KENNEBAC RIVER

AT Day 109: Tuesday,  July 25, 2023

SOBO Mile 2047 – 2028

Route 201, Caratunk – Flagstaff Campsite

Distance Hiked –  19 miles/30.6 km

Total Distance Hiked: 1831 /2846 km

A:2861 ft /863 m D: 2224 ft /678m

I read somewhere that people from Maine have a saying: ‘you can’t get there from here.’ I now know why when you see the landscape from the high mountain tops. Lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers punctuate the green valley landscape. And it’s so true for connecting the white blazes over the Kennebec River. The  river is wide and flowing swiftly where the AT crosses. A canoe ferry which runs between 9 and 2 during peak hiking season, takes hikers across. 

We had to wait for the canoe to return from the other side. The ferryman asked us to sign a waiver, we got safety jackets and were off. So pleased we didn’t have to ford. 

It was after 9.30 by the time we were dropped off on the other side. From here the trail follows Pierce Pond Stream upstream for the next 3 miles. It was hot and humid and the tree roots and wet muddy sections underfoot  made for slow progress. The trail undulated, nothing too difficult,  it was the condition of the trail that was so frustrating. Whenever we had dry and smooth sections of trail we realize how much easier hiking would be if only the trail construction was more conducive to hiking.

We stopped for a short lunch break and soon after hiked past the most beautiful lake – the East Carry Pond sparkling in the afternoon sunshine. It would be a beautiful spot to go for a swim.

Frustrating day  of hiking along a trail that was really quite difficult because you couldn’t take your eyes off the ground: rocks, roots, mud, all slippery and all the while mosquitoes buzzing around and black flies dive-bombing eyes and ears.  It was just unpleasant despite the beautiful lakeside scenery of which we occasionally got glimpses. 

We stopped late in the day at a campsite by Flagstaff Lake. What a gorgeous spot, and surprisingly hardly any mosquitos around. We made it just in time to see the sun set over the lake. The beauty of this spot in the evening light almost made up for the ugliness of the trail conditions.