Date: 2008-08-02
From: Stratton, Maine

To: Little Bigelow Lean-To
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: moderate rain

[Current update from Trail Boss: Today is Friday, August 8th. I spoke on the phone yesterday with Unknown Hiker. He has made it to Monson and will be taking a zero day before pushing on to Katahdin. He should summit Katahdin around the 14th or 15th, next week. He also emailed a lot of pictures and I've uploaded them in this journal. I'm about six days behind entering his entries but will get caught up. He will post his own entries (for the section between Monson and Katahdin) after he has finished and is in Millinocket.]----------------------Well got up and had breakfast at a small restaurant next to the grocery store. Then went down to the post office and got my food mail drop. Packed everything and checked out of the Stratton Motel. They do indeed provide a free shuttle back to the trail, but they try to wait until most or all of the hikers are ready to go back.The weather forecast for today is kinda strange. There is supposed to be thunder showers in the morning (possibly over an inch of rain). but clear skies in the afternoon. In fact, they say the next three days should be rain-free and sunny. We'll see about that.Started the day by going over a foot bridge about a mile into the day. I like foot bridges in Maine because that means one less body of water you have to ford across.Next was the start of climbing the Bigelow Range. Bigelow Mountain is a big mountain with a series of peaks you go over along the way. You know you are in the Bigelow Range because your elevation goes from around 1,300 feet up to 2,500 feet, then 3,500 feet and finally 4,100 feet when you go over Bigelow Mountain, itself.It was a really "interesting" climb given that there were indeed some thundershowers and a LOT of rain. Partway up, on the edge of a massive boulder field, I felt myself beginning to slide/fall. I tried to use my hiking poles to dig in and support me. Of course that was a stupid effort because hiking poles can't dig into rock. Down I went. Mostly fell on my back, with the pack cushioning me. But also pounded my right arm pretty hard. At least my pole didn't get in the way of the fall. Felt okay to go on, and didn't really want to stay there in the rain.Seeing as today is Saturday, it was almost a guarantee that a lot of local hikers would be in the area - even with all the rain. Not many were wearing or had rain gear (but then I didn't always wear mine, either). I ran across one group that had a leader who was talking to the rest of them. Turns out they were folks who had paid good money to be escorted out here and have a guide tell them about everything. Paid money?? It's public land.Even in the rain, and after having fallen, the boulder field was pretty impressive, with many monster-sized boulders interspersed with the woods. The trail went between, around and over them.My guidebook (Wingfoot's) mentioned a number of "viewpoints" but the clouds (fog?) and rain pretty much made it impossible to see much further than 10-15 feet in front of you.Horns Pond was pretty, watching the rain drops hit it. At Horns Pond Lean-To I stopped for a break. The only other person there was the caretaker (although I don't think they charge a fee). I think his primary caretaking task at the moment was staying out of the rain - good for him.The trail bypasses North Horn but goes right over South Horn. Continued my climb to South Horn and the elevation by now was up to 3,800 feet. On the downhill side of Horn there was actually a stretch of level trail. But not for long. Even though the weather prevented my seeing it, there began a rugged ascent of West and then Avery peak. Both peaks are mainly all rock and above the treeline.On top of West Peak the rain continued and the fog was present. Still, managed to get a picture. But in the next 15 minutes the rain ended and the sun burned a hole through the fog. I couldn't believe it. That was indeed the last of the rain for the day. On top of Avery Peak I had a wonderful view. The descent from Avery was very, very steep and rugged. It seemed almost vertical in some places. I had to take it slow because the rocks were still quite slipery from the earlier rain. The shoulder of the mountain was easier and led to Safford Notch.Up over Little Bigelow Mountain almost seem like a cakewalk after West Peak. There was a great view behind me of the Bigelow Range (which I guess I was indeed through with). Up ahead I could see Flagstaff Lake - which I'll go by during the day tomorrow.Less than a mile and a half to Little Bigelow Lean-To, my home for tonight. I was pretty lucky to get a space in it. There were already several hikers who had stayed out of the rain earlier. Also, one northbound thru-hiker that I had managed to catch up with (something I'm not usually able to do). Took some Ibuprofen and hope that I won't be too sore in the morning. A long, wet day and now it's over.Avery Peak