Mahoosuc Notch. 9 Sept 1974

 

You have heard about it, so here are some pictures.

Later that day, I crossed into New Hampshire.

More Relos on Appalachian Trail in Maine

 So dug out my old copy of the ATN to see the spring edition where they posted trail news.  Remember this is before instant news on the internet.

On this date in 1974, "I took the older route and did ok."

The newer route left Sabbath Day Pond LT and went over more mountains.  I was behind my goal of hiking miles, partly because I left later in the morning.  But at this point of the trip, I needed 10 hours of sleep to recover.

Here is the map of the southern route leaving west from the LT:

and now the same area from a newer USGS map showing the current route:

Isn't the USGS TopoView map really cool?

Rangeley, Maine and a wool jacket

On this date in 1974, (probably hitched) visited Rangeley to buy some food and bought a wool (red plaid) jacket for $16.75.  Then returned to trail to stay at Sabbath Day Pond LT.  Bought oatmeal since there was no granola in town.

Yesterday ran into some northbounders that I had met earlier in Virginia (Pearisburg) and a colleague of my brothers from an AYH training camp trip.  Small world eh?

More trail relos in the future.

From Saddleback Junior – The Horn and Saddleback Mountain in the background.

Last section of AT constructed here in 1937

 Hiking on the original section of the AT, after two days of warmth (38 degrees outside) we left Sugarloaf Mt and got to Saddleback Mt. 

Part of this section was the last trail blazed in 1937 completing the 2,000 mile AT.

The 1989 USGS (1:24,000) map shows the new trail crossing the valley and rejoining original AT along ridge north of Spaulding MT

But recall in 1974, the MATC relocated some of the trail to the west to steer clear of the ski resort development found north of Sugarloaf.  But I suspect some the the original 1937 trail is still in use.

Much of this text is from my memory since my AT books are packed, but earlier maps do not show the trail.

Oh yeah, stayed in Fire Warden's Cabin on top of Saddleback and captured this sunset of Rangeley Lake

Mt Sugarloaf and a zero

 Got soaked today in 1974 and decided to stay in the ski hut on top of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Yes, Sugarloaf.  A newly relocation west over Crocker was built but our NOBO hikers recommended following the older route.  (see the old route on the map below from

It was a nice warm and dry shelter.  We collected rain water off the roof.

Avery LT on AT

 On this date in 1974 (September 1st), I hiked 21 miles from East Carry Pond LT to Avery LT.  At that time, I had heard about Myron Avery, but really didn't know much about him.  There are several excellent books out there about Avery, and several about his role with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

Interested in learning more, I recommend "Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and the Rivalry That Built the Appalachian Trail" by Jeff Ryan.

Now, getting back to 1974, my journal states:

"We hiked 21 hard miles. Am real tired, can't write much. Arrived @ Myron Avery LT.  Had a great view from Avery Peak. Just Beautiful"

Here is a shot from Little Bigelow Mountain toward Bigelow Mountain and Avery Peak on right.

Just spectacular eh?

Kennebec River on the Appalachian Trail

 Forded the Kennebec River in Maine today.  Northbound hikers advised us to just ford it in the morning before they released water to drive timber downstream.  It got up to my crotch.

I wore my boots without socks to make the trip, and we exchanged cameras to photo each other as we did the trip.

 

This next screen capture is from the USGS Stream Gauge data base (online) where you can retrieve stream flow data.  You see on this date, the river was above normal flow (triangles), but from the pictures above, above normal was really not too deep for hikers.

 Today, the ATC advises not to do this and offers a free summer boat shuttle.