Sept. 2000 - our Virtual copy of Bryden's "A Walk in the Woods"

Jack Leroux is an big time jock. Noone can hold his jock in canoeing, cross country, etc. He is what we call a Moose. Richard "Doc" Martindale, my good friend who used to maintain my brilliant smile (my dentist) is also a class white water canoist and outdoorsman. During one of our gatherings, the three of us figured that it would be a terrific experience to hike together and I suggested the 100 mile Maine "Wilderness" (at that time, one had to carry in enough food for the full 100 miles as there were no resupply connections near the trail; I'm told that has changed these later days).

We had just a couple of short meetings to pick the date and discuss the details of the hike. Dick had told me of Jack's prowess adn siad he had beeen walking locally with a pack to improve his conditioning. I was still doing my aerobics at the health Club and figured from my experience would not have any problem.

We drove to a Hiker's Lodge near the starting point, stayed the night, and took off the next morning on our adventure.

Day 1 (Fri.)

The temp was good and we treked off. After a couple of hours, the temp started rising and probably hit 80+. We had basically planned to hike 10.4 miles . However, Jack increduously had brought along a NEW pair of untried boots (this from an experienced hiker who often spoke of his hikes during the winter to various peaks in New England). He said his feet were beginning a little burn - a sure sign that he was going to have foot problems shortly. Also, Dick was beginning to struggle and fall back from a relatively modest pace. By near noontime, Jack and I talked about it and we began to walk to the next hill, drop our packs, and then walk back to where Dick was. We would then take his pack and carry it to the point where we had dropped our pack. This obviously started to chew up lots of the day light hours and our pace slowed even further.

We decided to hike over Big Wilson and camp there. We barely got set up by dark, which I prefer not to do but got in our bags and made it comfortably through the night.

Day 2 (Sat - 9/1/00)

My general approach when I walked on the AT before was to get up early at day break, quickly gather things up, and start to walk. Then around 9 or so, I'd stop for my breakfast and a short rest. The Martindale/Leroux technique was somewhat the antithesis of this. They seem to daddle aound while I cooled by heels until finally be ready to start after 8.

It began to rain by the time we got up so we had to pack our wet gear and we hiked up to the shelter to dry out. repack, and figure out how far we could go since the rocky trail was very slick and rather dangerous. We decided to go to the next shelter where we were joined by a hiker, an old time ATer from Montvale NJ who was just section hiking. He hiked in tennis shoes and was loaded with stories which topped ours. Later a young lady traveling with her boxer Briand and her aunt joind us at the shelter. We all hit the rack by about 8 PM.

Day 3 (Sun.)

We had a rousing 5 mile(!) trek over Barren MT. to a lean to at Clud Pond. This was a lovely place on an idylic pond seldom used, dispite its delicious water supply, since it is 0.4 off the trail (and most hikers hate to walk that far off the trail (an extra of 0.8 mile to the published 2800 plus mile venture).

Getting over to the lean to after our rousing hike presented another "incident". Jack's feet had become a mass of blisters on which Martidale practiced his doctoring skills. Then, we were presnted with a large blowdown across the trail. Dick and I climbed over the tree but Jack, for some reason, perhaps his shorter legs, decided to crawl under. Of course, he had to remove his pack and shove it ahead. As he was shoving it ahead, he apparently jerked his head up and managed to cut a large gash in his forehead from some jagged branches. Doc Martindale (obviously frustrated by becoming a dentist rather than an M.D.) leaped into action. He sterilized, got to use his suture kit, and taped up Jack who finally realized that he was not having much fun. We went on to the lean to but discussions began on how to end this "Walk in the Woods" (which, BTW, was a rather similar fiasco).

Day 4

It was obvious that we might not make Katahdin until perhaps Xmas at the pace we were on so we all agreed that we should try to get to Millinocket by somehow getting back to the highway where we could hitch a ride. We hiked until we found a road (may have been one to Kathdin Iron Works but my memory fails). We saw a car heading up the road. Martindale again leaped into action and hailed down the car driven by a couple by waving a Red Cross flag!

After much discussion and presenting our "injured" hiker Jack and a somewhat exaggerated tale of woe, they agree to drive Jack to Millinocket (for a minimal charge) where he could pick up his car (which we had paid a driver to take there from Monson). He would then drive back to pick us up at another predetermined point. Surprisingly this all work and by early afternoon, we were happily drinking a beer in Millinocket.

Day 5 Katahdin

We had to get something out of this trip so Martindale and I decided we would have Jack drive us to a point where we could hike Katahdin (all hiker's dream) as he took a rest day to recoup and recover. BTW, I finally saw a Moose!! After years of searching and seeing moose tracks everywhere for years, I had been shut out til now. This made the trip worthwhile ...if perhaps the hiking was a bit marginal!

Jack Leroux, Doc Martindale and JP at the beginning of the 100 Mile Wilderness Trek loaded with 10 days of food	The trail up to Kahtadin
	with some of the thru hikers..	Doc M and I did, at least get to hike to the top of Katahdin and it was a piece of cake. We really enjoyed joining in the revelry of those Thru Hikers who gained the top and jubilantly celebrated their feat.