Daily Miles: 16.4, Total Miles: 2,042.0 After a great sleep and breakfast at the Hostel of Maine, I got a shuttle back out to East Flagstaff Road to continue north. Overcast day and hoping the rain would hold off. More gentle gradient on the trail today. First along the shores of Flagstaff Lake then West Carry Pond where I heard my first eerie, beautiful loon call on the AT. Benedict Arnold, leading a small army group, crossed this pond in…
Daily Miles: 16.6, Total Miles: 2,2025.6 I had a great night’s sleep in a comfortable bed. Got a shuttle from the Hostel of Maine to East Flagstaff Road to start my slackpack of the Bigelow Mountains. For a 17-mile hike, it took over an hour to drive north to the trailhead, so not an early start. On a cool, clear morning, I started the climb to the first summit, Little Bigelow Mountain (3,025′). Fine views across the Carrabassett Valley. The…
Daily Miles: 6.2, Total Miles: 2,009.0 Some wind and a steady rain for several hours last night. Just had to get over North Crocker Mountain and it was all downhill to ME Route 27 and a short hitch to Hostel of Maine. Along the way, I saw Roadie and Oadie again – they are slackpacking and returning to the hostel tonight. What a wonderful, comfortable place to cleanup, dry up and hang out! Decent little store, spacious kitchen area and…
Daily Miles: 12.5, Total Miles: 2,002.8 I hadn’t seen rain in the forecast but got some sprinkles early this morning. I woke up early so decided I might as well get an early start. No let up yet in Southern Maine. A bit over 5,000′ vertical feet today getting up and over Lone Mountain, and Spaulding Mountain (4,000′). I also passed close to Sugarloaf Mountain, home to one of Maine’s most popular ski areas. Got blustery with some rain on…
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….
