Start: Piazza Rock Lean-to
End: Spaulding Mountain Lean-to
Mileage: 16.9
Today, we did the most miles we’ve done in a day so far. They weren’t easy miles either.
We left the shelter aeound 7:15am. We climbed from Piazza Rock Lean-to (2,080′) to Saddleback Mountain (4,120′) down into a dip and then up to the Horn (4,020′). We got a good trail family picture on Saddleback’s summit with all four of us. We then went down past Reddington Stream Campsite (rumored to have giardia [sp] in the water source) (3,170′) up to Saddleback Junior (3,655′). We stopped at Poplar Ridge Lean-to for lunch and much needed water, as we skipped over Reddington and it was the first water source since Piazza.
From there, it was down to Orbeton stream (1,550′). We spent some time there, as the water was cool and the stream had some deep pools to swim in. From there, it was up Lone Mountain (3,260′). We made it to Spaulding Mountain Lean-to by 5:45pm and there was once again space for all four of us in the lean-to.
Tomorrow, it’s 13.5 miles to Maine 27 and Stratton! It’s been an adventure, over what I hear is the harshest section of sustained difficult terrain on the Appalachian Trail but me and my knees are ready to go home!
Transcending Mountains 