Date: 2015-08-31
From: Unplanned Zero Day in Andover

To: Not-so stealth camp just south of Unnamed Gap
Miles today: 14.5

Today marks the return of reasonable double digit mileage without killing myself. I am pretty tired but not a complete wreck and moreover, I'm still cheerful. We got picked up at 6:45 to be shuttled back to the trail and we started with a long but fairly gradual climb right away. My goal for the day was to get to South Arm Rd no matter what, and depending on the situation when I got there, I might camp there or I might move on.The trail was still good, a real honest-to-god trail as it wound its way up Wyman Mountain. I was moving pretty easily, considering I just had two days off and I made pretty good time. I got to Hall Mountain Lean-to in three hours, giving me a 2 mph pace. Of course I knew that wouldn't last since I was going to have to climb 1000 ft in .4 miles, but it sure was a good start to the day. Just before I left, Cruise Control arrived and we agreed that we should have just hiked this section yesterday instead of taking a zero. We thought it was much tougher than it turned out to be. I think the first few days in Maine have made us all overly cautious because of the horrific trail in that section. After I climbed down even more than I had gone up, it was time for Mt. Moody. It went up 1300 ft in .8 miles, but the first 1000 ft were all in the first .4 miles. I love the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, because they managed to make the trail totally doable. Yes, it was steep, but nothing we haven't seen before. And most of it was steps, actual step sized ones so you didn't have to go up or down 3 ft in one step. There were metal hand/foot holds in some places where you had to go up a smooth rock face. If the first few days in Maine (where the trail is maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club, which also manages the trail, camp sites and huts in the Whites) had been like this, our lives would have been a lot better.The descent from Mt. Moody was not as steep but did bring the return of sore knees. Oh well. At the end is South Arm Rd, which is the other road into Andover.It was only 1:30 so it would have been silly to stop and camp here. I took a break and had been sitting for a few minutes when I noticed a note on the step. I figured it might be from Yoda and sure enough, she wrote she was moving on to Unnamed Gap. This was the gap immediately following the next mountain, Old Blue Mountain, and it had water. Where there's water, there's hope for a stealth site.I decided to head there as well, even though there was a risk no stealth sites existed. In that case I'd have to go all the way to the next shelter, almost 9 miles from the road. Yikes.The climb up Old Blue was long and tiring, especially because it was the third climb of the day, but at least it wasn't hard. I ran into the same hikers we've been meeting the past 4 or 5 hiking days and they had seen Yoda a bit earlier. She had decided to head for the shelter, which was no great surprise. She is trying to finish a few days earlier than my schedule calls for, due to post-hike plans and commitments, and it is quite possible I won't see her again. The trail works in mysterious ways though, so we'll see.A bit before Unnamed Gap I ran across an unlisted water source and decided to stock up in case I'd see a nice spot before the gap. I had been keeping my eye out for a long time and there was absolutely nothing stealthable up to that point. But just a little bit past the water source I caught what looked like a fire ring out of the corner of my eye. Sure enough, a beautiful established site was right there, with a large level area and a log to sit on. Score!I quickly set up camp and changed into warmer clothes. I ate some food but wasn't hungry enough for a full blown dinner. I'll have to make sure to eat a good breakfast though, or things might be unpleasant tomorrow.Several hikers have passed me but not everyone notices the site. And I think once I'm not sitting on the log in my bright turquoise puffy, nobody will even notice the tent.Tomorrow I will be crossing Rt 17, after which all my trail problems will magically disappear, ( ) so I have an ambitious day planned to try to get back on schedule. If the terrain won't let me, there are several alternatives, so I'm not too worried.I do have to make sure to eat blueberries on top of Bemis Mountain and, weather permitting, swim at Sabbath Day Pond though. Priorities are priorities!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?