Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000
Subject: AT Update 8/28

Howdy,

As always, I'd better keep this short as the library is closing in 16 minutes.

I'm in the town of Stratton, Maine.  Since I left Gorham I have traveled through some rough country.  I did a 17 mile day to get to the Carlo Col shelter and arrived just before dark.  The next day included "the toughest mile of the AT", Mahoosuc Notch.  The Notch is a narrow canyon between two steep peaks that is full of large boulders.  You have to climb over, around, and sometimes under them to get through.  Then there is a killer climb up Mahoosuc Arm to get to the lovely Speck Pond Lean-to.  Surprisingly, another hiker named, "Grits", and I had the place to ourselves.  Maybe it was the nasty, cold weather that kept them away.  I did get some nice views from Baldpate the next day.  After a town day in Andover, I hit the trail again.  More rain and fog going over Old Blue and Beamis mountains.  But I had a spectacular clear day going over Saddleback.  And I spent last night up in the summit house atop Sugarloaf.  The clouds begin moving in just as I arrived, and the wind howled all night.  A bit spooky up there, by myself.  But the skies cleared during the night and I got to see the sun rise.

Tomorrow I hope the weather will remain clear as I climb up the peaks of Bigelow Mountain.  From the reports of Southbounders and from looking at the maps, this will be the last arduous ascent/descent I will have to face for a while.  I'm looking forward to a bit flatter and easier terrain, and the pancake breakfast at Pierce Pond camps.  It looks like I might reach the town of Monson by Labor Day.  And then there's only the "100-mile Wilderness" between me and Baxter State Park and Katahdin.

Oops, out of time.