Rangeley to Gorham

Sunday July 13,1997 ---

We got a late start this morning and only hiked to Bermis Mountain Lean-to ... (237.7 miles from Katahdin, 1,921.5 miles from Springer Mountain) ... only about 4 miles of hiking. YECH!! Big Miles!

We had a great day yesterday! We stayed at Lisa and Steve's .. They are awesome people. We hung out in Rangeley and did all of our errands. The peanut man was nice enough to let us leave our packs by his stand. We ate at the Red Onion twice. Obviously, we liked their food! Lisa and Steve found us walking through Rangeley at about 9:30 and we went to the People's Choice and had a few beers, played some pool with some locals, and saw a Band play. Rangeley people were funny, they jammed, but danced a little strange. We then went back to their place and talked for a while before crashing. Got to listen to some good music, they had a Widespread, Phish and some G.D.

Smiles was woke up this morning by what they call the "double barrel", it was their dog, Ranger, covering her face with kisses. It was great hanging out with dogs for a while. Made me miss my dogs and kitties. But I'm lucky enough to have a great family and friends who I know are taking great care of them. We passed 2 yellow Lab's today. They were so friendly. We had a great breakfast. Lisa and Steve gave us coffee, cereal, bagels, and Pop Tarts. YUMM! Then they took us to the Hardware store and dropped us off at the trail.THANKS for everything LISA AND STEVE. It was greatly appreciated. We'll stay in touch!!

It rained most of our hike today, and Sneaky & Trailvis left a note that they'll be in the next Lean-to tomorrow, so we'll meet up with them there. Met a bunch of north bounders, I don't remember all their names, Stryder, Superlicious and 4 others that we're sharing the Lean-to with. Almost all these north bounder have radios. They're crazy! Lots of books too.

I began trying to identify mushrooms with the new book I bought in Rangeley. It's pretty cool! The people in Rangeley were all very nice. Throughout the day 3 people offered us a place to stay. They were all hikers and 2 were former thru-hikers. We appreciated the offers. We got a big 13 miles tomorrow, so I better rest up!

Monday July 14, 1997 --- No Journal

Tuesday July 15, 1997 ---No Journal ---

Wednesday July 16, ---

We're at Baldpate Lean-to today. On the 14th we ended up going into Andover after reading a message from Sneaky & Trailvis that they were there. It rained most of the day and we climbed Elephant, & Old Blue Mountains. We hitched in from South Arm Road. We had heard that it was nearly impossible to hitch into Andover. On South Arm Road, which, going south bound, is the road before East B Hill Road, which is the road the data book shows to use to get into Andover, we had no problem getting a ride. The 2nd car gave us a ride. So, if you're hitching into Andover, consider using South Arm instead of E.B. Hill. E.B. Hill is a very small road, part of it is dirt and probably hard to get a hitch. Actually, some guy gave us a ride in and we found Sneaky & Trailvis right away, it's a really small town.

We stayed at Pine Ellis. Ilene was so nice! As soon as we walked in they gave us lemonade and cookies. She even offered to send my Mom an e-mail for me. Smiles, Trailvis, Sneaky, Rabbit, and I were all there along with north bounders Lynx, Stork, CruiseControl, Curious George, Tacit, Pilgrim and a few more. There were so many people I couldn't keep track of every one.

The next day we slack packed from South Arm to E.B.Hill Road. It was so nice hiking without my pack. The first night at Pine Ellis we stayed in a room, and the second night we stayed in the bunk house because it is cheaper. It reminded me of being in a club house from when I was younger. It was real crowded and there were spider web's, but my bed was pretty soft. They had a great dog, Roscoe. He liked to fetch.

Today we left Andover and hiked about 9 miles here (Baldpate Lean-to). The Baldpate Peaks were amazing. They were so much more than I expected. I loved them!!

My first three tows on both feet have been numb for about 10 days. Especially my big toe. They're starting to get really calloused. I don't think my feet will ever be the same again. As of tomorrow we will have been on the trail for 1 month. It's crazy how time flies out here. The black flies are really bad. I'm lighting these insect repellent coils, but they aren't doing much good. Tonight we're all camping with a bunch of foreigners, about 10, Gentle Ben, a south bounder who has also done the Pacific Crest Trail, and hikes in tennis shoes, John Sebastion, who is from Quebec doing a 7 day section hike, and a father/daughter team from Alaska. Lots of people, but so far I'm the only one in the Shelter. GREAT, all the bugs will love me! Tomorrow we're hiking up to the Mahoosuc Notch. I've read that some hikers consider this to be the hardest mile on the trail. It should be an interesting hike tomorrow!

Thursday July 17, --- No Journal

Friday July 18, ---

We made it to Carlo Col Shelter today. Yesterday we hiked between 8 and 9 miles from Baldpate Lean-to to right between the Mahoosuc Notch. Yesterday we climbed Old Speck Mountain which was 3.5 miles up. It was a long climb, and then we went over the Mahoosuc Arm (3,777 ft). The arm we all kind of did in a line, me, Smiles, Sneaky, Trailvis, Rabbit, and Turtle & Oz. It was fun since we were all together, but tough!!

We met a few day hikers and some thru-hikers. Dieter is the only name I can recall. If anyone goes to Andover, you have to stay at Pine Ellis. I left my water bottle there the day before yesterday, and yesterday I found it hanging from a tree with extra water, and a cantaloupe. Paul & Ilene brought it all the way out there for me. They are so nice. No one else would have done that. THANKS PAUL & ILENE!! I really appreciated it! I started off intending to carry the cantaloupe to the top, but it was heavy and there was a super nice waterfall, so I stopped to eat it. It was great. I love fruit!

There were maintainers all over Old Speck. I have to hand it to them, it's really tough work out there and they do a great job!! There were also some more south bounders. I fell right in front of them all. It was funny.

Today we hiked the Notch, then climbed Filling Mill Mountain, Goose Eye Mountain, 2 peaks, and Carlo Mountain. A day filled with up's and down's, tough climbing, but it was so beautiful. Lots of ridge walking. The Notch was great. We all hiked it together and had fun. There was snow in a few places if you hiked down to it, and we had to take off our packs due to the ice.

We met The Dutch Duo, a couple from the Netherlands, thru-hiking. They lost their water bottle, so we gave them one of ours. That was the 3rd female north bounder I've seen. We got there and we had a Festival. Last night the maintainers brought us a whole box of food! It was awesome. Lots of tortillas, so we decided to make a feast out of it. Really YUMMY!

There is a wilderness safety class staying here. One of them spilt boiling water on some guys keg and on Trailvis's face, but Trailvis didn't get burned too bad. It's raining again. I'm sharing Sister's tent, I can't wait till I get my own. I sleep better in here. We're only a few miles from New Hampshire!! YAHOO!! We've almost finished our first state. I'm so excited!!

Saturday July 19, --- (miles 280.9 - 286.1) No Journal

Sunday July 20, --- (miles 286.1 - 297.9)

We're in New Hampshire!! We made it to Gorham today! It was so great to cross our first State line. We were in Maine for 1 month and 2 days, a long time. We hiked only 5 miles yesterday from Carlo Col Shelter to Gentian Pond Campsite, where we had a burrito festival. There were so many black flies there I didn't know what to do. It was sooo cold! I'd say around 50, which is super cold for my Miami body. In addition it was quite windy. Besides us, there were 8 people in the shelter, all section hikers. Trailvis & Sneaky moved on yesterday, but we caught up today by hiking 12 miles into Gorham.

It was a nice hike today. The weather was beautiful! I'm finally starting to get my hiking body. I don't have as many aches and pains and I feel myself getting stronger physically and my cardiovascular system is getting stronger too. We got a ride into town right away. This guy pulled up and asked if we called a limo. He runs the Hikers Paradise and that's where we were headed. We really appreciated the ride. It's really nice here, bikes, cable, and a pool. Turtle & Oz are down at The Barn. There are a bunch of northbounders here and one other southbounder who's been here a week because he blew out his knee. Turtle is going to the Dr. tomorrow because of her knee, and Trailvis thinks he has Giardia. I finally get my tent tomorrow and I need to buy a jacket for the Whites. It was 30 on Mt. Washington yesterday (Brrrrrrrr). I'm still trying to find ways to lighten my pack. I'm sending my book back and anything else I can part with.

Monday July 21, --- No Journal

Tuesday July 22, --- No Journal

Wednesday July 23, ---

We slackpacked today and I've decided I really don't like slackpacking. But I have to slackpack tomorrow too now because we were northbound today, so we have a 15 mile section in the middle of nowhere that we are hiking tomorrow. Plus, today we had to take a side trail to get back to the road and I got lost. Smiles was in front of me and I took a wrong trail and got back to the road about 1 hour before her. She seemed a little upset. We've been at Hikers Paradise 3 nights. Last night we stayed up with Magget, Tazergun, Blue Ribbon, & Shades and played cosmic whimpout. Phoenix & Redman are also here. Trailvis & Sneaky, and Rabbit have already hit the trail, they didn't slackpack. Supertramp also hit the trail again. Oz & Turtle are still down at The Barn. The Dr. told Turtle she should rest her knee until Tuesday. Today a bunch of N'bounders came in. Udder, Dancing Fool, Poombah and a bunch others. I'm bad with names. I got a new pack yesterday. My old one was really hurting my back. I got a Gregory Teton .. It's great, I love it! I also traded in my poles because my old ones were collapsing on me when they weren't supposed to, like when I was putting all my weight on them going downhill. NOT GOOD!! Poles really help if your knees hurt. Thanks again Aunt Betty!

We're meeting Smiles Mom and brother either tomorrow night or the next morning. I'm excited to see them. I hope my brothers will come see me when my parents do. That would be fun! Hikers Paradise is really great. Bruce is always willing to go out of his way to help the hikers. They're great!!