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MAINE
Day 1, June 23, Baxter State Park, Maine. 5.2 trail miles, 10.4 total hiked, 4560 ascent, high point 5260 on Mt. Katahdin.
Day 2, June 24 Baxter State Park, Maine. 13.0 miles 970 ascent, 1260 descent. High point 970. Broke trekking pole. 80 degrees, humid.
Day 3, June 25, 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. 15.0 miles, 2120 ascent, 1910 ascent, high point 1520 on Rainbow Mtn. Trail was rocky with roots requiring careful stepping.
Day 4, June 26, 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. 14.7 miles, 1810 ascent, 2060 descent, high point 1520. Rain in afternoon and evening. Camp at Potaywadjo Shelter.
Day 5, June 27, 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. 11.4 miles, 59.7 total, 1310 ascent, 1060 descent. Camped along Cooper Brook Falls. Stopped early to reach resupply tomorrow.
Day 6, June 28, 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. 11.7 miles, 71.4 total, 2900′ ascent, 1450′ descent. Got food cache, rain shower, lovely camp with amazing spring water.
Day 7, June 29, 100 Mile Wilderness, Maine. 13.1miles, 2850′ ascent, 4430′ descent. Whitecap Mt, several other lower mtns. Most elevation change since day 1.
Day 8, June 30, 100 Mile Wilderness. 10.9 miles, 4050′ ascent, 2600′ descent. Difficult, boulder climb to Chairback, Fourth Mtns.
Day 9, July 1, 100 Mile Wilderness. 13.7 miles, 2890′ ascent, 4170′ descent. Fatigue after previous day strenuous hiking.
Day 10, July 2, 100 Mile Wilderness. 5.4 miles, 1200′ ascent, 1150′ descent. Mostly easy hike to Monson trailhead and zero day in Monson.
Day 11, July 3. Zero day at Shaws Hostel in Monson, Maine.
Day 12, July 4. 15.9 miles, 130.4 total, 2290′ ascent, 2430′ descent. Easy hiking in steady light rain.
Day 13, July 5. 15.1 miles, 145.3 total, 3800′ ascent, 3680′ descent. Hiked to 3 summits: Bald, Middle and Pleasant Pond Mtns. Great weather.
Day 14, July 6. 5.7 miles, 151.2 total, 350′ ascent, 150′ descent. Easy hike into Caratunk, spent night at Sterling Inn.
Day 15 July 7: 14.0 miles, 165.2 total, 2010′ ascent, 1151′ descent, 1520′ high point. Camp: West Carry Pond Lean-To. Canoe across Kennebec Rv, Nice hike past large ponds.
Day 16, July 8: Total 177.8 miles, day 12.6, 3670′ ascent, 2840′ descent, 3060 high point. Safford Notch Camp. Ascent into Bigelow Preserve, Bigelow Mountains.
Day 17, July 9: Total 188.2 miles, day 10.4, 3300′ ascent, 4280′ descent, 4145′ high point. Route 27, Stratton. Bigelow Preserve, Avery Peak, West Peak, long, bouldery descent.
Day 18, July 10: Zero day in Stratton, Maine.
Day 19, July 11: Total miles 198.8, day 10.6, 5285′ ascent, 2570′ descent, 4206′ high point. Ascended to 3 4K summits: Crocker, S. Crocker and camped on Sugarloaf Mtn, second highest in Maine.
Day 20, July 12: Total miles 209.7, day 10.9, 2720′ ascent, 3950′ descent, 4144′ high point.
Day 21, July 13: Total miles 220.4, day 10.7, 2900′ ascent, 4170′ descent, 4160′ high point on Saddleback Mountain. Went to Rangeley for a zero day.
Day 22, July 14: Zero day in Rangeley.
Day 23, July 15: Total miles 234.2, day 13.8, 2780′ ascent, 2825′ descent, 3010′ high point. Camp: Stream 0.7m S of Hwy 17. Four Ponds area, Spruce Mtn. Tedius 13.8 miles.
Day 24, July 16: Total miles 246.8, day 12.6, 3690′ ascent, 3860′ descent, high point 3615′. Csmp at Brook near South Arm Rd. 1410′. 3 summits: Bemis Mtn, Old Blue. Very tough, steep trail in places, waited out rain at Bemis Mtn shelter.
Day 25, July 17: Total miles 256.9, day 10 miled. Ascent 3415′, descent 3290′, high point 2960′. Stayed at The Cabin hostel. Andover. Hall Mtn, Wyman Mtn. Steep ascent in humidity, and nice finish to East B Hill Td.
Day 26, July 18. Total miles 261.4, day 4.5, ascent 1790′ descent 925′, high point 2790′. Camp: Frye Notch Lean-To, 2285′. Short hike after NERO in Andover. Rain until evening.
Day 27, 19-Jul: Milepost 271.8, Day 10.4, Ascent 4665′, Descent 3610′, Highest 4075′, Camp: Speck Pond Lean-To, 3410′. Nice morning, rain afternoon, hazardous descent to Speck Pond, two hard falls on wet rocks, wood stairs.
Day 28, 20-Jul: Milepost 276.9, Day 5.1, Ascent 1635′, Descent 2055′, Highest 3775′. Camp Full Goose Lean-To, 2940′. Descended 1500′ Mahoosuc Arm, 3 hours through legendary 1-mile Mahoosuc Notch. Camped early due to muscle fatigue.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Day 29, 21-Jul: Milepost 286.5, Day 9.6 miles, Ascent 3325′, Descent 4165′, Highest 3810′. Camp: Gentian Shelter, 2160′. Mahoosuc Mtns, highest Goose Eye 3870′. Entered New Hampshire. Rain and cold wind on Mt Success.
Day 30, 22-Jul: Milepost 298.3, Day 11.8 miles, Ascent 3325′, Descent 4165′, Highest 2844′, At Rt 2 went to Gorham NH. Descended off Mahoosuc Mtns to Gorham in very nice weather.
Day 31, 23-Jul: Zero day in Gorham, NH.
Day 32, 24-Jul: Milepost 306.4, Day 8.1 miles, Ascent 3650′, Descent 1255′, Highest 4020′, Camp: IMP Campsite 3215′. White National Forest, ascend past Mt Moriah to first views of Presidential peaks. Very nice, sunny weather.
Day 33, 25-Jul: Milepost 313.5, Day 7.1 miles, Ascent 2840′, Descent 2700′, Highest 4850′, Camp: Carter Notch Hut, 3295′. White Mountains NF. Carter Mountains, Carter Dome 4832′. Rain mid-morning, sheltered in tarp for 90 minutes. Arrived at a wonderful AMC hut to sleep in a bunk room.
Day 34, 26-Jul: Milepost 319.5, Day 6.0 miles, Ascent 1830′, Descent 3015′, Highest 4425′, Camp: Pinkham Notch, 2090′. 6 miles in 7.25 hours. Hard descent from Wildcat Mtn.
Day 35, 27-Jul: Milepost 327.2, Day 7.7 miles, Ascent 4055′, Descent 1445′, Highest 5390′. Camp: Madison Spring Hut, 4800′. Climb to Mt Madison, first of the Presidentials. Highest point of the hike. Great views until rain started as I neared the hut.
Day 36, 28-Jul: Milepost 334.3, Day 7.1 miles, Ascent 2580′, Descent 2400′, Highest 6300′. Camp: Lake of the Clouds Hut, 5030′. Great weather for climb to high point of NH, Mt Washington. Mostly sunny, moderate wind, chilly.
Day 37, 29-Jul: Milepost 345.4 Day 11.1 miles. Ascent 1500′, Descent 5115′, Highest 5030′. Camp: Crawford Notch – AMC lodge, 1940′. Awesome traverse of Presidentials Monroe, Eisenhauer and more. Rain returned at 4 pm as I reached highway and finish for the day.
Day 38, 30-Jul. Milepost 353.1, Day 7.7 miles. Ascent 1750′, Descent 405′, Highest 2905′. Camp Zealand Falls Hut 2618′. Easy hike on excellently graded trail. Occasional light rain showers. Zealand Falls Hut uses hydro power from nearby Zealand Stream.
Day 39 31-Jul: Milepost 362.8, Day 9.7. Ascent 4370′, Descent 3060′, Highest 4915′, Camp: Garfield Ridge Campsite 3975′. Zealand, Guyot and South Twin Mtns. Went .25 mile on wrong trail from S. Twin. Hard fall after foot caught tree branch on trail. Close call!
Day 40 1-Aug: Milepost 371.9, Day 9.1 miles. Ascent 3070′, Descent 4880′, Highest 5235′. Camp: Stream on lower Liberty Ridge 2100′. Very pleasant traverse of Garfield and Franconia Ridges in good weather. Great views, nice trail! White Mountain National Forest.
Day 41 2-Aug: Milepost 373, Day 1.1 miles. Ascent 90′, Descent 680′, Highest 2100′. Town stay in Fairlee, Vermont at Steve (Brownie) and Lenore Brown. Wonderful, restful stay!
Day 42 3-Aug: Zero day at Brownie’s.
Day 43 4-Aug: Milepost 381.9, Day 8.9 miles. Ascent 3340′, Descent 2495′, Highest 4365′. Camp: Eliza Brook Shelter 2440′. White Mtns: Kinsman North and South Peaks. Tedius climb and descent on Kinsman, very steep in places, very tired at end of day. Slept great!
Day 44 5-Aug: Milepost 390.1, Day 8.2 miles, Ascent 3840′, Descent 2530′, Highest 3700′. Camp: Beaver Brook Shelter 3700′. Climb to Mt. Wolf, descend to Kinsman Notch, very steep 1800′ climb to camp near Moosilauke. Shared shelter with fellow SOBOs Voyager, Pearly and Checkpoint.
Day 45 6-Aug: Milepost 398.9, Day 8.8, Ascent 1220′, Descent 3810′, Highest 4805′, Town: Fairlee, Vermont. NERO at Brownie’s home in Vermont.
Day 46 7-Aug: Milepost 410.2, Day 11.3, Ascent 2650′, Descent 2240′, Highest 2195′, Camp: Brackett Brook, Mt Cube area, 1485′. Left White Mtn NF, entered terrain, nice trail to hike, 3 road crossings.
Day 47 8-Aug: Milepost 422.7, Day 12.5, Ascent 3750′, Descent 4115′, Highest 3230′. Camp: Lyme-Dorchester Rd campsite, 1120′. Climbed/descended 2 mountains: Cube and Smarts. One of the highest elevation up/down days. Very fatigued, humid. One more slip on a rock slab.
Day 48 9-Aug: Milepost 436.8, Day 14.1, Ascent 2485′, Descent 3450′, Highest 2290′, Camp 0.4 S of Etna Rd, stealth camp, 1200′. Moose Mtn north and south peak. Nice pine forests and cool places to rest on a muggy day. Felt stronger.
Day 49 10-Aug: Milepost 442.2, Day 5.4, Ascent 840′, Descent 1205′, Highest 1255′. Town: Hotel in White River Jct / Hanover. Short easy hike into Ivy League college town. Nice and very welcoming.
VERMONT
Day 50 11-Aug: Milepost 449.7, Day 7.5, Ascent 1610′, Descent 1065′, Highest 1560′. Camp: 2 miles E of West Hartford, VT, stealth camp, 1100′., Departed Hanover in 90 degrees. Easy forest walk. Saw a deer, first large animal since starting 50 days ago!
Day 51 12-Aug: Milepost 465.3, Day 15.6, Ascent 4240′, Descent 4425′, Highest 1930′. Camp: VT 12, at Daniel Quinn’s AT House, 875′. Nice trail with lots of elevation up/down. Pushed hard to reach On The Edge Farm for ice cream.
Day 52 13-Aug: Milepost 478.4, Day 13.1, Ascent 3390′, Descent 2915′, Highest 2665′. Camp: Stony Brook, in Les Newell Wildlife Mgmt Area 1435′. Saw first cows grazing! Felt good despite 85 degree heat, nearly all in shady woods.
Day 53 14-Aug: Milepost 485.7, Day 7.3, Ascent 2125′, Descent 1970′, Highest 2605′. Town: Rutland, VT. Pleasant hike in the muggy morning after a nighttime thunderstorm with rain.
Day 54 15-Aug: Milepost 495.3, Day 9.6, Ascent 3340′, Descent 1025′, Highest 3900′. Camp: Cooper Lodge Shelter on Killington Mtn. 3900′. Left Rutland, 6 mile climb up Killington Mtn. Wonderful temperatures, low humidity.
Day 55 16-Aug: Milepost 511.2, Day 15.9, Ascent 2770′, Descent 4500′, Highest 3985′. Camp: Bear Mtn stealth camp 2165′. Long descent from Killington was tiring. Sunny, nice day.
Day 56 17-Aug: Milepost 529.0, Day 17.8, Ascent 3680′, Descent 3240′, Highest 2860′. Camp: Peru Peak Shelter, Green Mtns NF, 2590′. Most miles hiked in a day so far. Trail not too steep. Rain in afternoon.
Day 57 18-Aug: Milepost 539.1, Day 10.1, Ascent 2285′, Descent 3045′, Highest 3440′. Town: Manchester Center, VT. Tree drip and showers on climb to Bromley Mt, then fast descent to TH and ride to Green Mtn Hostel for zero day and resupply.
Day 58 19-Aug: Milepost 539.1, Day 0.0. Zero day in Manchester Center, VT
Day 59 20-Aug: Milepost 556.6, Day 17.5, Ascent 3040′ Descent 2745′ Highest 3955′. Camp: Near Kelly Stand Rd, Green Mtn NF 2305′. Light rain ended, cool temp for climb to Stratton Mtn with historic lookout tower.
Day 60 21-Aug: Milepost 570.6, Day 14.0, Ascent 2980′, Descent 2300′, Highest 3800′. Camp: North border Glastenbury Wilderness, stealth camp 2936′. While ascending to Glastonbury Mtn I monitored Hurricane forecast. Made plans to get off trail at Bennington tomorrow.
Day 61 22-Aug: Milepost 579.2, Day 8.6, Ascent 1075′, Descent 2545′, Highest 3270′. Town: Bennington, VT. Left trail to escape Hurricane Henri.
Day 62 23-Aug: Milepost 579.2, Day 0.0 miles. Remained in Bennington, VT. Zero day while tropical storm Henri dumped heavy rain in the region.
Day 63, 24-Aug: Milepost 592.7, Daily 13.5 miles. Ascent 3140′, Descent 2380′, Highest 3045′. Camp: 0.8 mile N of VT/MA border, Green Mtn NF, 2125′. Departed Bennington. No rain, muggy. Passed two nice beaver ponds. Near Massachusetts border.