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Day 153 ME 27 to Flagstaff Lake Tentsite (17.1 miles) 2018.7 miles total

Lots of good climbs and good views this AM. This view is from South Horn towards Bigelow Mtn and Avery Peak. Little Bigelow Mtn is at very right. Yes, we walked over that.

The views are incredible in every direction.

Hiking near group of about 10-12 youngins. I’m twice as old as most but I hold my own pretty well…most of the time.

From the top of Avery Peak. Not sure what body of water is but it’s huge.

Took a tumble late in PM. Some folks up ahead must have heard it as yelled back to ask if OK. Meekly replied yes as I inventoried body parts. Right pinky dislocated. Fortunately, through sports, I’ve seen that before…just not to me. Couple pulls and popped back into place.

Easy Going, Drankle, Twinkle Toes and their dog, Kenya, were waiting up ahead. Asked if I was OK. Said if you consider dislocated finger OK, then yes. Told them I had popped it back in place and Easy Going said “Just Pete is just a bad ass”. That made me feel a little better!

Tented on the lake shore. Pretty but cold and damp.

Have to cross Kennebec River tomorrow afternoon. ATC provides ferry service across but stops at 2PM.?? May have to try to hitch a boat ride across because won’t get there until about 4.

Happy trails!

Day 152 Lone Mtn Tentsite to ME 27, Stratton, ME (15.7 miles) 2001.6 miles total

Couple big milestones today: more than 2000 miles hiked and less than 200 miles to go!

This plaque, near Spaulding Mtn, commemorates the completion of the final section of the AT from GA to ME. Few miles shorter 80 years ago.

It’s been chilly early AM’s. Low 40’s. Been very fortunate with weather in ME. Hasn’t rained for about 10 days. Makes the muddy/boggy areas more fordable.

Not that I should need reminding but this reminded me that mountains are really just giant rocks and rock piles.

Had lunch along this stream with Shades (been hiking around him last 2 days) and Lil’ Wayne. She is 23 and came on trail to hike for 2 months. She loved it so much, she’s now hiked 1000 miles.

3 good climbs today then 5 miles down to road. Hitched a ride 5 miles into Stratton. Small town full of hikers. Saw many I knew or recognized, including Goddess.

Before I started this trek, I would tell people that I’d never hiked. Now have to say never hiked before this. 2000 miles. Holy crap! That’s about 4,500,000 steps…just on the trail.

Will be going over the Bigelows tomorrow. Only about a half dozen big climbs before Kathadin.

Happy trails!

Day 151 ME 4 to Lone Mtn Tentsite (16.5 miles) 1985.9 miles total

I really love hitchhiking. I’ve met the nicest people and had great conversations (which you need out here now and then). Today Marge and Don, a retired couple who live on Moosawhatever Lake, picked me up in Rangeley and drove me 9 miles to trail.

They used to do a lot of hiking in this area. Knew where I’d been through the Whites and a lot of Maine. Marge knew Mitzpah Spring Hut and many other Huts that I stopped in through the Whites.

Looking back at Rangeley Lake.

Some pretty good climbing today. Started morning at 1800′ and headed to 4120′ in less than 6 miles.

Up ahead is top of Stone Mtn, I think. There were a lot of false summits. You think you’re there but…no!

Above tree line they will paint white blazes on rocks or use these cairns to mark trail. I try not to leave one without being able to see next or something ahead. Believe it or not, you could get temporarily disoriented up here.

From Stone Mtn to The Horn. Down about 500′ and right back up to 4021′.

Over The Horn, down about 1000′, and back up to Saddleback Junior.

That was the first 5 hours (9.3 miles) of my day. How was yours?

Rest of day was down into valley and then up to Lone Mountain (3260′).

Terrain is still tough but very hikable.

Happy trails!

Day 150 Little Swift River Campsite to ME 4, Rangeley, ME (4.8 miles) 1969.4 miles total

Decided to take a Nero today. Able to get into Rangeley by noon so almost like a zero as far as rest, etc.

Starting to see a tree with fall colors now and then.

Had heard lots of good things about Rangeley, a resort town on Lake Rangeley. Hitched ride with Easy Going and another hiker. 2 little old ladies picked us up and drove us 9 miles to town.

View from my motel room. Got to watch some golf. 

Happy trails!

Day 149 Old Blue Mtn Tentsite to Little Swift River Pond Campsite (18.5 miles) 1964.6 miles total

Last night was my first close encounter with a large animal since I got stampeded by cows a few months ago. Heard loud steps moving in my direction. Got my full attention right away. Had flashlight, whistle, and knife at the ready. Initially figured bear or moose. As it got closer, steps sounded more deliberate and graceful than a bear. It turned and headed down mtn about 30 yds away. Pretty sure a moose.

Hiked most of AM towards a large lake. Name is really long Mahoos something or other. Very large, pretty mountain lake. 

You can see here where there has been logging. See quite a few logging trucks up here but this is the first time I’ve really seen a harvested area.

Terrain was much more normal today. Actually was hiking vs rock climbing…which is nice!

Ran into some awesome trail magic about 1PM. Burgers, chips, cookies, cokes, water, and a chair with a back. Doesn’t get much better than that. Retired couple (can’t remember names) who come out a couple times per week just because they enjoy the reaction and appreciation of hikers. So cool.

Nice view of Lake Mahooswhatever. Met a lady from VA here who was waiting to meet her husband who is thru-hiking. She’s sherpa’ing him through ME.

Had a nice conversation later in the day with 3 day hikers who have second homes in Rangely. Gave me a granola bar and some nuts. People are really eager to offer any assistance they can when they realize you’ve hiked 1960 miles!

110 miles to Monson.  

Happy trails!

Day 148 East B Hill Rd to Old Blue Mtn Tentsite (13.2 miles) 1946.1 miles total

Met Gang Grey (aka Franko, Todd, Mike, and Tom) in Andover. Very small town so I heard those Harleys coming! We had breakfast, a beer, and lots of laughs in a couple of hours. They also brought me a care package from Dawn and Dave. Set on bandanas now. Thanks, everyone. Good for my sanity!

Got started hiking about 1:00. Terrain is significantly less difficult. A bit tougher than average. Still a few smaller rock scrambles. Able to move at a much more mentally acceptable mph.

Right now weather forecast is good for the next week. Only 3 more town stops planned. Last will be Monson. Really hoping to make it there next Friday or early Saturday. Leave Sunday into the 100 Mile Wilderness (relatively easy hiking but nothing for 100 miles). After that it’s 15 miles in Baxter State Park to Mt Kathadin.  

I will then officially retire from long distance hiking…except that you have to walk 5.5 miles back down mountain to parking area. Gonna have to make sure I don’t gravity blaze that!

Happy trails!

Day 147 Mahoosuc Notch Tentsite to East B Hill Rd (18.4 miles) 1932.9 miles

Made good mileage today but it took a while. Hiked for 12 hours so I could get to a road to hitch into Andover, ME.

Mahoosuc Notch began almost as soon as I started shortly after 6AM. When God created the world, I think it got late on day 6 and he had a bunch of boulders left. This is where he got rid of them.

Terrain was pretty much like below for 1 mile. Up pile of boulders, down other side, repeat…again and again.

I don’t know if it was toughest mile of trail but I do know it wasn’t the most fun!

Had to take my pack off to crawl through a couple crevices like below.

The amount of rock climbing/mountaineering since the beginning of the Whites has surprised me. If you want to simulate at home put a chair and a table about 2 or 3 feet apart and a couple feet from a counter. Step on to chair, then table and then counter. Go back down. Keep repeating for an hour and a half. If you want a little more reality, water them down. Guaranteed to build thighs of steel.

Took another 2 hrs to go next 1.5 miles up Mahoosuc Arm.

After that it gradually became more like hiking. Was even able to move at 2+ miles per hour for a few stretches. That’s more my style.

Speck Pond below.

The lack of wildlife in VT, NH, and now ME is still quite eerie. Saw a grouse (I think) today. Biggest animal, other than a few turkeys, I’ve seen for a while.

Hoping to see a moose somewhere in ME. They say best odds are to be by pond at sunrise/sunset.

Staying at hostel tonight. I have private room with TV so happy camper.

Planning to meet Gang Grey, a bad ass motorcycle gang out of NJ., tomorrow. Actually a group of friends from Lake Hopatcong who are in ME on a bike trip. Meeting for lunch so will get a little extra rest which will be good after long day today.

Had to face the fact that I won’t finish Sept 7. Very difficult for me to admit won’t happen but it’s virtually mathematically impossible. Sucks but now shooting for Sept 9.

Happy trails!

Day 146 Mt Success Tentsite to Mahoosuc Notch Tentsite (8.3 miles) 1914.5 miles total

Another rough day. Don’t know if it’s because trail is still really difficult or something else. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

New Hampshire tortures you tight to the bitter end. Had to go up these rocks.

Finally made Maine. Final state!

Yeah, we’re going up there. Goose Eye Mtn West Peak.

Maine doesn’t exactly begin easily. They have rocks, too. Went down these rocks. Shortly after that walking on a narrow path ground gave way and tumbled down about 3′.
Didn’t get hurt but was laying on my back(pack) for a few minutes. Like a turtle flipped over on it’s shell.

Going up there, too. Goose Eye Mtn East Peak. Very boggy around here. Floating mud. Stepped on what a thought was a log. Sunk into muck over my ankle. Some places this crap is 12″ deep.

Stopped to tent just short of Mahoosuc Notch, according to guidebook, the most difficult or fun mile of the trail. Major boulder field. Takes people 2 hours to cross this mile. Doesn’t sound like fun to me!

Happy trails!

Day 145 US 2 to Mt Success Tentsite (14.7 miles) 1906.2 miles total

Not that much easier hiking today. Guess I was expecting bigger change from Whites. Still crossed 3 Mtn peaks. At 3500′, about 2000′ less elevation than most in Whites.

That 14.7 miles took me about 9.5 hrs so still tough going. Lots of large rocks that are difficult to navigate.

Physical aches and pains are piling up. Nothing too bad. Feet are always sore. Toes have been tingly since about second week. Both knees now sore pretty regularly. Think worn out from all the large step ups and downs required to mountaineer the Whites. Elbow I fell on in PA still a bit tender. Guessing I cracked bone because lump there and don’t like bumping it. Thumbnail smashed in fall in VA now coming off.

Other than that, I’m a pillar of health!

Stopped short of ME by 1.5 miles. Could see rain coming when at top of Mt Success. I’m tenting 0.1 mile from top of mountain. Got tent set up right before first drops. Don’t like tenting this close to top of a mtn but am in a pretty protected spot.

Thunderstorm started about 9PM. Pretty noisy up here. Rain, but not too hard.

Hoping to be in Andover, ME in 2 days. It’s about 37 miles so will be stretching.

Happy trails!