Date: 2008-06-21
From: Campsite 3 mi North of North Crocker Mtn (2500')

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to (1760')
Miles today: 17.4

It wasn't raining when I got up which was nice but everything was still wet. I just threw it all in my pack without really caring about order or wiping the wet dirt and leaves off. It didn't take me long to get to the Stratton crossing and when I hit the road I saw my first live moose. It had some small antlers and ran into the woods when it saw me. I tried following it bit couldn't find it. There weren't many cars going along the road so I started walking. A little while later someone picked me up and there were two other hikers in the car. We got into "town" and parked across from the diner at the Stratton Motel and who should walk up but Tex. I guess he had gotten picked up by the Stratton Motel from the Rageley Crossing and was going to work his way north with the motel as a base every once in a while because they run an extensive shuttle. That's great because he won't have to worry about hitching which has been really rough. It was good to see him. I did the usual town chores and when I got to the Post Office my package wasn't even there. Not a big deal because I can survive without memory card until Monson (I have some room left on my current one) but I'm definitely going to want it for those last 100 miles. I started walking back out of town with my thumb out and eventually got a ride from a guy who thru-hiked in '99. He had a cooler of trail magic that he was leaving on the trail before he went up to hike the Bigelows and I got a soda and a beer. I saved the beer for later. I started from the road around 11:30 and figured I need to haul to beat possible afternoon thunderstorms on the ridge and I wanted to get in a little earlier than I did last night. The hiking was really nice and the sky was holding out for me. I had beautiful sunny views up on all the peaks today (South Horn, West Peak, Avery Peak, and Little Bigelow Mtn.) It rained just as I got to Avery Peak and I had watched the rain cloud approach which was really cool. All this weather I've been getting (recently and over the whole trip) has given me a good sense of when it will storm and the signs to look for it. Overall today was tough because I pushed it from the road but anytime I get views like I did it gives me a lot of energy so I just keep going. I got to the shelter and there was a couple with their dog. The dog started barking at me and continued to growl when I got near but I think eventually he got tired. The couple has one a lot of hiking in the area as well as other stuff (snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking.) Maine has a lot to offer to those who love the outdoors and its a lot more remote feeling than anywhere else on the trail which is appealing to a lot of people including myself. I was really disappointed with how accessable and not remote the rest of the trail was and its made Maine that much sweeter. I dried mostly everything out at the shelter site and am very excited to know I won't be carrying a wet tent around tomorrow. I keep finding things in my pack that are wet and all my stuff is spread around the shelter trying to dry now. I didn't think I would be able to dry stuff tonight but now that I can I'm like a fiend. Everything has to be dry. There was a light blinking in my peripheral and I thought it was my headlamp "low battery" light blinking but it was actually a lightening bug. They might be the only bug I don't feel like killing when I see them. I think they rely on people's affinity for their survival. I passed the 2000 mile mark today so I am now a 2000 miler. I think I'm gonna keep going though. I wonder if people apply for 2000 miler status with the ATC (its all honor system) when they reach exactly 2000 miles. 2000 miler is usually reserved as a term for anyone whos hiked the entire trail, thru-hiker or section hiker. If people skip 170 miles and consider themselves 2000 milers still that would be like if I stopped now and said I hiked the whole trail basically. That would be pretty lame.