Date: 2015-08-10
From: Spaulding Mountain Shelter, ME

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 13.5

Up again at 6:30am after a fair night of sleep. I could tell be the silence of the nearby shelter that the others were still asleep, but they'd be up and moving within the next ~20 minutes. With access to 4G, I played a variety of music as I packed my gear including a local Indy band, Murder by Death. I suggest "Lost River" - a beautiful song and music video with a modern Johny Cash-esque sound. After quick trips to fill my water and top off my cat hole, the USS Bennington was on the trail at 7:30am. With a ~900ft climb in the first .8 miles, Yoohoo led the way at first before allowing me to pass. I quickly reached the top, skirting the summit some 150 yards off on a side trail, before continuing on towards Sugarloaf Mountain.Before reaching Sugarloaf, I passed a bronze plaque on a late boulder commemorating where, in 1937, the CCC completed the final section of the AT which, at the time, was 2,054 miles. Since then, with the help of countless volunteers and trail clubs, the trail has grown by an additional ~135 miles, making many sections a bit more hiker-friendly as a result. I reached Sugarloaf Mountain and would begin a steady descent down to the Carrabassett River through stretches of slick, steep terrain. Over the past 2 days I've eaten it 3 times - once yesterday when both feet left me as I ascended a sharp angled slab and landed on my stomach, sliding a few feet back down the rock in the process. Twice came this morning as I descended Sugarloaf: once on slick roots, landing on my butt, and the second on slick mud, landing on my back. No damage other than a bruised ego. Battered by strong winds in certain exposed areas of the descent, I found myself almost blown over while climbing 'up' the mountain. As I looked up at South Crocker Mountain towering above, the summit was hidden under a rolling blanket of fast-moving fog, like the thick smoke discharged from a steam locomotive.I reached the Carrabassett River, crossing a shaky board extended between 2 boulders, and found a flat rock to sit on for a quick break. Another hiker, Sunscreen, who I haven't since Harper's Ferry, was there and we chatted briefly. He soon began the ~1,800ft climb to the summit of Crocker Mountain, commenting that he'd see me in town. I told him I'd most likely see him sooner because I was pretty good at climbs. He said he was too as he entered the woods (I'd catch and pass him within the next half hour.) Yoohoo soon joined me and was quickly followed by Huey and Rabbit. As they settled in to take their breaks, a light rain began falling and I took this as a cue to continue moving. Rain was expected to really begin around 1:00pm and, already being 10:00am, I still needed to cross up and over the Crocker Mountains before reaching our destination of ME 27.The next hour was spent scaling South Crocker Mountain over ~2 miles. Fog hugged the sides of the mountain, voiding any views to be had, so I continued another mile to the summit of North Crocker Mountain, topping out at 4,228ft. As I passed along the summit I noticed the high density of moose poop lining the trail, having to avoid stepping in it in certain spots. The remaining stretch of trail would take me ~5 miles and ~2,800ft down to ME 27, a road that would take me into nearby Stratton, ME. Reaching the road in a light, cold rain, it would take just under half an hour to finally get a hitch in. The local man who's name I've forgotten took me to Fotter's Market where I could take care of a small resupply. I walked the aisles in a hurry, quickly grabbing different candies to add to my Halloween-like food bag, in order to escape the coldness of the store.As I exited I saw Huey standing in the rain across the street and we met up and went to the Stratton Plaza Lounge for lunch. In a town of ~350 people, there's not many options for food when 2 of the 3 restaurants are closed. The Plaza hit the spot, though, serving up a solid variety of foods including BLT's, burritos, meatball subs, salads, pizza, etc.. The only letdown(s) came in the form of A) Pepsi products, and B) having to pay $1.00 for refills of Pepsi products. At least this time, unlike at The Shed in Rangeley, I was aware of refill costs and wouldn't be surprised when I had to pay $5 for beverages. Huey and I enjoyed our first round of food - a turkey club for me, a burrito for him - as we sat at the bar shivering from cold while watching Naked and Afraid on TV. Yoohoo and Rabbit finally rolled in just in time for round 2, this time a meatball sub for me. Other hikers rolled in including Forward, Doc, Clank, Magellan, and a few SoBo's and the restaurant took on a very comfortable atmosphere as hikers took shelter in the comfort of warm food and cold beer while escaping the rain outside.After lunch and another freezing trip into Fotter's Market for the others to resupply, it was time to find a place to stay. With no vacancy in the 3 small hotels in what locals would call the downtown area, we knew we had to head a mile away to the Spillover Motel - properly named, I thought. Standing in the rain looking like wet dogs, Huey holding a soaking box of leftover pizza, a kind man named David pulled over to offer us rides. Unable to fit us all in together, he kindly took 2 trips. In his front seat was his 15 year old dog happily twirling around. When I tried to get its attention for a quick pet, David informed me that it was both blind and deaf. He assured me, however, that the dog was plenty happy as long as he had received food, water, and loving attention.At the Spillover Motel by 5:30pm, Yoohoo and I entered our rooms just down from Huey and Rabbit's, happy to have a dry and warm place for the night. We quickly showered, put our laundry together (kindly done by Huey,) and got busy relaxing. Both Yoohoo and I have been horizontal for the past few hours, splitting a 2-liter of off brand Coke, eating cookies, and watching TV. I just wrapped up an episode of Jeopardy - only the second episode since beginning the trail. Even though our room is filled with the usual hiker musk, I'll be falling asleep in a soft bed to the thought of having accomplished 2,001 miles. Perfect.Tomorrow brings the last sizeable Mountain range, the Bigelow's, before becoming dramatically flatter over the final ~170 miles of the trail. Tomorrow begins immediately with a ~2,900ft climb up Bigelow Mountain. The goal will be ~23 miles following a shorter day today, but the trail conditions following a day of rain may or may not influence the day's outcome.Here's to Pepsi being a good substitute in a pinch, officially becoming a 2,000-miler, and the rain of continued support as I push on.*Thank you, Mrs. Yoohoo. I'm glad you've stumbled across my journals and have enjoyed following along. It's been a pleasure hiking with Yoohoo over the past month, even though it's meant hearing him say "Happy trails" to every hiker we pass. I'll be sure he keeps his GPS charged over this last week and a half. Cheers.- Cambo