August 23, 1981 - Surplus Pond camp to Camp sight near route 5 -
Left Surplus Pond at 7:15 a.m. We had a nice fire the night before. Slept well after swim in lake near sunset. We
hiked 3½ miles to Hall Mountain lean-to where Marjo and I stopped to read register and eat. It was very hard walking
all dry. The last .6 mile went up 900 feet. Straight up! We camped .8 miles north of route 5. Very small spring up
here on the summit but enough to get by. We set up tarp and slept out under the stars. I will soon miss these days
of leisure.
August 24, 1981 - Camped out near route 5 to Sabbath Day Pond-
We left campsite at 7:30 a.m. We are getting slower every day. Made it to Elephant Mountain lean-to in good time,
then took Bemis side trail which followed the stream down to Maine 17.
This was the former route of the A.T. and we took it instead of the Bemis Mountains. It was a new re-route and I had
maps for the way we went. It was beautiful with probably the best waterfalls display yet on the A.T. Made it to
Sabbath Day Pond lean-to by 3:30 p.m. and it started to rain by 4. It rained for most of the night. I tried to knock a
squirrel in the head for good supper. My “boot” wasn't heavy enough. He got away! It is getting cold. Sure feels
good to be in dry shelter.
August 25, 1981 - Sabbath Day Pond Shelter to Piazza Rock Shelter-
Finally a day of easy walking. Left shelter at 8:15 a.m. from Sabbath Day Pond. We hiked to Little Swift River
campsite by 10.00 a.m. Marjo and I left campsite by 10:27 a.m. We reached Maine 4 by 12:15 p.m. and we
hitched into Rangeley for supplies. Went to post office and got mail from mom and dad. They sent a pocket
fisherman to carry along. Marjo and I split ½ gallon of ice cream and did laundry and went to doe nut shop on the
way to boarding house. We were going to stay at Violas boarding house but the rates were too high. ($9.00) each.
The town did not seem too friendly to hikers although I did get a ride back out of town easily.
Left Surplus Pond at 7:15 a.m. We had a nice fire the night before. Slept well after swim in lake near sunset. We
hiked 3½ miles to Hall Mountain lean-to where Marjo and I stopped to read register and eat. It was very hard walking
all dry. The last .6 mile went up 900 feet. Straight up! We camped .8 miles north of route 5. Very small spring up
here on the summit but enough to get by. We set up tarp and slept out under the stars. I will soon miss these days
of leisure.
August 24, 1981 - Camped out near route 5 to Sabbath Day Pond-
We left campsite at 7:30 a.m. We are getting slower every day. Made it to Elephant Mountain lean-to in good time,
then took Bemis side trail which followed the stream down to Maine 17.
This was the former route of the A.T. and we took it instead of the Bemis Mountains. It was a new re-route and I had
maps for the way we went. It was beautiful with probably the best waterfalls display yet on the A.T. Made it to
Sabbath Day Pond lean-to by 3:30 p.m. and it started to rain by 4. It rained for most of the night. I tried to knock a
squirrel in the head for good supper. My “boot” wasn't heavy enough. He got away! It is getting cold. Sure feels
good to be in dry shelter.
August 25, 1981 - Sabbath Day Pond Shelter to Piazza Rock Shelter-
Finally a day of easy walking. Left shelter at 8:15 a.m. from Sabbath Day Pond. We hiked to Little Swift River
campsite by 10.00 a.m. Marjo and I left campsite by 10:27 a.m. We reached Maine 4 by 12:15 p.m. and we
hitched into Rangeley for supplies. Went to post office and got mail from mom and dad. They sent a pocket
fisherman to carry along. Marjo and I split ½ gallon of ice cream and did laundry and went to doe nut shop on the
way to boarding house. We were going to stay at Violas boarding house but the rates were too high. ($9.00) each.
The town did not seem too friendly to hikers although I did get a ride back out of town easily.
Sabbath Day Pond
August 25, 1981 - Sabbath Day Pond Shelter to Piazza Rock Shelter-
Finally a day of easy walking. Left shelter at 8:15 a.m. from Sabbath Day Pond. We hiked to Little Swift River
campsite by 10.00 a.m. Marjo and I left campsite by 10:27 a.m. We reached Maine 4 by 12:15 p.m. and we
hitched into Rangeley for supplies. Went to post office and got mail from mom and dad. They sent a pocket
fisherman to carry along. Marjo and I split ½ gallon of ice cream and did laundry and went to doe nut shop on the way
to boarding house. We were going to stay at Violas boarding house but the rates were too high. ($9.00) each. The
town did not seem too friendly to hikers although I did get a ride back out of town easily. A man from Florida named
Bill who was in landscaping came up to me in town and asked me if I was going back up to the trail. I said yes and he
told me to hop in. I hiked up to Piazza Rock Shelter which was only three miles up trail and I fixed boiled steak for
supper. There were a lot of people here when I first got here but they left soon after. Marjo and I parted company
temporally in town. We had met Pete Peterson in Rangeley and he had said there was a good place to stay in
Stratton. Marjo decided to go there for the night and hike back north to south the next two days. I decided to walk the
usual south to north. It is getting dark here now. I am writing by candle light. I need to write letters home the next few
days. I'll try.
Finally a day of easy walking. Left shelter at 8:15 a.m. from Sabbath Day Pond. We hiked to Little Swift River
campsite by 10.00 a.m. Marjo and I left campsite by 10:27 a.m. We reached Maine 4 by 12:15 p.m. and we
hitched into Rangeley for supplies. Went to post office and got mail from mom and dad. They sent a pocket
fisherman to carry along. Marjo and I split ½ gallon of ice cream and did laundry and went to doe nut shop on the way
to boarding house. We were going to stay at Violas boarding house but the rates were too high. ($9.00) each. The
town did not seem too friendly to hikers although I did get a ride back out of town easily. A man from Florida named
Bill who was in landscaping came up to me in town and asked me if I was going back up to the trail. I said yes and he
told me to hop in. I hiked up to Piazza Rock Shelter which was only three miles up trail and I fixed boiled steak for
supper. There were a lot of people here when I first got here but they left soon after. Marjo and I parted company
temporally in town. We had met Pete Peterson in Rangeley and he had said there was a good place to stay in
Stratton. Marjo decided to go there for the night and hike back north to south the next two days. I decided to walk the
usual south to north. It is getting dark here now. I am writing by candle light. I need to write letters home the next few
days. I'll try.
Piazza Rock
August 26, 1981 - Piazza Rock Shelter- Spaulding Mountain Shelter-
Made 17 miles to Spalding Mountain lean-to. I came over some beautiful mountains today above tree line. It was like
the White Mountains without the people. Saddleback, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior. The last three miles were
nearly flat and in a beautiful forest. Marjo and I passed in this forest. We both realized it was better walking with
someone. We talked for five minutes about the upcoming terrain for each of us and went our different ways. I have
a good fire going here. I am alone here again tonight. It is getting dark now and time to hit the hay. I am on to
Stratton tomorrow morning.
“GOING FOR IT” Victory is near.
Made 17 miles to Spalding Mountain lean-to. I came over some beautiful mountains today above tree line. It was like
the White Mountains without the people. Saddleback, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior. The last three miles were
nearly flat and in a beautiful forest. Marjo and I passed in this forest. We both realized it was better walking with
someone. We talked for five minutes about the upcoming terrain for each of us and went our different ways. I have
a good fire going here. I am alone here again tonight. It is getting dark now and time to hit the hay. I am on to
Stratton tomorrow morning.
“GOING FOR IT” Victory is near.
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