Date: 2009-08-24
From: Rangeley, Maine

To: Sugarloaf Mountain
Miles today: 21.6

Tmax for Topofgothics... Biggest day ever - 9170 feet of elevation gain! Topofgothics did 21.6 trail miles but over 25 miles as he did the side trails to hit the summits of Abraham and Sugarloaf (along with Saddleback, The Horn, and Spaulding, all 4000 footers). He is currently setting up house in the warming hut on top of Sugarloaf. He'll sleep well tonight!****All right boys and girls, fasten you seat belt, we are about to get set for liftoff. If only I had not forgotten my gaiters, all would have been perfect. As far as that goes, a call to Gull Pond and some TM from Tin Man, and my gaiters would be waiting for me at Monson with my cash, if I could make it there before Saturday noon. So here we go. How many Maine 4000ers can you climb in one day? Part of the reason I waited a day was the weather was supposed to be better today than yesterday. Wrong. Yesterday ended up being grand. Overcast and five miles in I went over the Saddleback Range, supposedly some of the best views in Maine. Guess I will have to wait and see another day. I bounded over Saddleback in the mist without stopping to spit. The Horn was next, still no views, and no reason to stop or take any pictures. All stops were short today, and quick snacks were on the agenda. It was after four when I reached the Mt. Abraham side trail, 17+ miles in and a 3.4 round trip to bag this peak. My pack was dropped and Topo secured. I screamed up the trail at near breakneck speed. It became open and very rocky, but I was ready for it. At five I hit the summit, and allowed myself ten minutes to enjoy the vista. Back with pack and again on the AT, peak four and five were calling my name. Almost twenty AT trail miles into the day (don¢t forget to add the 3.4 off trail) I allowed myself twenty minutes at the Spaulding Lean-to. Chance again was there, and shared some grapes a day hiker had given him. They were exquisite. Topo gently prodded me on. We had another thousand feet in front of us. The next short side-trail to the summit I kept my pack on, since it was too much trouble this late at night to take off and put back on. It was now seven o¢clock. There was another two miles to the Sugarloaf side trail, and another six tenths after that to the top. Halfway up I gathered water from a cool crisp spring, and washed the sweat off my aching body. I felt refreshed and ready for bear. Johnny beeped. It was not twelve hours into the journey, and that is the limit for my altimeter logbook when I have it set at one-minute intervals. I checked my progress. 8490. I had just tied my all-time high for feet gained in one day, matching the day I accomplished the GRAID. Ten more feet and I was the man! But I wanted more. 510 more to be exact. 9000 feet sounded right to me, and nothing less would do, even if I had to walk back down to the AT and climb back up. Slowly I rose, so I would not have to worry about getting sweaty. At the top it was hard to see. When Topo had his picture taken on the cairn in the dark, it was quarter after eight. I made my way to the closed skiers cabin, for which there were signs on the AT stating that it was off-limits and hikers should not attempt to rely on it, the door was unlocked. It was pretty spooky, being so big and with all kinds of stuff strewn about. I made myself at home and ate two hardy meals. 9170 feet for the day, and almost 26 miles. I was making time and heading for home. I could imagine what TMax would say now. ¢What, that close you couldn¢t do another 830 and hit ten thou? I slept well