Here is a brief update ... UPDATED SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6th
Monday August 31st
Kennebec River crossing 151.5
Lunch break @ Harrison's Pierce Pond Camps 154.8
West Carry Pond Lean-to 165.2
Tuesday September 1st
West Carry Pond Lean-to 165.2
Safford Notch Campsite 177.8
Ready to go over Bigelows
Wednesday September 2nd
Safford Notch Campsite 177.8
Over the Bigelows
2000 mile point
I now have less than 2000 miles to Springer Mtn
Maine Hwy 27 188.2
Hitch to town
White Wolf Inn
Wolf Burger conquered
Thursday September 3rd
Looney MOOse breakfast
REST DAY
Friday September 4th
Hitch to trailhead with US Customs Border Patrol ( he is on way home from work and tells me Stratton, ME is 29 miles from Canadian border!!!) Three weeks on the trail and I am 29 miles from Canada !!!
Maine Hwy 27 188.2
North Crocker mountain 193.4
South Crocker mountain 194.4
South Branch Carrabassett River ford 196.6
Sugarloaf mountain 198.7
Spaulding Mountain Lean-to ( 3140' 201.7 )
Saturday September 5th
Spaulding Mountain Lean-to ( 3140' 201.7 )
Popular Ridge (2960' estimate )
Lone Mountain ( 3260' ) 203.9
Saddleback Junior ( 3655' ) 211.1
Saddleback Mountain (4120' ) 214.7
arrived just at sunset
No time, light, energy to hike 4 miles down the steep rocky mountain trail to Piazza Rock Lean-to so I made my way to the South side of Saddleback peak above the treeline and put down my mat and sleeping bag on a mossy area beside the AT. I ate my two zip lock bags of Cheetos and one of my two Reece's Pieces packs. Once I got settled I enjoyed the beauty of God's heavens. The sky is black and there are so many stars I cannot pick out familiar constellations. The Milky Way is in full display. When I woke during the night I just wanted to take one more look. The moon began to pass overhead. Brilliant!. How many times will I be in Maine on top of a mountain on such a clear night?
Sunday September 6th
woke up to this beautiful view from my sleeping bag
Hiked to Maine Hwy 4 Sunday AM
Hitched a ride to Farmhouse Inn for rest of day. Professional poet / graduate professor at U Florida. Lives in Maine when not at UF.Interesting
Going in to Rangeley for Post Office Monday AM and then back on AT.
Next section is only 13 miles to Oquossoc, Maine. I may take two days. Looks like ponds for swimming and fishing. The past sections have been strenuous and there are even more difficult days coming sOOn!
^^ountain ^^an
