Date: 2009-09-22
From: West Carry Pond Leanto

To: Stafford Notch Campsite
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a good day, if long. I hiked better, more like I really can hike. Good thing, as the trail demanded it. Today and tomorrow are little tests, if you will. The southern mountains in Maine are tougher than those I have already gone over, with the possible exception of Katahdin. The Bigelows are my first real tough mountain challenge. Today, the morning went very well. There were 3 little bumps of climbs totaling around 1400 ft elevaton gain. I made it 7 miles to the Little Bigelo Leanto for lunch by 12:30, feeling proud of myself. Only 5 miles to go, another 1300 ft or so elevation gain and 750 ft or so elevation loss. On the way in the morning I met Mero, Splice and Toubab, Jim Dandy and Why Not? I Had lunch at the leanto with a young man named Nordic. Shortly after leaving the leanto I met Coolio and Zen Dog, and another NOBO whose name I forgot. Nearing the top of Little Bigelow I met a couple of older day hikers and chatted a bit. Little Bigelow has several "tops". The first one was near a big hump of rock which I went up, though the trail skirted it. Glad I did as it had a great view of the twin peaks of Big Bigelow, Avery and West peaks as well as views down to Flagstaff Lake. The twin peaks of Big Bigelow are awesome, very magestic looking peaks I will be going up tomorrow. Cool! Then all those multiple ups and downs on Little Bigelow started getting the best of me. They go on for over a mile and they were making me tired and I could tell the time was going by. On about the last bump of Little Bigelow I met Jabberwockie resting on a rock and a bit later another thru hiker whose name I did not get. By this time I am getting woried about the time and how far I have to go on pretty rough trail. I probably had the hint of worry in my eyes as I saw these thru hikers. I know I am slower (by a lot) than they are but they did not even look worried about getting to Little Bigelow leanto, some 3+ miles away while I was freaking out about reaching my campsite less than 2 miles away. I did take the time on a really nice rock ledge with an awesome view of Big Bigelow and a huge valley and many other mountains to the southwest to look at my cell phone. Since I had excellent recption, for the first time in days, I made quick calls to Sara and a couple of good friends in Washington. I just wanted to feel connected. Going down now I met Fishsticks, another NOBO going to the leanto. He just smiled when I mentioned how far it was and what the time was. NOBOs, at this point, are a little suerhuman after coming over a lot of really big mountains. The contrast to my poor pace did not improve my mood. I did finally get to Safford Notch. The campsites were another .3 of a mile. When the trail actually went under some huge cave-like rocks it was too dark to see well so I got out my headlamp, which was rather pitiful as it needed new batteries. (New batteries for anything but double As are hard to come by in these tiny Maine towns.) Just as I got to the campsite area I saw another headlamp, rather much brighter than mine. Ja El had gotten there just a bit before. He told me the layout of the tentsites and where the water was. Practically in the dark, because of my poor light, I found a spot and quickly set up my tent. I was extremely lucky to find soft enough ground for my 4 stakes in that rock hard ground and quickly had the tent up and moved in. Ja El loaned me his headlamp to go get my water and helped me back to my tent which I vowed not to go more than 3 steps from until morning. My light is plenty good enough to get my dinner and get to bed and so I did those chores. I was very thankful I had gotten there and grateful for Ja El's help although I felt like a doofus for needing it. No matter. I was fed, in my tent, horizontal and safe. Thanks be to God and life was good.