Date: 2007-09-10
From: Rangeley, ME

To: Poplar Ridge Lean-to
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

We all had breakfast together that Bob had laid out for us. It was continental serve yourself but there was plenty to eat and lots of hot coffee for everyone. Best of all, it was warm and dry inside the hostel on a cold damp morning in Maine.It was hard to leave the Gull Pond Lodge but by 9.30 JB, Philmont and I were on the road with Bob back to the trailhead. By 10.00 we were headed north on the AT. It had quit raining and the sun was trying to poke thru the heavy overcast skies. What the day held for us weatherwise was hard to predict.About 4 miles out I went around Eddy Pond. I stopped briefly for a photo of the fog-draped pond and to look for moose but saw none. Not long after the pond I caught up with JB and hiked with him up Saddleback Mt. The climb was steep in places and over many exposed rock ledges before finally breaking out above timberline and climbing to the summit of the mt. We took turns taking photos of each other at the summit sign then pushed on to keep warm in the strong cold wind and blowing fog. My merlin said it was 46 degrees with a 37 mph wind and we were dressed only in T-shirts and shorts.The fog was thick and clouds were racing by on the strong gusty winds. It was a shame to be missing what was supposed to be wonderful views from the alpine summit. The thick fog made everything slick and slippery. As I as going down a steep sloping rock slab off the summit I stepped into a crack part way down with my right foot but my left foot slipped and I fell down the steeply sloping rock slab. Unfortunately my right foot was jammed into the crack and didn't come out in time. There was lots of popping and I thought I may have broken my ankle. I rolled over and slid about 5' banging my right knee on the way down. JB was right behind me and standing over me as I rolled over and took stock of things.It was quickly apparent that there were no broken bones because my foot could support weight. It appeared that my brace may have saved my ankle from a more serious injury. It also was apparent that I had not dislocated it as had happened twice before on the hike. This time however I had twisted it inward and probably had a more serious sprain than the past injuries. It began swelling almost immediately so I dared not remove my boot. Besides, I didn't have an ace bandage to wrap it anyway. So, just as before, I laced my boots up tight, took 4 ibuprofin, then began walking again.JB took my tent and food bags which substantialy lightened my load. But, it was very slow going down the steep rocky trail exposed above timberline in the rain, high winds and thick fog. It was also a much more painful injury than my previous falls had been, slowing my progress even more. JB stuck with me and we finally got down into the trees and out of the worst of the winds in the saddle before The Horn. We briefly considered trying to make camp here but ther simply was no place to pitch a tent. It was also too far to go back over Saddleback to tenting terrain, so we decided to press on for Poplar Ridge Lean-to about 6 miles further on. This meant a steep climb up above timberline over The Horn, then a steep and rocky descent followed by another climb over Saddleback Junior and 1,000' descent to the lean-to.We made very slow progress, barely 1 mile per hour, but at least we kept moving in the right direction. As we crested the summit of The Horn the clouds parted briefly and provided dramatic views of the ridge we had just climbed. It was clear from the ridge crest to the west but completely fogged in east of the ridge. Clouds were flying past on the strong gusty winds. Soon the clouds closed around us again and we continued on off the peak. At least it had quit raining for the moment.We made slow but steady progress for the next 5 hours. JB kept stopping me every 2 hours to take more ibuprofin which helped keep the swelling to a minimum. Popeye came along and took a number of additional items from my pack on to the shelter. JB and I finally arrived at the shelter about 6.30, just before it began getting dark and continuing to rain.It had been a long and difficult day and I was tired. When I finally got my boots off my ankle was swollen, but not too badly, and I was still walking north on the Trail. So, it could have been much worse. I considered myself quite fortunate to still be on the trail and in the company of good friends.