Date: 2018-08-25
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: Sawyer Brook
Miles today: 11.9
Weather: scattered clouds

The college kids weren¢t too loud last night, or at least couldn¢t hear them through my earplugs. I woke up and let the air out of my pad, then realized it was only 2am! So I reinflated it and tried going back to sleep, but kept waking up every half hour. I finally got up at 5:30 and was out at 7, they were all still asleep. Unfortunately since I was in tall grass my fly and tent got a little wet and had to pack them separately.After a short steep uphill, the trail gradually descended for the next four miles. It was pretty nice, few steep slabs. Dunn Falls was awesome and would have been nice to camp at last night, but it took me two hours to get there so would have involved hiking in the dark. I didn¢t see any other stealth sites along the way so I think I made the right decision. When I got to the road crossing, Ball Flap and Player One were there. They had just been dropped off by the hostel shuttle and were starting their day. They said it was not an easy road to hitch and took them half hour yesterday. A few minutes later, we hear the engine of a big truck coming up the mountain. It was a big dump truck and I stuck my thumb out. Ball Flap was like yeah, right but the guy stopped! I could barely jump up into the cab it was so tall. The road was super bumpy and it was hard for me to hear the driver, but I think he picks up hikers often.The truck dropped me off in ¢downtown¢ Andover. By which I mean the intersection that has the general store/diner, market, restaurant, and bookstore. That is everything, although what more could a hiker need?I went into the general store and picked up some bars but figured I would do the full resupply next door. When I got to the register, the guy in front paid for me! I then sat down to have a huge breakfast and use WiFi (can¢t believe they have). I resupplied next door, I should have just gotten a couple days to get to Rangeley but I tried to get enough for 4+ days to Stratton. So my bag is suuuper full. The market also had a box of free oranges so I stocked up on Vitamin C, and dried out my rainfly in the parking lot.I went back to the intersection to hitch back out, figuring it would be pretty easy. Half hour later, still no dice and I was in the hot sun. Most people were going in other directions. There was the number for a trail angel in Guthook, but he didn¢t answer. About 15 minutes later, a lady outside the bookstore picked me up. I have a feeling she went totally out of her way, as she grew up in the area and was trying to remember the landmarks we passed.When I got to the trailhead, I was dehydrated from the hitch so hung out by the brook for a while. I finally started the climb up Wyman Mountain, which was nice and gradual. It then followed the ridge a bit until a shelter. It was only 5 and there was another big college orientation there, plus some thru hikers I didn¢t love, so pressed on.It was downhill for the next couple of miles, not too steep though. I¢m thinking at lower elevations it is more dirt, roots, and rock steps that I like versus the annoying steep smooth rock slabs at higher elevations.When I got to Sawyer Brook it was only 6, but there was a nice campsite there with a picnic table and didn¢t really make sense to go on. I set up camp, it was actually pretty warm out so kept the fly doors open. I spent a while soaking my feet in the brook, my ankles are a little tender because they are rubbing against the back of my shoe. I¢m going to try to duct tape them, but may not last me much longer. I got them about 600 miles ago so was hoping they¢d make it all the way, but the rocks and mud of New England had other ideas. Which may mean I¢ll need to go into Rangeley after all!Since it was the weekend and it was a nice campsite not far from roads, I figured someone would come but it was just me. I think all the thru hikers are in Andover because the restaurant has pizza buffet on Saturday nights.