to Monson began.

Mission: Ruin Every Photo continues...

 

Saturday, July 22nd

7:21 AM: Daddy Long-Legs, WBPD and Hotpant(ie)s reach the entrance sign to the 100 Mile Wilderness. No one has yet turned tail and run back to catch Phil before he drives away.

7:22 AM: Group photo at the sign. Phil has surely driven away by now. No escape left.

8:55 AM: Daddy Long-Legs and WBPD reach Rainbow Ledges and enjoy fine views. 

9:26 AM: Everyone reaches the shores of Rainbow Lake. Everyone enjoys fine views of Hotpant(ie)s.

11:30 AM: Somewhere along Rainbow Stream during a routine water refill, Daddy Long-Legs and WBPD officially lose contact with Hotpant(ie)s. He will have his own stories to tell.

12:55 PM: The climb over Nesuntabunt Mountain puts a damper on the running euphoria and gives a small taste of what is to come.

4:?? PM: DLL and WBPD are stung by bees on the shores of Lower Jo-Mary Lake. Since Adam got stung during his 2011 run, this must be a good omen.

6:40 PM: The Jo-Mary Road is reached by Daddy Long-Legs and Weenie Boy Pencil-Dick. WBPD whips out his (!) handy-dandy stove and cooks up some instant loaded mashed potatoes for dinner. DLL eats peanut M&Ms and dreams of hot food.

8:27 PM: The sun thinks everyone smells bad so she goes into hiding. DLL and WBPD are at Cooper Brook Falls. Hotpant(ie)s is out in the void somewhere.

10:00 PM: Little Boardman comes and goes through headlamp beams. Barred Owls call in the distance.

Sunday, July 23rd

1:20 AM: DLL and WBPD summit White Cap Mountain, the highest point in the 100 Mile Wilderness. A light wind blows and temps are in the 40s. The Milky Way, looming above, puts the runners hikers in their place and helps them remember that they are insignificant, petulant beasties rebelling against their own mortality.

2 - 5 AM: DLL tries really hard not to fall asleep on his feet.

6:03 AM: Breakfast above Screw Auger Falls. Once again, WBPD whips out his (!) handy-dandy stove and cooks up some pea-protein-infused MUSCLE MAC while DLL eats M&Ms and performs careful, delicate foot repairs.

7:01 AM: DLL's artisanal foot bandages are immediately ruined by the unforeseen ford of the West Branch of the Pleasant River. "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry..."

7:20 AM - 1:20 PM: DLL and WBPD struggle across the fucking relentless hell known as the Barren-Chairback Range. 

2:00 PM: Hallucinations begin. DLL and WBPD "see" a rotating cast of trail signs, kiosks, shelters, and hikers in the woods around them. WBPD spots a man push a bicycle behind a tree. DLL points out a Christmas ornament in a fir tree next to the trail.

3:47 PM: DLL has a badly swollen ankle is using innovative breathing techniques to place himself in a trance-like state to transcend the pain. WBPD follows closely behind with Lamb of God screaming in his ears: I AM THE INFERNO. I AM LEGION. They ford Big Wilson Stream.

6:05 PM: Leeman Brook is reached, so DLL and WBPD fire up the burners for the last three miles. They "run" at a screaming 15 min/mi pace.

6:52 PM: DLL and WBPD drape themselves across rocks in the trailhead parking lot on Route 15. Like an angel sent from heaven, Poet pulls up in his shuttle vehicle and whisks them off to Shaw's Hiker Hostel for beer, soda, food and tale-telling with thru-hikers. Monson greets them warmly.


THE NUMBERS:
Total Time: 35:32 (Josh Katzman and Rob Rives)
Distance: 96+ miles
Elevation Gain: 18,766 feet
Pack Weight: With water and food, 17 pounds (Josh), 20 pounds (Rob)
Calories Consumed: ~8500 (Josh), ~7000 (Rob)
Sleep Time: 0 hours, 0 minutes
Weather: Fucking perfect. Clear skies. 50s-70s.

Link to Suunto Data: http://www.movescount.com/moves/move167936725