(Daily Mi: 10.4) Baxter provides space for 12 'long-distance hikers' in the Birches, a brand new pair of shelters and tent platform .25 miles from the start of the Hunt Trail to the Katahdin summit (which is the route taken by the AT).

Crusader has been a tad hysterical over assuring ourselves a slot and we were all at the sign-in board a mile north by 5 am this morning (needless to say, there were all of 5 long distance hikers in the park today).

The Birches site was a quick 10 mile hike into Baxter -- several stunning views of Katahdin on the way. We stashed our gear at the shelter, and Chile, Crusader and I were lolling in the sun by the Katahdin Stream Ranger's Station by noon, planning the next day's assault on Katahdin.

The summit is about 5 miles north and 4100' up from the Katahdin Stream trailhead where we would start the next morning. It would be a Saturday in August. The reserved campground was already packed and people would be lining up by 3 am to get into the park at 5 am for the day's hike. The summit would be a cattle pen by 9 am.

Shortly after we arrive, the Monkies -- and John -- return from summitting Katahdin. They are all blissed out, but I can definitely tell the Monkies are more than ready to go home.

Crusader's wife comes in via the road, and later they bring me a McDonalds meal back from town -- which is a considerable distance.

In tonight with Crusader, Chile, Bucky and Trish the Dish.

One final note. The bear hooks at the Birches are just comically high. Tried to get my food bag for a late night snack, but with a set of old batteries the beam on the headlamp was too weak to to see my dark blue food bag 18 feet in the air. Must have some awfully tall bears in these parts.