Date: 2009-07-12
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Maine Highway 27, Stratton, Maine
Miles today: 22.6

Dates- 7/12/09 to 7/13/09The last two days have been tough but beautiful. On the 12th we crossed the 2,000 miles marker painted onto a road we crossed just before the Bigelows started. For Northbounders, it signals the nearing end of a journey. For us, well, it just means we now have ONLY 2,000 more miles to walk. But it felt great to finally break into that number. That first day we summited Little Bigelow. It was NOT little. However, the 360-degree view from the top was worth the sweat. Just to our right, our first 4,000 footer-- "Big" Bigelow-- loomed above us. All the way across the ridgeline we kept getting peaks of Big B to break us into the notion of having to climb up that thing the next day. We camped at Safford Notch, just between the two mountains.The next morning, after a night rain shower, we went up. And up. And up. And up. It looked like we were climbing to the sky. At Avery Peak, the first summit (one break and 5 granola bars later) we were on top of the world. It's the highest peak for as far as the eye can see and you feel like a king. I can't explain the sight to you except to say that if you don't believe in God, you will once you take a look around off that mountain. Just as we were finishing up a snack leaned against the signpost the wind kicked up and a rain shower began. Not wanting to get my Nutella sandwich wet I scarfed it down and we kept going. Down to the Col in between the twin peaks and up to West Peak. Another phenomenal view. Two Northbounders came up the other side and met us at the elevation sign. It was a brilliant moment, sharing the summit with two seasoned hikers who'd already summited the other peaks in New England. They were coming from Stratton and going just to the other side of Little Bigelow to take a "short" day ("short" as in 17 miles up two giant mountains). The "shortness," emphasis on the quotation marks, of the day was to celebrate summiting their last 4,000 footer... our first. The wind picked up yet again and remembering in horror being caught above tree line on Katahdin in high winds, we moved our butts as quickly as we could without breaking out neck or ankles down off the summit and into the safety of the trees below.After moving up and down off of another summit of the Bigelow Range, the South Horn, we met up with Ron and Kim for lunch at the Horns Pond Lean-to. Then onward to Stratton for a warm bed! By the time we hiked the remaining 5 miles to the road my legs and feet were extremely tired. Not in pain, just tired. Susan of the Stratton Inn picked us up at the trailhead. Again, we're thru-hikers now. We will not walk the 5 miles to town from the trailhead unless held at knifepoint. After eating a humungous and delicious meal at the White Wolf Inn, which stayed open just to satisfy our 4,000 foot appetites, we headed back to the hostel. I was just commenting on how cold it had gotten outside when our friends, the Slacking Southbounders came waltzing in with headlamps. It was dark by the time they got to the trailhead and couldn't hitch hike in. Susan took pity on them and drove back to pick them up really late so they didn't have to walk 5 miles to town in the pitch dark and cold.Tomorrow we rest. Yes, another zero day, don't judge.-Anya