Date: 2006-07-19
From: Safford Notch Campsite

To: Cranberry Stream Campsite
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: clear sky

Well, I had thought that I might get up early and hike to the top of Avery Peak in order to watch the sunrise, but that didn't happen. Seems that the cradle of my hammock and the warmth of my sleeping bag were like a drug that lulled me back to sleep. I did wake up and see the beautiful pink rays of the sunrise as they shown through the trees of he notch. So 8:30 it is when I leave camp, but I'm okay with that because I'm only going to go 5-8 miles today. I could've pushed for the full 10 to Stratton, but I know that at my snail's pace over today's climb's that I won't make it before the post office closes. So, I'll hike 2 miles into town tomorrow and then it will almost be a zero day.Wow, what a differnce a day makes! The sky is so blue and clear today and the views from the Old Man's Head (3300'), Avery Peak (4088' - named after Myron Avery, one of the guys who though up the AT), West Peak of Bigelow Mtn (4145'), and South Horn (3805')are just phenomenal. I feel like I am on top of the world when I look at all the land before me. And what amazes me more is to look at where I have just hiked. It seems like it is so far away and yet I was just there moments ago. I took pictures but I know that they will not do justice to the reality of the views. It's something I wish you all could experience. I saw few hikers today, but they included Stumpknocker and Mrs. Gorp (3rd time seeing them as they are doing ME in out of order sections), Tom, a nobo of few words, we shared a snack at the top of Avery Peak,and a section hiker, Moosetracks, who gave me an apple - delish! Stopped at Horns Pond Lean-to to rest my feet and legs and have lunch and type up this journal entry. It's so beautiful here, I may not leave. The storm yesterday brought in cooler weather, the higher elevation means less bugs and I have a great view of South Horn. But of course if I want a 2 mile hike tomorrow, I gotta do 3 more today. I'm putting it off because I know that it's a steep rocky downhill. This type of hiking tears up my knees and ankles. I'm truly trying to make friends with ME's rocks and view them as stepping stones to reaching my dreams but it's really hard because they way I see it is that they are instruments of torture! Twisting my ankles and straining my knees. They provide no cushion for shock absorbtion and they move! I swear, I wish I had learned how to skate when I was a kid! In ME, it's not just hiking, it's mud-skating through bogs and rock-skating down mountain ledges. I guess that it is all just part of the experience, plus it gives me something to write about. Hey, and it's whipping this middle-age body into shape. I can't wait to get on a scale and see how much weight I have lost! My Taylor-Adams designed hiking skirt is hanging on me like a potato sack. And I say this as I am snacking on a Nutty Butty - that's 300 calories and 17 grams of fat! A favorite entry I read in a shelter register is "Debbie obviously never ate any of her own treats or there would have been nothing Little about her." That or she was a through-hiker!Adios.PS: I did make it down to Cranberry Stream Campsite where I met some French-Canadians doing a three day hike from the Bigelows to Rangeley. They were friendly, but I don't think their dog was too hip to me. Time for a quick dinner and off to bed. Early hiking into town tomorrow!