APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Daily Miles: 13.5, Total Miles: 1,990.3 With the exception of the steep descents, I really enjoyed the hike today. Firstly, the weather system blew through and it was a beautiful, clear, sunny day. Secondly, the trail went up and over the open and above treeline summits of Saddleback Mountain (4,122′), The Horn (4,017′) and Saddleback Junior (3,597′). All with great panoramic views of where I’ve been and where I’m heading. The best I’ve had in Maine. I also passed some…

Daily Miles: 13.1, Total Miles: 1,976.8 Thought I might try a slackpack out of Rangeley today between ME Route 17 and Route 4 and hopefully not get too wet. Including the intermittent rain, it was a day full of water – lots of lakes, ponds and streams. Relatively speaking, a more gentle gradient but the mud was ever present. The weather system should be leaving late tonight …….. hopefully. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy sleeping in a dry bed tonight.

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 1,963.7 A restful day and another rainy day in Rangeley ME. Waffles with blueberries and a side of bacon was a good start to a zero day. Read my book, talked to family, looked at the next section of trail and took a short nap. On TV, lots of bla, bla, bla about the upcoming presidential debate – like it would change anyone’s mind. Between the rain showers, I passed by Rangeley’s small movie theater…

Daily Miles: 17.4, Total Miles: 1,963.7 I usually start the day going uphill but not today. Overcast and drizzling, I headed down and back up to Moody Mountain, down and up even higher to Old Blue Mountain. After a quick lunch on the next high point, Beemis Mountain, I’m thinking enough already. My quads, glutes and knees are tired of this! Great scenery when my glasses aren’t fogged up and the thick mud is getting annoying. Drizzling again, I made…

Daily Miles: 16.3, Total Miles: 1,946.3 A later start this morning but I had to take care of a few things. A 2,400′ vertical climb was a rough start to the day – more alpine bogs near the top. Got up and over the mountain slab granite summits of the Baldpate Peaks, nice views to be had. At the end of a long descent were Dunn Cascades and upper Dunn Falls, a nice break for a late lunch. Good looking…

Daily Miles: 9.5, Total Miles: 1,930.0 I asked my shelter mates if I snored last night. I know at some point I had to grope around for my earplugs. One teacher responded that we all took turns which I’m sure was the case. Early start to tackle what is reported to be the hardest and steepest section on the AT, the Mahoosuc Notch. About 1,500′ up and one mile long, full of huge boulders – going over, under and around….

Daily Miles: 9.8, Total Miles: 1,920.5 Not a comfortable evening sweating in my tent – finally cooled early in the morning. I almost immediately started climbing this morning to the summit of Mt Success, the southernmost peak in the Mahoosuc Range. Walked across the summit ridge on glacially smooth granite slabs, also having to cross several alpine bogs on sometimes submerged and very slippery boardwalks. I tested a few bogs with my poles – two to three feet of mud…

Daily Miles: 11.8, Total Miles: 1,910.7 Got back to the TH out of Gorham NH and crossed the Androscoggin River on a road bridge across the Shelburne Dam. I headed up Mt Hayes and up and down over some smaller peaks. Good views back to Mt Washington and Mt Madison and the Carter-Moriah Range. I passed by a few ponds and small alpine lakes in the Mahoosuc Range. Pretty inviting on a really warm afternoon but I had heard something…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 1,898.9 Good sleep but I needed some more “prone” time today to recharge my body and mind. Gorham is a nice trail town but a bit spread out. I had to visit the hardware/outdoor store for strong duct tape to re-cover holes and tears in my backpack, a fuel canister and to replace a beanie that I lost somewhere on the trail yesterday. One of my best breakfasts I have had on the AT at…

Daily Miles: 18.1, Total Miles: 1, 898.9 Another really nice day with less wind but increasing insect activity. May have to break out my head net before I get to Maine. The White Mountains aren’t slowing down. The last push to Wildcat Mountain, Carter Dome, South and North Carter Mountains and finally Mt Moriah, the last of the major peaks in the White Mountains. I must say that the Whites have been real highlight and a significant challenge of my…