7/26/06 Wednesday: Poplar Ridge Lean-To to The Stratton Motel, ME 27 (21.5mi)

PICTURES:
1. A lovely stretch of forest to brighten the day...:)
2. "Bronze Plaque commemorates the completion of this last section of the AT from Me to Ga."
3. Looking back toward Spaulding Mtn. from Crocker Mtn. during a violent T-storm on Spaulding Mtn.. I had walked thru the storm earlier in the day and was just beginning to dry off...
4. Thanking God for the sunny weather over Crocker Mtns.

Another big day planned with a hot shower and bed waiting at the end...:)... That always motivites me... Course I did have trouble getting up, leaving at 0700 instead of 0600 was not what I had in mind but I was still optimistic... My day would start with a steep descent down to a river (1400") followed by an equally steep ascent first (1700") and Long Mtn, then another 900" for Spaulding Mtn. I wanted to mention that the mosquitoes and blackflies were so bad bye the river that I had to stop for only the second time of my whole trip and apply some DEET.... Before ascending Spaulding Mtn, I stopped into the Spaulding Mtn. Lean-to for lunch about 1045. At 1200 I was finished with lunch and my rest for the second phase of my day... Unfortunately I had only completed 8mi so far with the most difficult part yet to come... At about 1300 when I was nearing my ascent of Spaulding Mtn, a rather fierce thunderstorm struck... The summit is not bald, so I wasnt too fearful. The rain was really cold but after the ascent, I was sweating badly and it was quite soothing... It rained hard for about 45min, and as I was making my way down off Spaulding I passed a couple of day hikers heading up it... They were complaing of the daily afternoon t-storms and were eager to reach the comfort of the shelter about an hour away... We chatted a bit in the downpour, and then each went on our seperate ways... Me away from the storm and they into it...LOL... I kept hearing the thunder as I walked toward Crocker Mtn and when I began my ascent of Crocker I had a view of Spaulding and could see an intense storm focused on that area... The lightning show was quite elaborate, but I wasnt able to time my photo to catch the numerous bolts emenating from the dark clouds above Spaulding.. I was happy that on Crocker, only 5miles away, it was sunny...:)... Crocker had 2 peaks 1 mile apart. The first peak was an 1800" climb in 1.25mi while the second peak was a mear 500" climb... The final descent to ME27 greeted me with another rain storm, no lightning, and only a short 20min burst of showers... Just enough to wet me down again...:(... I finally reached ME27 by 1900 and was picked up by one of the owners of the motel I planned to stay at within 10min of reaching the road...:)... I dropped my stuff off at the hostel and Suzanne drove me to a local diner where I had steak and potatoes...:)... Don, the co-owner picked me up after dinner and I showered and did my blogging .. I hope to post new messages in a few days from Monson...

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...

7/24/06 Monday: South Arm Rd, Andover, Me to Sabathday Pond Lean-To (17mi)

1. Hiker living space in the basement of The Cabin
2. I caught Honey and Bear cleaning up after breakfast the morning of my departure... They were gracious hosts and quite enjoyable to be around...
3. A locally made sign greeting northbound hikers as they enter the woods to tackle Old Blue...
4. Transportation to and from the trailhead is happily provided by The Cabin
5. Climbing Old Blue was no picnic as the rebarb here indicates... This was not the only section requiring rebarb...
6. The trail finally leveled off and the ridge walk was quite nice...:)...
7. The higher I got, the shorter the trees got... I didnt quite get above treeline on this mountain range..
8. Thats me on the summit of Old Blue... Kinda cloudy today but nice hiking weather...
9. Picture from Bemis Mtn
10. Picture from Bemis Mtn with Mooselookmeguntic Lake in the distance
11. I walked through a family of these birds and this one posed for me...
12. More views north from Bemis Mtn of a series of open ledges and many many blueberries
13. I crossed ME17 and look back at Mooselookmeguntic Lake just before I reenter the woods northbound for Sabbathday Pond Lean-to.

Well, staying another day/night was tempting but the urge to finish this expedition is overwhelming at this point... After another wonderful breakfast I settled my bill with the staff and they took me back to the trail head.. I hit the trail about 0800, and was greeted with sunny skies and 70 degree temps... Old Blue Mtn. was the first challenge of the day but certainly not the only one... I would have just 2 1200" ascents today, easy compared to previous days and days to come... I had some nice views from Old Blue and again later from Bemis Mtn. and took a number of pictures... Unfortunately, they rerouted the trail off Elephant Mtn., a favorite destination of mine, but apparently in need of some rehabilitation. The MATC (Maine Appalachian Trail Club), like all the other clubs along the trail charged with maintenance of the trail, rerouts the trail whenever necessary... I got some nice views of Mooselookmeguntic Lake while decending Bemis, quite a site to behold... I had lunch at the Bemis Mtn. shelter around 1315 before completing my descent and reaching Me17. I had to cross Bemis Stream before getting to Me17, thank goodness the water level was low, because like so many streams in Maine, there are no bridges. You cross by stepping from rock to rock or using a fallen tree, or removing your boots and wading across when the water is too high... I made it to ME17 at about 1615 and phoned Jackie to check in and remind her as I do daily that I love her, whenever I can get a signal that is...;)... I still had 4 miles to go before I would be stopping for the night, so I said my goodbyes and continued on my way... I soon came across a couple of 30 something German guys stopped in the trail... They were confused and unhappy with their hike up to that point... They said they disliked hiking in main because the forest is too dense and they were unable to stop whenever they liked to pitch their tent.. I didnt really know what to tell them... It was true that this section of forest was particularly dense on either side and that we were passing through a wetland area to boot.. I told them they should give the trail a few miles or maybe try a different section further north... I could see they were uncomfortable with their gear, probably carrying way too much and though they had come only a few miles were ready to camp... or head back to their car...LOL... I think they head back to their car... About 30min later I came across some trail majic, some oatmeal cookies, soda in the stream, and some apples... What a pleasant surprise.. I made off with one of each and continued on my way... I arrived at Sabbathday Pond Lean-To around 1815 and had the shelter to myself... I cooked dinner, cleaned up, stored my gear, and was in my bag by 2000.. I was unable to get a signal, as is usually the case out in the backcountry... I was aroused around 2200 when a hiker and his dog arrived in camp, but after a short greeting they left again and I never saw them again...