"The greatest pleasure of a dog is...

"...that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too."
-Samuel Butler

July 2, 2001


Back on the Trail!  We did a good 10.6 miles.  


We climbed up the Crocker Mountains for the first five (six) miles and then we pushed in on up Sugarloaf.  


Right now I sit inside the Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort summit house.  It's a huge hexagon building with windows on five sides looking out on the Bigelows and other mountains (even Mt. Washington a ways off.)

This is a luxurious mansion in AT terms.

Inside the Sugarloaf summit house (Smitty behind wall, Odin - dog, Nathan, Denali - dog)

Note the two dogs.  The boxer on the left was very fun!

I wore my socks so there were six inches hanging loose out from my toes.  The boxer would "chase" me around and try to bite the loose part.  He was very careful to never get my toes.  Smart dog.


We have a wood stove going and a radio playing.  Such hardships on the AT!


That was sarcasm if you didn't catch it.  This was a very nice surprise to stay in this summit house.  Most shelters on the AT have three walls, fit about 8 adults shoulder to shoulder, and the best amenity you can hope for is a broom with which to sweep it out.

The winds on the summit were about 50 to 60 mph and chilly, so it was very good that we had the wood stove.


There is a section hiker here from S. New Hampshire and a couple from Florida named Peanut and Panama Red.


There is a phenomenon on the Trail in which single hikers often will hike with a couple.  It happened all along the Trail.  Sociologists should study it.  I suppose the single hiker provides a third-wheel kind of relief to the natural tensions couples have.

Anyways, my "couple" was Peanut and Panama Red.  I stayed with them through the rest of Maine and New Hampshire, with the occasional departures.  However, I "lost" them, and wouldn't find them again until North Carolina.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself...

Sunset from Sugarloaf Mountain

"Remember lining up along the curb...

...and watching homemade floats, marching bands, politicians, riding in classic cars, noisey [sic] firetrucks throwing tons of candy! So Americana, wonderful, I can't wait to see another one!!"
-annalee comment on Fodor's

July 1, 2001


Another zero.

I was headed out but Weather Channel was predicting thunderstorms with possible hail.

July 1, 2001 weather map showing low pressure system about to hit Maine

Yesterday, Stratton had their Family Fun Festival which was cool.  They had a parade with ATV's, old cars, and fire trucks.


This parade was S-M-A-L-L T-O-W-N, and so beautiful because of it.

One person just took their wheelbarrow down the street as part of the parade.

It was perfect.


This morning I went to Calvary Bible Church.


There were three of us in attendance, but it was enough.

"I never needed to be convinced to zero;...

...I loved eating too much."
-Dennis R. Blanchard in his book
Three Hundred Zeroes: Lessons of the Heart on the Appalachian Trail

June 30, 2001


Zero day in Stratton.


A zero day means you hike no miles.

I arrived the night before and checked into the Widow's Walk bed and breakfast.  It was a sweet respite.

Widow's Walk bed and breakfast

A zero day in town is a great thing.

Restaurants.

Ice cream and soda.

Laundry.

Email (usually at the local library).

I remember seeing the waitress at the local restaurant, and then again at the library as the librarian, where she admitted to being the town's mayor.  Go figure.

"Remote for detachment,...

...narrow for chosen company, winding for leisure, lonely for contemplation, it beckons not merely north and south but upward to the body, mind and soul of man."
- Myron Avery about the Appalachian Trail


June 29, 2001


Did the Bigelows.

Drawing in my journal

Big Bigelows picture taken from Little Bigelow

Avery Peak seen from West Peak

Plaque on Avery Peak

The Plaque reads:

"Myron H. Avery Peak

of Mt. Bigelow

Named in Honor of

Myron Haliburton Avery

1899-1952

Whose Foresight Leadership and Diligence

Made Possible

The Appalachian Trail

This 2,000 Mile Footpath

From Maine to Georgia"

Notice that the plaque correctly says "From Maine to Georgia" and not the other way around!

This next picture has the appearance of the Trail being a cliff with a large drop-off.

Let me assure you it was not an "appearance"...it is a real drop-off. 

Cliffside Trail in the Bigelows

Overall, it was a really fun day with beautiful views and pleasant weather.

Flagstaff Lake and Avery Peak

"Hey, Bullwinkle, we're in real trouble now!..."

"...Oh good, Rocky! I hate that artificial kind!"

-The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle

June 28, 2001

Moose mare on Little Bigelow mountain

Yes! That's right, I saw a moose one mile before the lean-to.  When I saw it I just froze and fumbled for my camera.  I was about fifteen feet away and it had no idea I was there. 


I took a picture and then just rustled my feet a little.  It slowly looked around and realized I was there and jumped a few steps up the bank, stopped, took a look back, and then ambled off.


I was thrilled to see my first moose on the Trail!  This was one animal I wanted to encounter (and live unscathed).  I saw some on the cab ride into Baxter State Park, but was happy to "officially" see one on the Trail.


I also saw a few partridges today.


I passed the 2000 mile mark painted on Long Falls Dam Road, which usually means a thruhiker has gone 2000 miles and is in the home stretch.  For me, it meant I had 2000 miles to go.

Only 168.7 miles down - 2000 miles to go!

I went 17 miles today.  I got up at 5:30 and started walking.  By 10:30 I had done my scheduled 10 miles, so I ate, took a nap, and went on.  I feel well and may make the 15.5 mile trek to Stratton tomorrow.

"Let us cross over the river...

...and rest beneath the shade of the trees."
-Stonewall Jackson's last words

June 27, 2001


Did four miles today just to rest.  Staying at Pierce Pond Lean-to which is a beaut right on the lake ("pond") with lots of red and green dragonflies.


I crossed the Kennebec [River] today over the canoe "ferry".  

Kennebec River and its AT canoe "ferry"

Thruhikers are encouraged to take the free canoe "ferry" across the Kennebec River since there is a dam upriver and water levels could swiftly rise to dangerous levels at any time.  At 70 yards, it is the widest ford of the entire AT.

The canoe was only running from 9 am to 11 am, so I had to make sure to get there.


There's a whole crowd here [at the Pierce Pond Lean-to] - boy scouts clearing the Trail, Slowride, Nathan, the Yankees, Fred, Ian, Michelle, Jeremiah, Becky, Smitty, Denali (dog), Ripped Fuel (dog), Double Stuff, etc.

"The sun does not forget a village...

...just because it is small."
-African proverb


June 26, 2001


We had some record heat in Maine today.  Up near 90 I think.  It made for a hard day because I wanted to go 14.7 miles to Caratunk and stay in the bed and breakfast there to buy some extra foodstuff. 


The climb up Pleasant Pond Mountain was up and down for 4.7 miles and because of the heat I dehydrated.


I remember that every hiker that day had a decidedly unpleasant time on Pleasant Pond Mountain.


I made it to the shelter on the other side of the mountain about 1 PM, ate and rehydrated (some).  Then I trudged the 6 miles to Caratunk and now am fed and clean.


Caratunk is a village of 74 registered voters plus some other few people. The Caratunk House is run by a former AT and PCT [Pacific Crest Trail] thruhiker and a professional massager and hotel management guy.  Nice place and good food.

All of Caratunk village

I've passed about 20 SB [southbounders] and have had 3 pass me.  It makes me a little worried about my pace, if it is too fast, yet I feel well.  I'll definitely slow it down between Stratton and Andover.  Maybe a zero in Stratton?


A "zero" is not hiking any miles for a day.  I continued to fight the urge to go as many miles as possible, as if the AT hike is a race.  Instead, I strategically did few miles on the best parts of the Trail and a lot of miles on the other parts.

Psalm 17:4, 5 (The Message)


"I'm not trying to get my way
          in the world's way.
I'm trying to get your way,
          your Word's way.
I'm staying on your trail;
          I'm putting one foot
In front of the other.
          I'm not giving up."

"Earth's crammed with heaven,...

...and every common bush afire with God;"
-Elizabeth Barett Browning


June 25, 2001


Sitting today by the Piscataquis River I realized I need to write more prayers to God and thoughts of disciplines along the Trail.


Disciplines:
Reading the Bible each day
Praise and worship of God
Times of silence
Service to others
Dependance on Jesus
Boldness in sharing


One of the most influential books in my life, besides the Bible, is Dallas Willard's Spirit of the Disciplines.  It is a deep read, but well worth the investment.  I did a Sunday School lesson about disciplines here.


The Trail was fun today, yet challenging.  Lots o' slippery rocks and a fall on my posterior.  The climb up Moxie was hard but the view was worth it.  

View from Moxie Bald, looking at the Bigelows

We (Nathan, Dan, Joe, Deja and Johe (?)) rested and enjoyed the time up there.

At the peak of Moxie Bald

I got to share some about my faith.  Nathan seems into God.  Joe knows something is out there but not sure what.  Dan is Jewish but also anti-God.


This shows the eclectic mix of hikers on the Appalachian Trail, and the openness of the "hike your own hike" philosophy of the Trail to share who you are and what you believe.

"Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?...

...It didn't have the guts."
-unknown

June 24, 2001


Today I went 9 miles to the first lean-to.  [It was 5.7 miles to Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to.] Most of the guys I was with stayed an extra day in Monson so I'm with a new group.  Joe, Johanna, Nathan, Deja, Dan.


About half a mile back on the Trail, I saw something pretty grisly.

If you faint easy, you might just click to another blog.


Or, at least, sit down.


Put your cup of coffee, glass of water, or can of ginger ale down...

Moose skeleton in the middle of the Trail

"His house was perfect,...

...whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all."
-Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit about Rivendell


June 23, 2001


I raced to Monson.

from left: Keith Shaw, Sr.; Keith (me) with fanny pack; Keith Shaw, Jr.

Shaw's rocked!  I had 2 thighs, 2 legs, 4 bread, plate o' green beans, and half a plate o' carrots, milk, 3 brownies.  Laundry and shower were free.  


I didn't mention that I also had Keith Shaw Sr.'s famous 5 by 5 breakfast: 5 eggs, 5 bacon strips, 5 sausages, 5 helpings of potatoes, and 5 pancakes.  I ate it all with no problem (and orange juice as well).


Keith Shaw was 71 and his son's name is Keith.  I got real confused sometimes.  I met a couple called Jean and Comer going north.  They had some great stories.  Other northbounders: Sweeper, Arthur, Lindy, Mellow Yellow.  


I hadn't talked to my parents since I left them at 5:20 am on June 12, 2001 to board a Greyhound bus (besides a phone message I left on June 15).

That's 11 days.


It was nice calling Mom and Dad 2 days early.  They were pleased.


The 100 Mile Wilderness and Katahdin were conquered, challenges that Northbounders look ahead to their whole hike, wondering if they will be prepared to face them.

Both were checked off for me.

However, I had plenty of challenges ahead: the infamous Mahoosic Notch mile, the Presidential's weather, and the half-gallon challenge to name a few.