Date: 2015-07-31
From: Bemis Mtn Shelter

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: broken clouds

7/31/2015Treadway: 8/10Weather: Sunny and cool, perfect hiking weather 2/10Stats:18.12 miles 10:11:331.8 mph2337 cAverage heart rate 93 beats per minute 5649 feet up6925 feet down 34688 stepsNarrative:My best day on the trail so far. Woke up at 4:30 am and was on the trail a little before 5:30 am. Three minutes into the hike, I slipped and fell on a wet slab on the trail above the shelter. It would be the only fall of the day. My left knee did not bother me today. Both calves felt tight but no Achilles soreness. The trail was soggy and slick in the morning, which made for slow going. About 2.8 miles into the hike I stopped at a nice spring and had breakfast, then faced the morning sun to the left of the trail for a few minutes to warm me and shake out the chill from hydrating next to the cold spring. At 9:26 am I was on top of Old Blue Mtn, with nice views which would have been better if I were a bit taller as the trees crowding the summit defined the horizon. The way down was typical of most peaks so far. The worst part is almost always at and immediately below the summit. This is where you hit the super slick, steep slabs on which you cannot step without slipping and falling hard. The only way I am able to get through these sections is by stepping gingerly on the muddy borders of the trail next to the slabs, clutching a tree and holding on for dear life while praying it will hold my body weight while swinging myself another's 5 feet or so down the trail. Then you repeat the process, again and again and again. It is a tedious and laborious way to travel. Usually conditions improve about half a mile below the summit, and that was the case here. Most of the way down was not too bad. By 11:30 am I had made it down to South Arm Road. There were a few half-full plastic jugs of water with ¢Pine Ellis¢ written on them by the roadside, and I took advantage of this trail magic by drinking a liter before crossing the stream. I also saw a flyer about a festival taking place the next day in Andover, including a parade, but what really got my attention was the pie eating contest tomorrow afternoon. If there is anything in the world which could motivate a thru-hiker to pick up the pace and push to make it to town, that would be it. A jolt ran down my body, new energy perfused my systems, and after my break and stream crossing I marched up Sawyer like a man on a mission. After passing through the saddle between Sawyer and Moody and climbing further up the east slope of Moody, at 12:19 pm I reached a viewpoint at the trail high point on Moody, said hello to three NoBos, called Pine Ellis and learned that I could call again at Hall Mtn Shelter to arrange for a shuttle. Then I went down the west slope, which was much easier than I expected after hearing Youngblood¢s trail report. After crossing the stream I hydrated at 1:39 pm I started the steady climb up to Hall. When I got there at 2:29 pm, I felt strong and decided to push on for East B. After calling Pine Ellis and arranging for a 5:30 pm shuttle pick up, I signed the register, left a note for Georgia, Stutter Step, Waterfall, Alex and Swamp Turtle about my intentions, said hello to the NoBo section hikers hanging out there, hydrated one more time and started booking for the trailhead, arriving at 5:22 pm. The shuttle already was there, and the nice lady gave me a cup of wonderful lemonade which I gulped down greedily as we speeded on to Andover. In the car the lady driving said that she never has been further west than Pennsylvania and that she has lived only in the Eastern time zone her entire life, which fascinated me. After checking in I ran into Stutter Step and Waterfall, who stopped at South Arm and shuttled in from there. I showered, did laundry, claimed my bunk and then had dinner at the Little Red Hen, joining Stutter Step and Waterfall as they were finishing up and meeting Chips, a 17-year-old SoBo from Pennsylvania who wishes to join the Air Force after he completes his thru-hike. Then I returned to the hostel, gave Chips one movie recommendation (The Right Stuff) and three book recommendations (Guns, Germs and Steel, Collapse and Why Nation Fail) and retired for the night. This was also the first day I met Wayfarer. I ran into him at South Arm Road after reading the flyer for the Andover festival. I asked him if he planned to zero in Andover and enjoy the festival. He said no, he needed to be in Gorham by Monday. I was stunned by his resolve and willingness to endure the pain and hardship necessary to follow such an aggressive itinerary.