Date: 2011-07-19
From: Speck Pond Campsite

To: Andover via South Arm Rd (Pine Ellis Hiker Lodge)
Miles today: 24.9
Weather: few clouds

July 30, 2011 ¢ Since Earl Grey is nearing Katahdin; I will be adding 3 journal entries again today, and for the next couple days. Today¢s entries are for June 18, 19, & 20 (so make sure you read all three)-MaryI¢ve seen bears, rattlesnakes, deer, moose (kind of), but today was all about hunting ¢Mammoth¢¢the tall, black bearded, German kind. Late last night I made up my mind to stop making excuses, of course I¢m tired, yes my knees are a little sore, but if I¢m going to catch up to Mammoth I need to just hike and stop whining. So today I woke up early and ate and packed and was hiking by 6:00. My plan was this; I knew Mammoth was going to Andover yesterday from where we were staying. I figured he would go into town at the road crossing after 15 miles. If I went into town at the 25 mile road crossing I would gain 10 miles on him. The terrain was tough and I had very little food. In fact I ate the last of my cereal for breakfast, and that left me with a cliff bar and 3 sandwich rounds with nothing to go in them. Enzed was only going 4 miles and then hitching to the hostel so she gave me another cliff bar and a Payday. This would have to do. My plan was to just power through the miles and eat heartily when I got to town. If I had to bail out I could always do so at the 15 mile mark.  Today, rather than hoisting myself up each step and tentatively picking my way down the hills; I just used momentum to keep a good pace uphill and used my poles and quick feet to cruise the down hills. It was exhausting, but it also was a nearly perfect day for hiking; clear blue skies, though a little warm, but a nice dry breeze. Even though the terrain was tough, the views were spectacular on both East and West Baldpate. The trail was nice today also, the climbs had a lot of stairs and the flats were fairly smooth. I called from the top of Baldpate to reserve my bunk, and they advised me if I was getting picked up at the further road it had to be before dark. This put a little more pressure on me, but I was sure I¢d make it. I arrived at the first road crossing about 1:30, and like a gift there was trail magic. There were cold sodas in the stream, gorp, bananas, and muffins. This was true magic as I was running low on energy and a cliff bar wasn¢t going to cut it for lunch. I had told myself that if I arrived at the first road crossing by 2:00 I¢d push on for the 10 miles to the second road crossing. It was only 1:30 so off I went. The rest of the afternoon was nice, great views, nice trail, and good weather. I did start to get really fatigued late in the day, but kept pushing through and finished strong. When I called for my shuttle from the top of Moody Mountain (the only place with cell phone service) I estimated it would take me 30 minutes to get down. The shuttle driver said it usually takes about 45 minutes¢I was in the parking lot in 20. It is amazing what motivation food is. Once at the hostel I met up with Enzed, Spaceman, and Rocket. I showered and headed for the local restaurant/store. I went for the triple cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and jalapenos and fries. This was the special Enzed recommended as she had already had one for lunch. I washed it down with chocolate milk, and bought a pint of Ben and Jerry¢s and 2 Sam Adams Latitude 48¢s to bring back to the hostel. Ahh, life is good again. I need to re-supply and hit the post office which isn¢t open until 8:30, so it won¢t be an early start. If the weather is good though, I may hike late and see if I can make up a little more time on the elusive black bearded Mammoth.