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| Total Miles Walked = 220 |
Only 1954 Miles To Go! |
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7/2/2009 10:09:26 PM
Vacation
Location For The Night: Rangeley, Maine
Miles Walked: 10.70
Day Number: 15
To back up a bit, yesterday at 6:00pm Flaxseed and I arrived at the six-person capacity Poplar Ridge Lean-to. Two hikers were already settled in for the night and we had passed a father and his two young sons that were counting on shelter space. It was still raining. Flax, always thinking of others, said we would tent. It was my first night in my tarp/tent since I started walking.
We pitched our tents in a dripping cloud and the dripping continued all night long. My tarp/tent did not leak, but, like most small backpacking tents, water in the air condensed on its inside surface and I spent much of the night wiping down my tent walls. But, my extra clothes, sleeping bag and my PDA stayed dry. This morning at 5:00am we packed our gear and were walking at 5:30am - in the rain.
We had three good climbs in the cold rain and 40 MPH plus winds: Saddleback Junior (3,655'), The Horn (4,040'), and Saddleback Mountain (4,120'). Descending Saddleback Mountain, we passed a several NOBO hikers that had come from Rangeley, Maine today. We had planned on camping for two more nights before heading to town, but as wet and cold as we were and as wet as our gear was, town sounded good. It was an easy decision. Flax said, "Ringmaster, we're on vacation. Let's go to town." I agreed and added, "How about a zero tomorrow?" Flax replied, "I won't argue with that." Our spirits rose. We were like two kids going to a candy shop. We were on our way to town and we were not going to be walking in slop tomorrow.
At 1:30pm we reached Maine Highway 4. Within minutes we had a ride 9 miles west to Rangeley. A group of French Canadian teenage boys from Montreal were being let off at the trail head for a one night backpacking trip. Their van driver agreed to give us a ride. On the way to town I booked a room at the historic Rangeley Inn, an old resort hotel right in the middle of town (an important concern when you are on foot).
Now, at 10:30pm, we have done our chores, eaten two big town meals, taken naps, and are ready for bed. Flax is already asleep. It is still raining.
Today's photo is a bronze plaque located near Sugarloaf Mountain commemorating the completion of the AT in Maine.
Today we began our trek at Poplar Ridge Lean-to, trail mile 209.3, and ended the day at Maine Highway 4, Rangeley, Maine, trail mile 220.0, a total of 10.7 miles for the day.
Thanks to all of you that have emailed encouragement. It means a lot. God bless you all.
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