8/21/01
At 2:45 a.m. the heavens opened finally and we got a couple of hours of hard rain before it finally quit. Clouds and fog greeted us as everyone in the shelter stirred to eat breakfast and pack up. The climb to the west peak of Baldpate was steep, but manageable and the clouds were starting to lift some as we reached the summit. It was an enjoyable 3/4 mile descending from the West Peak and climbing the East peak of Baldpate. Both peaks were exposed rock outcrops that were difficult, primarily because they were still wet and required great caution to avoid sliding across their surface. Though partially obscured, the view from East Baldpate to the valley below was tranquil and surreal as the sun began to break through the clouds and fog. We reached the Frye Notch lean-to and took a short break before climbing Surplus Mtn. I fell no less than a half dozen times on the descent of Baldpate due to wet rocks and roots and steep terrain. Since we entered Maine I've fallen as much as the entire rest of the trail combined. Fortunately I've fallen on my back most of the time where the pack cushions the fall and no injury results. The 1500' descent from Surplus Mtn. to the road crossing for Andover was gradual in most places, yet challenging due to the wet conditions. Along the trail, just before the road crossing, we stopped to enjoy a stream with cascading waterfalls. I ate the last of my food while Finn took a dip and the rest of the Fab 5 relaxed in the sunshine along the banks of the stream.
The hitch into Andover would have been 8 miles on a fairly desolate road, so I used my cell phone to call the Andover Guest House to see if they would be willing to pick us up at the road crossing. Fortunately they were home and said they would meet us there in 45 minutes. We hiked the next .8 mile and waited only a few minutes before Pegleg showed up with a complimentary soda for each of the six of us (Deadwood had joined us). Pegleg loaded three of us (Phantom, Deadwood, Redneck) in his car and off they went. Ten minutes later Pegleg's wife, Sandra, arrived to take Finn, Priceless and me to their guest house in the center of tiny Andover. To clarify, Andover had two small convenience like general stores, a tiny restaurant/grill (Addie's Place), a small post office, library, fire house and a few residences dotted up and down the road. The Andover guest house had hiker bunks on the 3rd floor. Finn and I had to take a semiprivate room, due to the number of people staying there, and the rest of the guys stayed in the bunkroom. No packs or boots were allowed in the house so we left our gear on the large wrap around porch. One by one we got a shower, then picked out some town clothes to wear as they wouldn't let us wear our hiker clothes, even if they were clean, because they said that the clothes would smell from the stench of the pack. I spent the balance of the afternoon hustling to get all of the post office related chores done as well as stuff my face with the hiker's special at Addie's Place. Once the chores were done it was time for a visit to the general store for some groceries. The evening hours were spent journaling, listening to music, studying the Maine profile maps, eating pizza, chatting with newly met fellow thru-hikers, and quaffing some ales. The guest house was one of the nicest accommodations on the trail, but lacks some organization. Sandra and Pegleg met in a chat room on the internet and just got married last week, so they should get their act together in short order. It was a nice semi-private room and Finn and I stayed awake talking until nearly 1:00 a.m. before going to sleep for the night. Today's stats; low 58, high 78. Partly cloudy, heavy p.m. shower. Today's mileage: 8.0; cumulative 1911.6.
