August 8 - Quite the Workout

Post date: Aug 10, 2012 4:47:39 AM

Another morning, another ascent. This episode of rocky stairway was 2000 feet in height and achieved over 3 miles ending at the 4120 foot summit of Saddleback Mountain. After passing over Saddleback came the descents and ascents of The Horn followed by Saddleback Junior. After summiting Saddleback Junior, the hike turned downward for 4 miles and 2100 feet and then, of course, back up again. Lone Mountain was next with its 1700 feet of elevation change over 3 miles to the summit. The trail then leveled out for the final two miles of the day into Spalding Mountain Lean-to. A wee bit of rain was experience during this day and an abundance of moose scat encountered… but still no sighting of a producer.

In camp tonight "Alpo", "Metric" and "Talks ALot" and arriving quite late "Keeper" and "Duke".

In the southern section of the AT, "Five Pair" commented on (read: complained about) the extra hiking distance imposed by trail maintainers as they employed switchback after switchback on ascents and she wondered aloud over the logic on such versus simply walking a more direct line up the mountain. Having now experienced the direct line theory in the Whites and now in Maine, "Five Pair" recognizes the wisdom of those switchbacks as the stress on knees experienced through the direct line theory and particularly on descents, is significant and likely contributes to the lower success rate of thru hiking southbounders.

With 16.9 miles achieved on the rocky up and down trail, dinner consumed, tent setup complete and an eye towards resupply and laundry tomorrow in the town of Stratton, "Five Pair" called an end to the day she called "quite the workout".

1982.5 miles complete/201.9 miles to go