Start: Piazza Rock Lean-To (AT mi 1974.5) Stop: Poplar Ridge Lean-To (AT mi 1983.4) Today’s miles: 8.9 miles. Total AT mileage: 958.7 miles
Once I set my mind to being ok with taking my time, I knew I was only going to hike close to 9 miles today. I could have pushed it farther, but I didn’t see the point. I got up when I wanted to, sometime after 7, took my time packing and eating breakfast. It poured down rain overnight-me and all my belongings stayed bone dry! I’m loving David’s tent! I think I’ll be placing my order soon.
The trail’s terrain was no longer “Maine Easy” today. It turned back to the rough and rocky scrambles.. just toned down a slight notch. It started off with a rough and steep climb up Saddleback Mountain. It wasn’t awful, by any means.. it was just long.. and viewless thanks to the cloud coverage from the recent rain. Luckily, it wasn’t still raining.
After Saddleback Mountain, I went down and then right back up to The Horn. On the back side of the horn, I ate my lunch on a rock in the misty clouds. And ate my fair share of blueberries. They were slap everywhere! And delicious. They made my tuna tortilla almost bearable. I really have to figure out a better lunch plan. I hate those little packets of tuna, chicken, and salmon. But peanut butter gives me heartburn. Such is life.
While I was eating, I swear 15 people had to come from one direction or another. I had barely seen anyone all day, and now poof, they all appear. I took my time and uploaded yesterday’s post. I had spent the morning and through the afternoon listening to that audiobook.. so I was still listening during my lunch, pausing it only to speak to people passing.
The downhill of the horn was steep and painful on my knees. It was sometime during that downhill that BlessedBillygoat appeared. He had been hiking southbound, but said he decided this morning to turn and hike back north again. He’s got more energy than I do for all that. We made it down the horn to a campsite to get water, and to my surprise, Runway, Tinman, and Sling were there doing the same! Along with Firewalker, a NOBO I’ve crossed paths with multiple times over the last few weeks.
We were all headed to the same campsite. They headed out and I took my sweet time getting and filtering my water. I finished the book and wanted some quiet to process it all. We had another up and downhill, over Saddleback Junior, and I took it super slow. In my way of thinking, it was only 2pm, so there was no point in getting 3 miles done quick and just sitting around cold in the clouds. It’s chilly today.. even still, I saw another snake.. looks like they’re starting to make their daily appearances!
That little mountain was small but mighty-steep that is. Up and down. And rough. My knees were screaming by the time I got down. Then it was a calm walk into camp. I was there by 4:15. I got a good spot by the shelter to set up my tent. Thank goodness, because while it started with only 2 in it, there’s now 6. And they are loud. Thank goodness for earplugs.
I ate dinner with the group I got water with earlier. Runway was telling me about Maine Roadway, a hostel in the next town we pass. I went ahead and called to reserve a private room. They apparently fill up easy, so I wanted to make sure I had somewhere to go.. and they pick up from the road at the trail 🙂 I’m loving these hostel pick ups, taking all the stress and worry out of trying to hitch to town.
I hung around and chatted a bit with everyone until close to 7 when I decided I was too cold to sit out there anymore. I retired to my tent to write and snuggle up with my quilt and my liner. I’ll try to make myself stay up a little longer, so I sleep better.. but it’s getting tough to keep my eyes open. Once my phone is all the way charged I might just roll over and close my eyes.
Goodnight, y’all. Tomorrow will be another day of ups and downs, too. Maybe they won’t be so scramble-y.
