Date: 2006-08-11
From: Horn's Pond Lean-To

To: Little Bigelow Lean-To
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Last evening in the midst of the downpour, a group of five from New Jersey arrived. Two male adults, two young women, and one young man [romantically attached to one of the young women] This was the first day of their hike and they had started late at the road from Stratton. An interesting group ¢ first time I have ever seen a toe ring on an AT hiker! They had a 30 yo primus stove, of which they were very proud, but were a little hazy on how to use it. Two of them slept in the second Lean-To with the Inside Tent and Hammock crowd, and a very vocal dog that didn¢t like having its space invaded.   Awoke early to a very cold and foggy morning. One of those days that you just want to roll over and go back to sleep ¢ but a 10+-mile day awaited. Donned full rain gear ¢ even the gloves this time - and started out on a very cold, wet, foggy climb up to the South Horn. Rocky, wet, cold, and slippery with swirling and blowing mist on the open summit, necessitated careful going. The trail then goes up and down, but remains very rocky and very cold this morning, to another fog filled summit at West Peak. A steep descent brought me down to Bigelow Col and the Avery Memorial Campsite.   I had a moment of panic there when, as I approached the Campsite, I saw a plaque to the Avery Memorial Lean-To, and then what appeared to be the Lean-To itself looming out of the mist. I had not expected to see a Lean-To there, I thought that it was just a Campsite, and I had used Wingfoot¢s book to calculate the distance. He gives the distance between each Lean-To ¢ which was what I had used to calculate today¢s mileage, but if there were a Lean-To here, then I would have a 13+ hiking day instead of 10+. I rechecked the book and the actual mileage says 10+, not 13+, whether or not there is a Lean-To in Bigelow Col.      Spoke briefly with a South African couple who were just breaking camp in the Col, and also two happy hikers, young men with whom I was to play leapfrog for the next five miles, as they kept leaving the trail to explore every vista, view, and side trail.   As I climbed up out of the Col, Crystal caught up with me at the boxed spring. As we chatted, conditions rapidly improved. The mist began to clear away and, by the time that I was on top of Avery Peak, the views were spectacular.   It was as if I had been hiking with a foggy blindfold, which was now suddenly removed. The sudden revelation of my surroundings was far more spectacular than the gradual unveiling that generally occurs as, piece by piece, the vista is exposed, as you approach the summit. A moment to remember indeed.   There was an excellent view to the left of Falstaff Lake and the mountains beyond, and to the right the mountain fell away abruptly, showing a deep valley with the shadows of the clouds racing over it ¢ and a landing strip carved out of the trees in the middle. There is a little hut on the summit, all closed up and not mentioned in my guide ¢ and a plaque that said that the peak is named after Myron Avery ¢ yes, that Myron Avery ¢ the man who first envisioned the AT.      It was then a long downhill back to the tree line, but still with occasional glimpses of the spectacular views to each side, steep and rocky at first, but gradually getting better, down to the side trail to Stafford Notch Campsite.   I met with a lot of SOBO hikers on this section ¢ they all seemed to appear when the fog lifted and the sun came out! At first there was Photo-Op, and then Rambo Ron, followed soon thereafter by Mister Blister ¢ who knew Rambo Ron and recounted a harrowing tail of a fording that they did together with raging water up to their waists.   A slow and steady ascent of Little Bigelow [isn¢t that an oxymoron?] allowed a noticeable increase in my hiking pace. The ridge crest of Little Bigelow also had great views and a meeting with Jaws SOBO ¢ planning to stay at the Stratton Motel.      The sky began to cloud over and a few sprinkles were a sentinel warning of the approaching storm, with the ominous appearance of the dark thunderheads. My pace quickened as I descended off of Little Bigelow, and I was relieved to see the side trail to this shelter.   I was just able to get water, find the privy, and photograph the Tubs ¢ deep pools in the stream that resemble bath tubs ¢ before the storm broke. It is currently raining hard and getting progressively colder, but timing is everything ¢ not location ¢ when you want to be out of the rain.   After numerous attempts to get a cell signal, I did finally get to leave a message as I descended from Little Bigelow ¢ I could see Sugarloaf and its antennas in the distance. All is well at home. Still no sign of the NJ Five here so far.Though for today ¢   Check ¢ and Double Check ¢ your facts.