Tuesday, August 12, 2025. Up at 5:30. Clear and getting up to the low 90s and dry.
It was so hot on the top bunk that I gave up and slept on the cabin floor with the door partially open to allow cool air in. Got about 4 hours of sleep. Not great, not terrible.
It’s so warm already that I decided on light shorts. Not bothering with my convertible hiking pants for today. It is supposed to cool off in 2 days after a storm front moves through.
Packed up. Topped off on water. Left my travel pack in Ed’s car. Generally got ready for our next 8 days on the trail.
Barry picked us up at 6:30. We stopped in Monson for coffee and drove to the trailhead at Maine Rt 4 (mile 1977.9) near Rangeley, Maine.
Started on the trail at 8:30. Hiking through pine forests and ferns most of the day with a lot of uphill the first 2/3 of the day.
The trail is not too rocky, but it is steep! Ascended 1260 feet in the first 3.7 miles. We have 3000 more feet to go today and the nasty incline is still a ways off.
Passed by Ethel Pond at 10:00. Stepped aside to let a group of 4 thru-hikers pass by NOBO.
Stopped at Eddy Pond to fill up on water before we ascend into the alpine area for the next 6 miles. Had a snack while enjoying the view. Crystal clear alpine pond nestled up against some low mountains. There are 4 canoes here with paddles and life vests. According to comments, they have been here for years and people can use them on the pond.
Back on the trail at 11:15. Time to start the big ascent to Saddleback Mountain.
That last pond looks a lot smaller from above tree line.
Summited Saddleback Mountain (4126 feet) at 1:15. That was a bitch of a climb. Lots harder than last year. Guess I had been hiking for 5 months before I got here last year so I had my trail legs.
Had a light lunch, talked to some day hikers and thru-hikers, then moved on at 2:00. We still have 7.8 miles to go to reach camp.
Reached the summit of The Horn (4017 feet) at 3:20. Hard steep climb after a challenging decent from Saddleback. Basically we just walked down and back up both sides of a big saddle.
Getting low on water and no good water source for 2.5 miles. We have a nasty decent, then one more steep ascent up Saddleback Junior then down to a stream. Not sure we are going to make it 6.3 more miles to our primary campsite. Probably stay at our alternate site in 3.4 miles.
That last 3.4 miles kicked our asses. Steep up and down with some treacherous and scary downhill parts. We gave up on the primary plan and settled for Poplar Ridge lean-to at mile 10.7.
We stopped 3.6 miles short of camp and hiked .2 miles to get sketchy water. Glad we did because we were almost out and the next water was not until 1 mile from camp and so sketchy. I have drank worse, but not in a long time.
We summited Saddleback Junior at 6:15. We need water before camp and we will be pushing hard to make camp before dark! Not good.
Got bad water (muddy and stagnant) 1 mile from camp and carried an extra 2 liters to camp, ouch. Glad we did because spring at camp is dry.
Got to Poplar Ridge Lean-To (mile 1988.6) at 7:30. There are 4 tenters here already in bed. We took the shelter as there are no more camp sites. Made dinner in the dark at 8:20. Surprisingly I had a good appetite. All settled into my bed at 9:00. Gonna read for a while.
Overall a good day and a frustrating day. Good because that was a damn hard day and all the other thru-hikers agreed. We made it to our alternate site as planned. Not many idiots try a day like this as their first big day on the trail. I’m sore but don’t feel bad. Frustrated because I was so slow today. One mile per hour! Which got us to camp way too close to dark for my risk tolerance.
We are changing our plans for tomorrow and going for an 8 mile day.
Technical Notes:
- chocolate donuts x 6 560
- Mini chocolate donuts x 3 280
- Zero sugar sausage x 3 120
- Oreo cookie 70
- Peak Refuel Curry Chicken 850
- Water liters 6
- Miles 11:03
- Time 11:04
- Elevation gain 4243 feet
- Calories consumed 1880
- Calories burned 4932
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