I woke a couple of times to water the leaves; not surprising because I was so thirsty when I got to camp that I chugged a liter of water, but I was easily able to fall back asleep and woke up at *surprise* 5:07 am!
I start packing up slowly, the light is very dim on this western facing slope of the mountain. At 5:30 a.m. I hear the alarm of the two men on the other side of me, and I know that's my cue to start really getting going. I finish packing and I am on the trail at 6:15, tiptoing around the tents on the edge of the trail.
The trail starts uphill from the road but it's gradual and not rocky The trail parallels Sluice Brook for most of the first mile, and it's absolutely beautiful with pools of water and small cascades. I'm sure that during periods of higher water it would be a fabulous place to hang out for a couple days.
By 8:30 I have already climbed 1,600 feet and hiked three miles! I have no views but I have good cell phone reception at the top of Lone Mountain (3,261 feet). I call home and check in, standing in one spot so I don't lose cell phone service. Once I finish, I continue along the ridge another two miles until the turn off for the Poplar Ridge Lean-to, where there is a little spring on the edge of the trail.
I stop to pony up on water since there won't be another reliable water source for five miles. I also eat a heavy snack and drink some electrolytes. To do everything that I would like to do today, I'm going to need all the energy I can get!
From the spring the trail travels for 800 feet to Spaulding Mountain. The trail Is a little rocky but nothing that requires climbing, and is more like Pennsylvania rocks, which is actually a really nice change. Near the peak there is a blue-blazed side trail that goes up to the peak from the Appalachian Trail. I decide to pass by it and continue on because I should get some really nice views from the other mountains today. I'm currently at 3,900 feet.
From Spaulding Mountain the trail goes through a thick spruce forest where most of the trees are dead. There is deadfall everywhere across the trail! Many of the trees across the trail had been cut up, but there's some fresh deadfall that I have to slide under and go over. I'm watching the ground and not really paying attention above me as I step over a series of downed trees. My head hits a spruce tree where a sharp branch has been broken off and scrapes the top of my head quite hard. The sharp pain brings tears to my eyes! My head is oozing blood, but not seriously. I'm going to have to be much more alert going through this maze of downed trees.
The obstacle course continues for about another quarter of a mile. A couple is heading towards me with very full packs and they say they heard chainsaws up here yesterday. They ask if I am headed to Katahdin. When I say yes, I ask them where they are going and they say to Springer. Wow! They're getting a really late start for southbounders. I wish them luck on their journey and I'm happy to see the trail chills a little bit with blow downs from this point, and even some pretty views.
The next mile is really easy trail until a short way after the side trail to Sugarloaf Mountain. The mountain becomes progressively rocky and the descent gets steeper until I feel like I am going literally straight down. The rocks underfoot are slippery with dirt and smaller rocks. Many times when I take a step I dislodge smaller quarter size rocks that bounce down the trail. I can tell a lot of people have slipped here on the path; the scuff marks are very apparent in the dirt.
This would be absolutely awful to hike, if not impossible, in the rain tomorrow. I'm so glad I'm going down this today. I originally planned on staying at the Poplar Lean-to to, but now I'm so glad that I got ahead yesterday so I could get past this today.
The trail crosses the Carrabassett River which is flowing beautifully. Two men from the camp last night are filtering water and I stop as well. I really don't need the water, but a nice long soak in a frigid stream would do my feet really good right now. There's a 30% chance of rain in the forecast tonight, but we all agree that the clouds that are darkening pverhead sure look like we could have more than a chance of rain.
They leave and I soak my feet until they are cold, then I cross the river on a big board and head up Crocker Mountain to the tent site 1.1 miles and 500 feet of gain away.
I arrive at the campsite at 3:15 and see the trail family that I have been seeing off and on since hiking down Mount Madison. There are also four other hikers here. The sky is darkening and the wind is blowing and it's getting really chilly. I pull on my fleece and set up my camp. First Light arrives and sets up his camp on the tent platform next to me.
I sit in my hammock with the tarp hung but not tied down, ready to stake it out if any rain starts. I boil water on the stove and eat dinner sitting comfortably, watching two sobos set up and move their camp when they realize there is broken glass on the ground.
I am updating this as I sit here and the mileage hits me: I crossed the 2,000 mile mark some time during the harrowing descent from Sugarloaf! I am now less than 200 miles from Katahdin!! Woo Hoo!! I say something to First Light, and he says he saw a small "2,000" written on a log up the trail. I was too consumed by the rocky descent to notice.
At 5:30pm I stake out the tarp and I lay down in my hammock to stretch out my back. I only intend to lay down for a minute, but I am awakened when dad calls at 7pm. Wow! I am tired! Saddleback really took it out of me yesterday. The others campers are all tucked in their tents for the night. I get ready for bed and go back to sleep.
Today's Stats: 11 miles, 3,406 feet gain
Trail Stats: 2,002 miles, 414K feet gain
Miles to Katahdin: 192
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