Days 98 to 101 leaving the trail again

Day 98, July 10, Zero day at the Roadhouse Hostel in Stratton, Maine

I decided to take a zero day in hopes of avoiding some of the rain from Tropical Storm Beryl.  I also felt really tired and relished the day off.

I had a wonderful Roadhouse breakfast, relaxed at the hostel all day, and prepared for my hike to come.  There will be some resupply challenges between here and Gorham , NH.

Day 99, July 11, ME Route 27 to Spaulding Mountain Lean-to

Hiked today 13.6 today’s ascent 5430 total hiked 1499

Today we had another great breakfast at the Roadhouse. There are lots of interesting people there.  One couple is doing a canoe trail 750 miles from the Adirondacks to Canada. There area lot of long road portages.  They have a little dolly that they use with their canoe to walk the roads.  They had to walk with packs and the canoe for 15 miles to reach the hostel!    Another guy who is hiking with his poodle, Leo, owns a jiu-jitsu school in Florida. He also had lots of interesting stories. He is 50, northbound and approaching the end of his trek.

The trail in Maine really looks magical a lot of the time.

I’m at the top of North Crocker Mountain. There are no views, but there’s a signpost.

I’m at the summit of Crocker Mountain and this is the view toward Sugarloaf Mountain.

I’ll be hiking most of the way up Sugarloaf Mountain, although not to the peak, and then turning right to follow the ridge to Spaulding Mountain. This picture shows Spaulding  Mountain from Crocker Mountain.

On the hike up Sugarloaf it started pouring really hard as I was climbing the steepest part of the mountain! This is a really challenging series of rock climbs. I was grabbing cracks in rocks to pull myself up while water was flowing down almost like a waterfall.

After Sugarloaf, the rain continued for another hour. I was exhausted and I still had to go over Spaulding!

The rest of the hike was a long hard slog for me.  I slowed to about 45 minutes per mile as I negotiated Maine’s normal obstacle course with a dull mind and tired legs.  It took me over 9 hours to finish this 13.6 mile hike!

I arrived at the Spaulding Mountain Lean-to around 6PM.  I found a decent tent site,  ate the foot long sub I had from Stratton, and retired to my tent exhausted.

Day 100, July 12, Spaulding Mountain Lean-to to Redington Stream Campsite

Hiked today 10.5 today’s ascent 3000 total hiked 1510

I got up early and was on the trail around 6:30 this morning.  It is almost 19 miles to ME Route 4 where I can get picked up by a hostel in Rangel.  I doubt that I can make it in one day in my current condition and with the three major mountains in front of me.

I reached the top of Poplar Ridge after hiking 7.7 miles. It feels like I’ve hiked 20. Something is wrong with my energy and my muscles.

Here’s a picture of the sign and the view from Poplar Ridge.

This kind of rock climb is typical of going up mountains in Maine.

It’s 2:10 in the afternoon and I’m on top of Saddleback Junior, which tops out at 3640 feet. The first picture is of the sign and what’s behind it and the second picture will be in the opposite direction. The last two pictures are at 90° to the first two and the last picture shows the next three mountains that I will climb tomorrow.

After Saddleback Junior, I only hiked another mile and a half to the Reddington Stream Campsite.  I only hiked 10.5 miles today but I’m really tired.  I set up camp, made dinner, and was in my tent around 6:00 PM.

I think my body has finally run out of reserves and it’s letting me know.  I’ve noticed that I can’t keep my pace and I’m starting to lose coordination and accuracy on foot placement and balance.  Steep rocky descents have become scary and dangerous where before they were just challenging.  Also I become exhausted after the first five miles.

Kim says she can tell from my voice that I not healthy.  I’ve decided to come off the trail tomorrow for at least a week to try and replenish some of my body’s reserves.  I’m also going to see a doctor to make sure I haven’t contracted one of the many tick and mosquito born diseases.

Kim will make the 9 hour drive from New Jersey tomorrow to pick me up at the Piazza Rock Trailhead on ME Route 4.

Day 101, July 13, Redington Stream Campsite to the Piazza Rock trailhead on ME Route 4

Hiked today 8 todays ascent 1660 total hiked 1518

I got up kinda late this morning because it was raining. It stopped raining around six, and I delayed with the hope that my tent would dry out at least a little bit.

I got on the trail at 7:30 and now it’s 8:20 AM. I’m at the top of the Horn, a secondary peak of Saddleback Mountain. As you can see it’s completely fogged in at the moment, but it is clearing and I think I’ll have some good views from Saddleback.

I’m climbing Saddleback here’s a shot back toward the horn where you can see the trail winding across the ridge.

As you can see, it’s starting to clear, hopefully I’ll have great views from Saddleback Mountain.

I’m at Saddleback and it’s still fogged in.

The clouds parted enough for one view from Saddleback.

This is a look back at Saddleback Peak.  As you can see it cleared up right after I left!

Here are a couple vistas since the clouds parted right after I left the peak.

Another incredible view from the hike down Saddleback.

Kim is scheduled to pick me up at the Piazza Rock Trailhead between 5 and 6 PM.  I have a lot of time to kill!

I stopped at the Piazza Rock Lean-to at around 1:00 and had food, a nap, and coffee with honey.  I left the lean-to around 2:15 and am waiting in the parking lot at 3:15.  I reckon I have 2 or three hours to wait.  Since there is no cell connectivity here at all, I have no idea where she is until she gets here.  I hope the thunderstorms either hold off or miss me entirely.

Kim arrived and picked me up at about 5:20, I only had to wait two hours.

I’ll be off trail until I feel well enough to hike Mahoosic Notch and the White Mountains.  The upcoming section is the most challenging of the entire AT and it would be dangerous to hike in my current condition.