Date: 2016-07-01
From: Andover, ME, via South Arm Rd.

To: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: light rain

Not all too much happened today, just another day hiking along the AT. There's going to be tough days from here on out, but the very hardest of the climbing along the AT is behind me now, and the miles are starting to feel like miles again, especially on days like today when there wasn't too much to look forward to in terms of terrain. I was up surprisingly early given that I went to bed after everybody else. There were muffins in the kitchen, of which I had two, and made ready to head back to the trail. Some confusion as to who was going where meant I didn't get out til about 8:30; I would've loved to get an earlier start, because it looked like it was going to be a sunny hot day. The climb up to Old Blue mountain was tough, but nothing I haven't done before. Most of the rest of the day's hiking found itself along a ridge with small ups and downs but no more serious climbs. The trail was drier and in better shape than most I've seen in Maine, which surprised me given that I expect that this is one of the least-travelled sections of the AT in Maine. The scenery was more open conifers reminiscent of eastern Vermont, and the sun was hot with all the open space. I did have one fun interaction today: At about 10:30, I came across a southbounder wearing chaco sandals, a tunic made out of an oversize t-shirt and a pack made from axe handles, leather and nylon plastic. I don't know how, but I immediately knew who he was, and asked him if he was Handmade, to which he responded yes. He made his own pack, which apparently weighs about 15 pounds. Yeesh. Funnily enough, I knew about him through Willard, because the two had met while Willard was out on a prep hike in Virginia, while Handmade was there starting on the trail. He has walked north from Catawba VA to Katahdin and has now turned around and is hiking south, because he says "he's not done." He's not how far he'll get, and says he may go as far as PA then skip back to Catawba. He is an absolute sight to see, and can talk your ear off. I love how the trail is filled with such characters. I eventually descended to Bemis Stream, which the AWOL guide lists as a possible ford, but was easily rock hoppable. The water is pretty low, and very few of the fords have materialized so far. I then hiked up the side of a large hill to ME route 17, which could lead me into Rangeley if I wanted it to. I asked Dave Monz whether he would be able to pick me up here and then drop me off for a slackpack tomorrow between here and route 4, but unfortunately he's not headed up until very late today, so I will miss him. At the road crossing, i took a small side trip to a highway overlook known as Height of Land, where the road crests the mountain range, and has just an incredible view of Mooslookmeguntic, the largest of the Rangeley Lakes.The rest of the day's hiking was pretty tame, around small hillsides with good views of little ponds. In similar news, loon calls are becoming less of a rarity and more of a certainty, what with all these shelters next to ponds. It is a song that reminds me of summertime and camping, and makes me immensely happy.I pulled into Sabbath Day Pond at about 4:30, and decided that was enough considering I only had about 9 miles to go down into rt 4 tomorrow to meet Dave Monz. With me tonight are an older southbounder couple called the mixed berries (who told me about how they recently had to send their dog, blackberry, home) and much later a southbounder named Heart Attack showed up. I liked her dry sense of humor, and we traded stories.The general wisdom from the southbounders I met today, especially Handmade, is not to be afraid of the 100 mile wilderness or Katahdin. It's all doable from here on in. Alright, gnight!