Date: 2014-07-26
From: Andover, ME

To: Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 14.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 136-July 26, Andover, ME to Unnamed Gap at Mile 1942.9, 14.5 miles. In our 3-day plan to get to Rangeley, ME we were supposed to hike 10.1 miles today. But we arrived at the campsite by a road at 12:30 PM and thought it was too early to quit for the day so we decided to climb another mountain while the sun was shining! We were fortified this morning with tasty breakfast sandwiches from Mill's Market in Andover. Gloria, the Pine Ellis Hostel shuttle driver gave us a ride back to the trail at 6:30 AM and we were hiking by 6:45. We climbed 3 mountains today for a total elevation gain of 5500 feet and 4000 feet of descent The first mountain was Wyman Mt. and it was a fairly mellow, steady climb on mostly dirt and rock trails. Part way up the mountain we came to Surplus Pond, a lovely little pond where we hoped to spot a moose but didn't. We've regularly seen moose droppings on the trail but are still waiting for our first live sighting. As we were heading down Wyman we met up with Grasshopper, Cabo and Trip who were slack packing south this section of trail. It is fun to see hikers we know going the opposite direction once in awhile. We can give each other a "head's up" on lies ahead on the trail. The descent off of Wyman into Sawyer Notch was steep as was the climb out and up Moody Mountain. Slow and steady got us to the top of our second mountain of the day, but not without some climbing that involved using our hands and the trees along the edge of the trail to pull ourselves up. We had hoped to eat lunch on top of Moody but we passed up a tiny overlook spot, thinking there would be a better one and there wasn't, so we ate sitting on a large trail-side rock part way down. The decision to push on had several pluses. First, it was really too early to stop for the day. Second, tomorrow was potentially going to be a long day of 17 miles and if we did a few extras today, that would come off of tomorrow's miles. And third, rain is supposed to move in tomorrow and we'd rather climb the mountains when it is not raining so we pushed on. We are at a "stealth" campsite, meaning this campsite is not listed in the guidebook and may or may not be a legal campsite. Our guide book lists a stream and trail mileage marker that is in the area so we hoped we could find a site that other hikers have used in the past. Sure enough, tucked off the trail in the pine trees was this mostly flat spot with some logs around it for sitting upon and a fire ring. We have a water source and are mostly hidden from view from passing hikers. It should work for tonight. The next shelter is 4.2 miles from here and we did not want to have to go that much farther to camp. Some of our hiker friends are completing their hike by summiting Mt. Katahdin, which is very exciting. So far I know that Ranger and RocDoc have finished and we send our congratulations to them. You may remember those names because both those young men did the Half Gallon Ice Cream challenge with us at Pine Grove Furnace State Park at the end of May. All is well. 242.4P.S. Our stealth site wasn't so stealth as about 6:30 P.M. our hiker friends Sisyfus and Ketchup discovered us and we found them spaces to set up their tents and have enjoyed their company.