Date: 2017-07-29
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Hiker Hut, Rangely, ME
Miles today: 9.4
Weather: overcast clouds

7/29/17, Hikers Hut, Rangely, MEMiles hiked: 1651.5, Miles to Katahdin: 220.4, Miles to go: 538.3It was a quick 9.4 mile Nearo into the Hiker Hut in Rangely this morning. The climbs were minor and the weather was beautiful. I was the first one out of camp, so I got the honor of clearing the spider webs off the trail. Luckily, it wasn't too long before an early rising SOBO came from the other direction, having already cleared the spider webs for me. It also wasn't too long before Feathers and Wild Thing caught up with me. I tried to match their pace; but, I soon decided it wasn't worth risking injury to keep up. The group I have been traveling with this past couple of days planned to hitch into Rangely, resupply, and put in another eight miles. Feather invited me to come along; but, I decided my knees could really use a Nearo. Besides, although everyone in the group has been very nice to me, I'm not really part of their trail family (they even have a name - the Fellowship). I'm hoping the Nearo will give Sitting Bull, Hoops, Terminator, and Volunteer time to catch up. The Hiker Hut is 0.2 miles off the the trail and about 5 miles outside Rangely. It is also off the grid, which wasn't fully explained in the AWOL guide. As a result, there is no electricity (they have solar lights), plumbing (portajohn), indoor shower (there's a propane heated outdoor shower that uses water from the stream), or WIFI (use WIFI when you are in town). Not quite what I expected; but, it'll do. Steve, the proprietor, shuttled me into town, where I was able to get lunch, go to the library and print off a legal document Marguerite needed me to sign, go to the post office and find it closed, go next door to a stationery store and convince the proprietor to sell me an envelope and stamp, mail the letter, go to an outfitter store and replace a couple pieces of broken/worn out gear, and get ice cream. I am now waiting for Steve to pick me back up at 5:00 PM. We will stop at the IGA at the edge of town on the way back for resupply. Rangely is a quaint, sleepy little vacation town nestled between two lakes. Big doings tonight, though - a Clint Black concert. Apparently, everything in town is booked. When I get back to the Hiker Hut, I need to try to repair the outside mesh pockets on my  back pack. Our equipment is beginning to get tired, too. I just have to get to Mt Katahdin. I can then figure out what needs replaced before I finish the Virginia portion The other thru hikers sharing the trail with us NOBOs make an interesting study in contrasts. When the Flip Floppers started showing up north of Harper's Ferry, they were all new and squeaky clean. The ones who have survived to Maine are beginning to look like us NOBOs. Maybe not quite so weather worn; but they've made it almost halfway now, having survived the PA rocks and the White Mts.  The first SOBOs we started seeing in Massachusetts also looked experienced and slightly weather worn. They had survived Katahdin, Maine, the Whites, and Vermud. However, whereas we've watched the Flip Floppers mature; the SOBOs are like Benjamin Button. The farther north we hike, the cleaner, shinier, and less experienced they become. They also lack the confidence that the first SOBOs we saw possessed because the haven't experienced the Whites or southern Maine yet. Whereas, the Flip Floppers are like our little brothers and sisters; the SOBOs are like distant cousins. We are definitely related, but we've grown up under different circumstances. Tomorrow, I will head back out in the morning and tackle the Saddleback range, which means more steep climbs and above treeline hiking. I think this Nearo will serve me well.