(Daily Mi: 18.4) Set out into the Wilderness today. Pretty rough trail with many a pointless up and down.

Classic Wilderness moment at the first shelter in where we meet a pair of older section hikers setting out for Abol. Crusader carries heavy (40+ lbs), but when we came in these guys were strapping on packs almost as tall as they were. They looked at our little bags and wondered aloud how we ever thought we'd make it 10 ten days with so little gear. We just smiled and wondered how far they'd get carrying almost 70 lbs. each

Met a bunch of NoBos walking the wrong way back towards Monson from a Shaw family shuttle drop off at a forest road crossing about ten miles north. First Chile Pepper, then Mountain Man and finally Bucky (68 years old, walking with a broken foot since the White Mountains).

Crossed the forest road where they were dropped off just before the end of our hike. And that is the thing about the Wilderness. It is true that there are no service, but there is forest/logging road access and even some parking. Many people camped and/or picknicking by the river whic is near a dirt parking lot at the forest road crossing. Fortunately they are scared off by the climb the last two miles to the shelter -- and/or climbed all the way to the summit -- and Crusader and I have the place to ourselves for the night.