Date: 2016-07-08
From: West Carry Pond Lean-to

To: Avery Memorial Camp
Miles today: 0.0

It rained hard throughout the evening on and off with a hard rattling on the metal roof of the lean-to. There was a beautiful chorus all night of the loons and the frogs that would start up during the periods of calm. Since I was awake from time to time, I could see the mice going for the food bags on the mice hangers, with no success. I wake with the light in the morning and the first call of the birds which is about 4:15 or so and snooze a little longer until 5:30. More coughing during the night and feeling really sluggish. I think that I may be running a low grade fever. Out hiking at 6:45, but moving slow. Start out with a 500' easy climb over Roundtop Mtn, down and up over another mound on my way to Little Bigelow Mtn. Little Bigelow is a 2000' climb and it was wearing on me. I met Gary a Nobo in his fifties along the way and he said that he just slacked packed the section of trail between Stratton and Rangeley. I hadn't planned on stopping in Stratton but a slack pack was sounding pretty good to me. With a slack pack, you work with a hiker hostel where they drop you off at one location at the start of the day and pick you up at a designated location at day end, you estimate how long it will take and meet at that time. They lend you a day pack so you only carry what you need for the day and leave your tent, sleeping bag and other stuff behind. It's the difference between carrying 10 lbs vs 40. So, my mind was made up, into Stratton tomorrow to the Stratton Motel. Ate lunch half way up Little Biggelow at a lean-to. That spot had a beautiful stream with a series of small waterfalls and pools between them - perfect for a swim, but I had to press on. The climb up the remainder of Little Biggelow was ok, but once on top it rolled up and down for almost two miles. Finally down the other side to Stafford Notch. Are a snack there and then started up Avery Peak. This climb was beautiful with large angular rocks moss covered held in the tight grasp by roots of pine trees. The moss was a magnificent emerald green and I felt like I was approaching the hall of a mountain King. The climb up Avery was a steep 2000' and relentless. The top was in a cloud so no view, but the stunted trees and bushes at the top were beautiful in the mist of the cloud. Avery is the east peak of Bigelow Mtn and the camp was a steep 250' climb down a pile of rock slabs. Very slow and tricky when wet. At the camp finally and went to the care takers hut - locked up, so I set up my stove in a short alcove in the front of the building and planned to leave most of my gear there. Walked down the hill to the tent sites and set up on a wooden platform next to Alex and Clara, a young couple in there early 30's from Switzerland. We talked for a while and then called it a night. I coughed all night long and found I was loosing my voice. In bed at 8:20 to a cold and dripping rain. I slept ok, but my hips and legs were sore from the climbs. Would wake up sore and role a bit to get more comfortable. At 4 had to pee really bad so I slipped out in the rain for a minute. Back in the bag, slept in until 6 am. Still dripping rain.