Date: 2016-08-10
From: ME 27 - Stratton, ME - Mile 2,000.9

To: Little Bigelow Lean-To
Miles today: 15.3

This is supposedly the last day of strenuous terrain in Maine. Today's hike certainly was consistent with what Maine has shown so far - one challenge after another. Don't get too satisfied with whatever aspect of the hike was just completed because the next one is beginning. But there was a difference today. The trail seemed to be working with me instead of against me. I could step where I wanted to step; crevices existed for me to grab hold.Subman, Suds, and I were ready early and were able to be driven to the trailhead so that we started hiking before 7:00. Unlike most trailheads that start immediately with an elevator-like initiation in which there is an immediate climb of several stories, we had a comfortable break-in stretch that didn't take our breath away. Bigelow Mountain was the first climb - a climb of 2,000 feet. It's here that I began feeling the trail not fighting me. Maybe it was all in my head, but Suds mentioned the day feeling melancholic to her - a feeling I could relate to. My Dad played youth baseball. He was a catcher and it sounded like he was pretty good. I remember him telling me that he sensed he had a good rapport with his pitchers and could direct the placement and type of pitch to get batters out. He began getting attention from a baseball scout before being injured. When he returned from his injury, he said he lost the "feel" to call the game and he never advanced as a player. One of his team's names was "Dirty Dishes" - I always thought that was a cool name. So why mention this? Because as I hiked today, I thought I had the feeling for climbing like my Dad had to call pitches. The next step orhandhold seemed to be there and set me up for the next one and so on and so on. It was an enjoyable sensation as it played out. Maine - you are incredible! Another round of 360 degree views. Another ridge walk. It was hazy but the clarity periodically was there to fully embrace and view the valleys and ponds so far below.I was concerned about how steep South Horn was based on its elevation profile in AWOL's Guide. For good reason. I smiled as I passed a sign that directed hikers to stay on the trail in order to preserve the fragile alpine pants. These signs routinely appear above 4,000 feet. In this instance though I wanted to yell at someone and say that I'll be happy to stay on the trail if the trail doesn't kill me. South Horn was an exposed summit with a substantial exposed climb to get to it. My fear of heights never kicked in to overwhelm me but Subman commented that he got a bit dizzy looking down. It was a long way down. Someone recently told Suds about a spot a few days ago where someone could walk off the mountain during night hiking and fall to their death. You couldn't pay me to hike South Horn at night or in inclement weather.Another memory of Dad came over me while descending South Horn. Dad loved setting up train tracks. He had a separate small room in which he proudly set trains to move around his prized Snow Village scenes. He built landscapes complete with tunnels and a few tiers. Below me were islands in Maine's ponds. There were trees on those islands and I was so high above them that I felt like I was looking at my Dad's handy work. As I hiked I realized being grateful for today's memories of my Dad. Triggers like those experienced today don't routinely appear but they were vividly evident today.So I'm passed South Horn now. This last day of difficult hiking in Maine is well underway now. Avery Peak is next. During a rest stop at a day use lean-to, we had a nice conversation with two southbounders - Dory and her hiking companion who is thinking about being named "Sticks". Dory said Avery kicked her butt. Great. We had a nice lunch spot. I started out and was stunned with how quickly the trail had become a boulder scramble of considerable difficulty. This climb though was just a few hundred feet so I knew the challenge couldn't last long. Descents are sometimes more difficult than climbs. We had a long one today. There have been more difficult ones than this, but it was long. The final climb up Little Bigelow Mountain was filled with surprises. Just as I thought this stretch must be the end, the trail dipped and turned, and then I knew it wasn't over. But there wasn't a sense of frustration today. I really think I had started today thinking that this was going to be such a tough day that I just went with whatever came. And that feeling of the trail working with me never went away as the day became late afternoon. Finally though, the views of Little Bigelow Mountain were mine. I took my pictures and sent Beth another message saying that all that was left was a 1.7 mile descent to tonight's place of rest. WRONG - there was another mile to get to Little Bigelow's Summit. Time to smile again. Today's hike finally ended. Will tomorrow's hike be easier? I hope so but if it isn't then so be it. At this point, I'm thinking that Mt. Katahdin's hike will definitely be a challenge. After Katahdin, I still have to return to hike the 33 mile White Mountains gap I skipped in order to hike with Subman and Suds in Maine. The White Mountains will be a challenging finish. Mark asked about the miles missed due to the fire in Shenandoah National Park. I asked about this back then and talked with many hikers too. It didn't sound like anyone was returning to hike that section. Those miles are considered done because hikers were there and were rerouted around the closed fire area in order to stay out of danger and to let those combatting the fire do their work. That last paragraph is meaningful to me. After Lyme Disease I wondered if I'd ever get back feeling positive about my ability to hike the entire trail. Before Lyme, I thought in terms of hiking "x" miles per week with the end result being completion of the AT. After Lyme, I couldn't believe how easily it was said that I had hiked so many miles already and that I "just" had to hike a few hundred more to finish. I've come to realize and appreciate how lucky I am to still be out here attempting to finish the remaining miles. Now, I feel fortunate to realize that the sense of feeling capable of finishing has returned.