Date: 2006-09-26
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Rte 4
Miles today: 10.7

Tuesday, Sept 26, 2006 Poplar Ridge Lean-To to Rte 4, 10.7 milesAt 6:20 everyone¢s up and practically ready to go. Warmer than yesterday. 50¢s?, maybe even 60? Partly cloudy. Oblique sunlight slides through gray sky lighting up profuse clusters of showy, firey mountain ash berries, their color range from orange to red orange to pure red to crimson.People tell me I¢m an inspiration, Memere says. I hate being told that. It means you¢re old. Two Step didn¢t call us an inspiration. I liked that. She simply said it¢s nice to see women hikers on the trail.This is their big day. Saddleback Jr, The Horn and Saddleback. Saddleback is one of Amoeba¢s favorites.The women are taking a break when Bruce and Tim overtake them shortly before 8AM.I have a trail name for you, Amoeba says to Bruce. What? Says Bruce. Sweatin¢ Bullet, says Amoeba. He doesn¢t shoot her.Ascending Saddleback Jr, they pass a nice tentsite.A whole platform of tree roots, soil and plants is rocking in the wind, up and down, up and down.Looking toward Katahdin, clouds are racing towards that mountain. A layer of clouds racing overhead. There¢s a bit of blue sky. Sun coming in from the side. Near the top of the climb a picture of light rays.Blueberry, bunchberry, sheep laurel, Balsam fir, that red moss (not ID¢d, does anybody know this plant?), baby¢s tears (?), gold thread, reindeer lichen, mountain cranberry, a fine-leaved plant that looks like moss, Harrimanella?11:20 summit of The Horn is gale-force cold winds that turn Memere¢s hat inside out. Wind is coming in from the right, catching the packs and almost blowing the hikers off the mountain.Green lichen on the rock faces.Descending there¢s an iron ladder.Now ascending Saddleback. Easier than the first 2 peaks. First through scrub fir, then above treeline.Meet Chris, the ridgerunner.Meet Possum, a NOBO thruhiker.Wind is so strong it¢s blowing right through the holes in Amoeba¢s Crocs. I never felt that before, she says.1:15 stop for lunch short of the summit of Saddleback in a spot out of the wind. Gray Feathers says, I could just lie right here and die. Memere says, yeah, I could have a heart attack here and die and then I wouldn¢t have to do that last little up.Summit of Saddleback is glorious. Zig Zag is in the lead and is just racing, energized by the hike.On the descent hello to Polar Bear, lightly clad. He¢s got only 2 more weeks to finish the AT. Polar Bear, better put on your jacket soon, it¢s cold up top.Rebar. Stone steps. Comfortable descent.At the road to Eddy Pond 2 Maine fishermen are hiking in to try their luck. You¢ve got another 2 hours out to the dirt road they say.At Ethel Pond when some are running out of steam, who is there but Purple Sherpa and Dixie, with cups of hot cocoa.Anyone reading this who has the idea of kidnapping Purple Sherpa, forget it. You'll never get past his 5 female bodyguards.It¢s 2 miles to the VW, 2.7 out to Rte 4. Purple Sherpa says once you get past this vertical section it¢s nice level easy walking out to the VW.Ok. Go for it. If they just can¢t get to Rte 4, they can pick up the 0.7 in the morning.Tim has warned Purple Sherpa about Purple Rose¢s injuries. Purple Sherpa gives her an extra special hug.Out through yellow and flame-throwing sugars, over a wooden staircase made of log steps and stringers, past a large stone retaining wall, over a real bridge. Are we still in Maine?At the gravel road a little before 6. Purple Sherpa encourages. Go for it, girls. Leave your packs and go for it.Packs off, light as schoolgirls, they run the last 0.7, path lit by yellow basswood and hobblebush leaves. Oh, what a hike!Back to Stratton. Celebrate with BYO wine and beer at the diner. The Poplar Ridge/Massachusetts hikers are all there. Purple Rose and Purple Sherpa have a night together at the campground.Memere, Gray Feathers, Zig Zag and Amoeba at the Roadhouse. Big kitchen. Laundry. Showers. Comfortable mattresses. White sheets.