Date: 2008-07-15
From: Baldplate Lean-to

To: East B Hill Road to Andover, ME
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: broken clouds

We were up even earlier today because we have eight miles to hike, and now knowing what the terrain is going to be like or how hard it will be to thumb a ride, we wanted to get an early start. It was about 6:00 a.m. when we started to climb Baldplate Mountain and it took us an hour to climb 100 feet in less than one mile. Not a fast start for a long day. At the top we had a neat view of the clouds below us. As we came over the west peak of the mountain, it got so steep we had to climb down a log ladder. It has been a lot safer with the three of us, several times we have had to help each other come down some unbelievable inclines.Climbing over the East Peak and coming down the other side was really neat because this section was above treeline. But it was also windy and cold. When we got to Frye Notch Lean-To, which is right on the trail, there was a group of young boys, about 10 or 11 years old, and their leaders getting ready to leave. Took a short break to rest and eat a snack then we were off again.It was a hard 500 foot climb up Surplus Mountain but then the trail became real easy. In about two miles we caught up with the young boys from a camp and passed them while they were taking a break. Only saw a hand full of people today. Finally we were able to hike at a pace of two miles per hour and we had finally passed someone instead of always being passed. At one point near the road we crossed a brook and only about 50 feet away the book flowed into this gorge that dropped a couple hundred feet.It was 1:15 p.m. when we reached the road. No cars were coming down the road - this was not a good sign. The group of boys and their leaders came out of the woods about 30 minutes later.   The leaders had cell phones but no service this far up the mountain. I gave them the phone number for the Andover Guest House where we were going to stay and also pick up our mail drop. Still tried to thumb a ride but only two cars came by in one hour. We were thumbing when a utility truck stopped. He could not give us a ride but said he was a friend of Joe, the manager of the guest house. At 2:30 p.m., a southbound slack-packer came out of the woods and said he had a ride coming to pick him up from the guest house at 3:00 p.m. Things were looking more hopeful now for getting a ride into town. While we had been waiting, Cruise and Railroad King, northbounders, showed up trying to thumb a ride. There were five of us and the slackpacker waiting for a ride. It was 2:45 p.m. when the station wagon from the guest house arrived. He was able to cram all of us and our packs into the station wagon. It was a long eight miles into Andover, ME.Dutch, First Shadow and I were able to get a room with three beds in it. Joel said he could slack pack us for the next couple of days, so it looks like we can cover more miles each day. This should make it easier with day packs instead of our heavy backpacks. This might put us a couple of days ahead of our schedule. Andover is a real small town. There is a small grocery store across the street from the Andover Guest House and almost beside it is the Andover General Store and Diner. These are the only two places in town to get something to eat. There is a neat little park across the street with memorials to those from Andover who have served in the Civil War up to the Vietnam War. The town hall is a really cool looking building.Went through our regular town routine ¢ washing laundry, getting showers, pulling gear out of our packs to dry out, calling home and finally going to get something to eat at the diner.