Farewell Buffalo Bobby

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with all who read my dad's blog. My father's hiking partner for the last 5 months, Buffalo Bobby, died of a massive stroke on the trail yesterday. He died doing what he loves, and we will miss him so much. Our prayers go out to his family and friends as they grieve his loss.

Link to News Story

Buffalo Bobby (Rob Yerike) and Trolley Stop (Roger Gorey) entering Maine

Journal Entry #184

Wednesday, September 28 - Day 188 - Mile 2135.0 - Logging Road - the White House Landing Wilderness Camps.

Wonderful, beautiful, spectacular morning on Jo-Mary lake. The sunrise on the lake was something to behold.

We set off on a short (7 mile) hike to this oasis in the wilderness to spend the day eating & relaxing as well as resupplying a bit. This place is terrific. Right on a big lake. When you get to a boat dock off the trail you blow a horn and the owner comes to get you in a boat and takes you and gear over to the compound.

We took a shower, hand washed our clothes, had a big hamburger for lunch and homemade pizza for dinner. This afternoon was sunny and warm so I spent an hour or so out in the sun resting by the lake.

Life is good!!!

Tomorrow, after breakfast, we start to tackle the last 46 miles. Rain may be coming in so that could slow us down a bit. We have just finished 4 perfect weather days so certainly can't complain.

Love, Peace, Joy & Hope,

Trolley Stop

End Date Update!

Hello Everyone!

When scheduling things on the Trail, it is the Trail that decides whether it will work or not, not the hikers.  Dad (Trolley Stop) has been in contact, and they have pushed thier end date out to October 3rd, or 4th.  Lets keep sending the positive vibes there way!

Beth

Journal Entry # 183

Tuesday, September 27 - Day 187 - Mile 2129.2 - Antlers Campground

Up very early and started our day with a difficult ford right off the bat. The day improved dramatically weather wise and trail wise.

We had a very pleasant 16 mile hike and are only 52 miles from finishing but our date to summit Katahdin may need to slip a day or so depending on our ability to cover these last miles and get a decent day to summit.

We're camped at a beautiful site tonight right on lower Jo Mary Lake.

My battery is almost gone so I'll have to elaborate more when I get recharged.

Love,
Trolley Stop

Journal entry #182

Monday, September 26 - Day 186 - Mile 2113.2 - East Branch Lean-to

Great campsite last night. We did have a very heavy dew so the tents were soaked but still a great rest.

We started climbing right away up West Peak, then Hay Mountain and finally White Cap Mountain. Only about a 1,200' elevation gain overall but lots of ups & downs. Once we were over White Cap there was a long down to the next shelter, which had many rock steps in place that Double Check thought may have been done years ago by the CCC.

We were then treated to some level walking and one of the most beautiful forest areas we've seen. It really had an enchanted feel to it. It was so nice we took a break just to enjoy it.

We hit the shelter we're at tonight early this afternoon. There's a ford right after this and some climbs with no camping mentioned for miles so Double Check suggested we call it a day.

It's been a great afternoon. Easy access to water, beautiful shelter and nice tenting areas. This gave us time to dry our stuff out, get something to eat and take a nap before dinner. It's now only 3:45 PM, everything is done and I'm ready for a nice afternoon rest. Only 3.3 more miles and we'll be halfway through the 100 Mile Wilderness. More important this first half, going north, is reported to be the toughest part. We'll see over the next few days.

More later.

6:30 - Dinners done. Fun speaking with all the young hikers still coming through. Most have chosen to do the ford tonight and camp somewhere on the other side of the river.

It was a beautiful evening but the sun is already down and night is falling.

Hoping for a nice day again tomorrow. We hope to be able to do 16 miles to Antlers Campsite. That will be a big day for us but the elevations look good. More news on that tomorrow.

Goodnight,

Trolley Stop

Drying out

Double check in the 100 mile wood

Trolley stop in the 100 mile wood

Buffalo Bobby in the 100 mile wood

The enchanted forest

Journal entry #181

Sunday, September 25 - Day 185 - Mile 2104.2 - Sidney Tappan Campsite

Today begins my 7th month on the trail and the last full week of hiking before finishing.

Despite a crowded shelter last night, once I was in my sleeping bag, I went right to sleep and was very comfortable. Packing this morning was a challenge with all the wet stuff all over and, of course, putting on wet clothes, socks & boots is always a bit difficult. Thankfully it wasn't cold.

Our hike started with a steep down right out of the shelter area and through bogs with broken or sunken bog boards. My already wet boots and socks were completely soaked within 5 minutes of starting. This was followed by an unbelievable steep downward rock scramble. Thankfully Buffalo Bobby found his way through because the way was not marked. Then we traveled over the usual rock, root and bog filled trail until our one ford of the day at the West Branch Pleasant River. This was a pretty wide river crossing and definitely a boots off ford.

Then, miraculously, the trail turned decent for the next five miles or so. After one more slip and a boot soaking in a stream just before Carl A. Newhall Lean-to we took a break. Two miles later we were at this campsite, which after last nights shelter, seems like paradise.

We all cooked together and are all in our tents for the night at 6:15. Other hikers will likely come in but were done.

Thoughts now turn to this last week or so. Only a few more nights to sleep in our tents and days if hiking. It's hard to believe that we've been out here 6 months and hiked over 2,000 miles. I've never been to Maine before but now I've walked over 200 miles into the interior.

Lots of fun fun things to think about as I fall asleep.

Love, peace, joy & Hope,

Trolley Stop

Journal entry # 180

Saturday, September 24 - Day 184 - Mile 2092.5 - Chairback Gap Lean-to

Lots of rain this morning.

Today marks my last day of 6 months of hiking. (Double Check marked his 6th month anniversary on April 21st and Buffalo Bobby will mark his on March 28th). Six months ago today I was at Jill & Crag's still sorting through stuff in preparation for my trip, visiting a doctor because an allergy was bugging me and getting a haircut. The next morning Jane, Jill & Jack accompanied me to the visitors center to sign in and begin my trek up the approach trail. I only made it a little over 5 miles before I thought I had had enough and checked into the Hike Inn. My pack was unbalanced, I didn't have much of a clue about backpacking or the myriad things a thru hiker should know. It rained for six and a half days and I wasn't smart enough to come in out of the rain. Initially I did 5 or 6 mile days, finished happy but worn out.

Today I can get up at 5:00 AM, pack in the dark, hike and climb all day without breathing hard and enjoy an evening at camp, write my blog and not go into dreamland until 7:00 PM or so. The body is an amazing machine that works well and comes up to the task when challenged. I don't believe I've ever worked so hard or enjoyed it more.

Over the next week or so we'll wrap up this adventure and slowly return to our "normal" lives, family and friends, likely changed in ways we can't anticipate now.

Tonight, in the first half of the "100 Mile Wilderness", we are now jammed in this shelter looking forward to the promised easier terrain about 25 miles ahead and some sun tomorrow. The "Victory March". as Circuit Rider calls it, does have it's challenges. In fairness he did allude to some difficulties in the first half of the wilderness walk..and they're here.

Today was quite nasty weather wise thus the crowded shelter. We had heavy rain overnight and steady rain all morning tapering off to light rain and then a fine mist tonight. The trail today was particularly difficult due to wet rocks & roots, endless deep bogs, broken bog boards and steep climbs. It was a long tough day with short mileage.

The weather promises to be sunny tomorrow. Perhaps we'll have a chance to dry out. Today reminded me of my first week on the trail with all these wet conditions. We've been spoiled with pretty good weather while actually hiking so a day like today is that much harder.

Anyway we're chipping away at the final 100 miles.

Goodnight,

Trolley Stop