Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Appalachian Trail - Gulf Hagus to Caratunk
Betty E. and Betty D. spent 9 days on Maine sections of the A.T. We can't tell you all our stories or post all our great pictures in one posting, so several postings over the next week or so will be made. These photos include our first full day on the trail, our packs and the rocky stream bed where we lunched on that first day, Betty E. on the Barren-Chairback Range and a symbol we found scratched on rock: my soul in the mount.
Had Betty E. known what was ahead on that first day, we're certain she would've jumped off the mount with her coffee cup.
The first day was tough - 4 summits with a 2/3rds climb up the 5th peak to get to the lean-to. It was no more than 10-12 miles, but the terrain was rough going. We were rather embarrassed to think we might actually die on the first day of our trip. We recovered nicely over the next couple of days with low mileage and some rest. We went on to Long Pond Steam lean-to the next day to camp at Slugundy Gorge and Falls. The day after that was also followed by low mileage and an afteroon rest at Wilson Valley lean-to. We had to ford Long Pond Stream, Vaughan Stream, and Wilbur brook. One slip (Betty D.) on wet rock, but no falls, busted knees or rolled ankles on the first leg of our trip which ended at Shaw's in Monson. The bruises, blisters, and what I've come to know as "hot back" will be featured in future postings.
# posted by Betty @ 8:19 AM 
