Tuesday, July 9, 2019
East Branch of Piscataquis River to Monson
6.7 Miles
We started the hike into Monson
from the river at 6:30 a.m. and by 10:15 we were at the trailhead parking lot
at ME 15. It was a pretty low section,
so not too hard.
When we got there, planning to
call Shaw’s for a pickup, we started talking to a lady and a gentlemen. They were interested in our hike and wanted
to help us out, so they gave us a lift to Shaw’s. Shaw's Hiker Hostel, run by Hippie Chick and Poet, is a legend on the trail. Although the Lakehouse also has a hostel, you don't hear as much about it as Shaw's. In fact, we were not aware that there was another hostel in Monson until later.
We thought we had communicated to
them about a private room through Facebook messenger, but they did not save us
a room, so we checked into the bunkroom with eight beds, all full. We were there early enough that we got our
pick of beds though. The other beds
filled up soon with Skinny Man, Granite Man, Welcome, Committee, Thornberry and
Birdie, all heading through the 100 Mile Wilderness and on to Katahdin. There was excitement in the air as we all
made our plans. Some were planning five
days in the wilderness—we knew it would be longer for us.
We went to the General Store for
lunch and then to the Lakehouse for dinner.
We asked about somewhere that we might find a lighter long-sleeved shirt
for Wait-up to help with the bug situation through the wilderness and the
owner offered to let us come back the next
day and look at her supply of loaner clothes.
In spite of our expectations, we
slept very well in the bunkroom with all the other people.
