7/25/06 Tuesday: Sabbathday Pond Lean-To to Poplar Ridge Lean-To (20.1mi)

PICTURES:
1. 0605 One last look at Sabbathday Pond
2. 0941 First view of Saddleback Mtn
3. 1213 Lunch with an MATC trail crew @ Piazza Rock Lean-to. The guy on the right knew my cousin... small world...
4. 1415 Approaching the first peak of Saddleback... All above treeline
5. 1434 On the first false peak looking over to Saddleback Mtn.
6. 1449 Finally on Saddleback Mtn. Exceptional views in every direction.
7. 1450 View north of the horn (center peak) and other peaks waiting to be visited today...
8. 1506 I sunned myself on that rock surface on the way to the hump.:)
9. 1506 One of the views SE on the way to the hump...
10. 1528 Climbing the Horn this bird kept singing... seemingly following me...:)..

I awoke at 0515 and was on the trail by 0600. I had a long and tough day ahead and the early start would prove very helpful... By 0800 I came across Little Swift River Pond campsite where about a dozen campers were just getting their stuff together for their day in the woods... I took a few minutes to relax and chat with a couple of the backpackers before moving on. A little later I began my descent to ME4 and had my first view of Saddleback Mtn. which I would be tackling this afternoon. It looked so far away, hard to believe in a few hours I would be summiting. I hoped the mild weather would continue and the common afternoon thundershowers would not show themselves today... I crossed the road around 1000 and reached Piazza Rock Lean-To at 1100 for lunch.. I had completed 11 of my 20miles and felt good about making it into the next shelter no later than 1900.. I was joined at the shelter by 3 MATC volunteer trail maintainers who were there to direct a group of volunteers from Quebec. These were kids at a local summer camp who gave up 2 days to rough it and get really dirty moving rocks, roots, and other assorted trail duties... After getting a pic of the MATC volunteers, I continues on to begin my climb... About 2200" with 3 distinct peaks and a few lesser ones to boot.. I had some great views from up top, but there was some cloud cover and haze preventing any long range viewing... The series of ascents and descents really took their toll on me but by 1815 I staggered into Poplar Ridge Lean-To to find 4 other backpackers hanging out... 2 other Nobo's and 2 Sobo's (Northbounders and Southbounders). I got into my camp routine cooking dinner, cleaning up, securing my gear, and setting my sleeping back and mat up... This was a unique shelter with the old rounded floor(a series of 2" diameter poll make up the floor you sleep on... Actually quite comfy for me with my pad, unfortunate for the others who opted not to carry a pad weighting a few ounces, saving on weight....;)... A light rain began to fall late in the evening but no real accumulation resulted... I was asleep by 0900...