Date: 2018-07-03
From: Stafford Notch Campsites

To: Eustis
Miles today: 10.4

Stafford Notch is a deep notch between Little Bigelow Mountain and Avery Peak of the bigger Bigelow Mountain. So, because of my campsite there and the incident the other day I was concerned when a thunderstorm passed through early in the morning. The rain was heavy but lightning sparse. I enjoyed the sound of the rain on the tent. I left much later than planned. It was 7 a.m. The climb up Avery Peak was tough but not as tough as I expected. I'd stop when the sweating got bad. Giant boulders lined the trail along the way. Sometimes the trail was almost flat, allowing easier walking. I arrived at the summit in good time. The clouds were low and the views were limited. I didn't mind because the clouds shielded me from the sun. It was actually enjoyably chilly. Down, then back up, to West Peak. A few raindrops now and then as the wind swept ghost-like sheets of mist across in front of me. Two nobos went by. Down and over about two miles to South Horn. The sun was out and I began feeling the heat and humidity. Then steeply down to Horn Pond, a beautiful area. I treated two liters of water from a spring. I sat in an old lean-to now just for day use. I want to nap but a nobo hiker came in, slacking sobo through the Bigelows. I forgot about the nap as I talked with Ozzie. After he headed out I soon followed. The trail went up some then down, down, down, seemingly endlessly. One place was like an empty waterfall and I wondered if it really was the trail. I don't remember any of this hard stuff going nobo. I guess going nobo with the end in sight and 2000 mile legs, nothing seemed tough. But sobo, holy disco shoes. I was weakening from the heat even though I was hydrated. The brutality of the Bigelow along with the heat and humidity was hitting hard. I couldn't eat or drink anymore. At one point I thought I only had 0.7 to the road Then I saw a sign that said 0.9. I yelled !@#!! Disco, a nobo and friend of Ozzie, came by slacking sobo also, right behind me. I apologized as he laughed. At the road he said he called the shuttle already. Not long afterwards we were at a hostel in the village of Stratton in the town of Eustis. The driver was just a hiker sent for us. He wasn't sure if there was room for me or not, but he took me. After about an hour and a half waiting for the owner, sometimes laying my head on the picnic table, I decided I had to do something. Midwest Momma was there whom I last saw at Little Bigelow Shelter. She saw the boulders and steepness of Avery Peak and decided it would be too difficult for her especially with a full pack. She is on her twelth year of section hiking the AT and is to finish up next year. She was a bit disappointed. As Midwest Momma, Ozzie and Disco went over to a restaurant, I headed a mile to Spillover Motel. They invited me to go along but I wasn't hungry and said I had to lie down soon. The motel was $102! But it had something the hostel/motel did not have: air conditioning. It was clean and nice. The hostel was not. Now I have to consider how long to stay. Two more days of 90 degree temps and a good climb up North and South Crocker Mountains are immediately ahead of me.