Flip Flop Hikers: July 2016

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Sprout Day 126 (Sunday, July 31st, 2016)

We got on the trail around 7:00 a.m. heading for Andover, Maine today. We had an eight mile hike to get into town. As soon asked we started we had to hike up baldpate peak. It was a steep incline first thing in the morning but it wasn’t too bad. Once we were on top we had to walk over to Baldpate east and walk down. The terrain was huge flat rocks. It was a pretty cool hike. We were thankful it wasn't wet or raining because that would've been extra slippery and probably a little dangerous.

My favorite part of the day was the waterfall. The trail goes right by Upper Dunn Falls and you get a nice view of the waterfall right next to the trail.

Our original plan was to go camp out behind a restaurant in Andover because they offered showers and laundry. It's Sunday though and the restaurant closed early so we decided to go to the hostel in town. We called and they came to pick us up from the road so we didn't have to worry about hitch hiking.

View this morning

Climbing up

Baldpate West and Bubbles

Rock cairn on Baldpate East

Peak of Baldpate East

Little ladder to help you down

Mushrooms

Mushroom

Mushrooms

Waterfalls on the trial today

Pine Ellis Lodging Hostel

Day: 126

Miles hiked: 8

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1070.9

Bears: 0

Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8

Chipmunks: 3

Cows: 24

Crawfish: 1

Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2

Grouse: 1

Horses: 12

Hummingbird: 1

Inchworm: 1

Really Big Dog: 1

Mice: 2

Nest of bugs: 2

Newts: 2

Owl: 1

Rabbit: 1

Skunk: 1

Snail: 1

Snake: 2

Squirrels: 11

Toads: 3

Trout: 2

Turkeys: 4

Turtles: 107

Vultures: 6

Woodpecker: 1

Smudgy Cheeks Day 126 (Sunday, July 31st, 2016)

I hiked 8 miles to Andover today. We are going to hang out in town and wait for my two oldest sisters and their husbands. We don't want to get on the trail and then they can't get ahold of us because cell phone service is not great up here.

It's a tough hike but it is absolutely beautiful!

Day: 126

Miles hiked: 8
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 999.8
Bear: 1
Chipmunk: 1
Deer: 1
Lizard: 1
Snakes: 4
Toads: 2
Vulture: 1
Zoo Animals: 2 foxes, 1 porcupine, 1 bobcat, 1 turtle, 2 bears

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Sprout Day 125 (Saturday, July 30th, 2016)

It was a perfect day for hiking, the temperature was just right and the sun was shining all day. At the beginning of the day we did the Mahoosuc Arm. It was a fun climb. For some of the trail we had to walk up long flat boulders. I'm glad it wasn’t wet or raining because it would have been very slippery. We went past Speck Pond and climbed Speck Mountain. Speck Mountain had a steep incline and there was a lot of rock climbing. I felt like I was off trail even though I knew that I was going the right way. The climb was rugged.

We got down to a parking lot during the last couple miles and a lady named Satellite was there offering some trail magic. It was perfect! She had sodas, water, fruit, peanut butter, and crackers, and a bunch of little Debbie snacks. It hit the spot! We ate so much and drank a few sodas, it was awesome!

The climb up to the shelter was steep, and we probably shouldn't have ate so much and drank so much but I don't regret it, it was exactly what I needed.

Our plan is to get up really early and go into Andover tomorrow. We have a few packages to pick up from the post office on Monday and want to do laundry and take a shower. There is free camping behind a restaurant and there's a hostel in town. I can't wait to get some town food and see what Andover is all about. So long for now, I need to get some sleep!

Roots

Speck Pond

Watershed Area Keep Out

Trail

Heading this way

Beautiful view from Speck Mountain

Bubbles coming up Speck Mountain

Trail today

Hiking through the forest

Beautiful day

Stream over rocks

Mushrooms

Grafton Notch State Park

Bubbles at an Appalachian Trail sign

Smudgy Cheeks by the Appalachian Trail sign

Day: 125

Miles hiked: 9.5

Total Miles hiked on the trail: 1062.9

Bears: 0

Bluegill: 2

Butterflies: 8

Chipmunks: 3

Cows: 24

Crawfish: 1

Deer: 20

Donkeys: 2

Grouse: 1

Horses: 12

Hummingbird: 1

Inchworm: 1

Really Big Dog: 1

Mice: 2

Nest of bugs: 2

Newts: 2

Owl: 1

Rabbit: 1

Skunk: 1

Snail: 1

Snake: 2

Squirrels: 11

Toads: 3

Trout: 2

Turkeys: 4

Turtles: 107

Vultures: 6

Woodpecker: 1

Smudgy Cheeks Day 125 (Saturday, July 30th, 2016)

I hiked 9.5 miles today. We wanted to get further into Maine. It is a really hard part of the trail so I didn't take my phone out and get pictures.

Day: 125
Miles hiked: 9.5
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 991.8
Bear: 1
Chipmunk: 1
Deer: 1
Lizard: 1
Snakes: 4
Toads: 2
Vulture: 1
Zoo Animals: 2 foxes, 1 porcupine, 1 bobcat, 1 turtle, 2 bears

Friday, July 29, 2016

Sprout Day 124 (Friday, July 29th, 2016)

We woke up early and hiked Mahoosuc Notch today. It's said to be the toughest mile on the AT and we can see why! Boulder after boulder and root after root, hand over hand was the only way through it. It was a tough mile but it was fun and no one got hurt. The whole experience was unique and I'm happy we were all together for the experience.

There were some spots we had to climb up over boulders and other spots we had to climb under huge boulders. We had to take our packs off for one section that went under and into a tight space. When we first walked into the notch we walked down and immediately felt a temperature change. Some spots were cold enough to still have snow and ice, it was crazy! Then, all of a sudden, you'd walk up and it'd be warm again.

We hiked to a campsite right after the notch and decided to stay and call it an early day. There was rain in the forecast for most of the afternoon and the next part of the trail is difficult. We're going to go up 1500 feet in less than a mile and is mostly rocks and crazy climbs. The rocks get slippery in the rain and a southbounder told us to forget about hiking it if it's raining. We're going to bed early and getting up early and hiking Mahoosuc arm. It's so quiet in the woods here, Maine is peaceful.