The Bigelows

Standing on Katahdin you can see the world below you. Stretched out like a canvas of blues, swirled greens and white lines of roads it is clear to see why Benton Mckaye wanted the trail to end here. Well that's what I've heard at least, but I myself can't testify to that until next Saturday when I summit the final mountain. Although the famed "100 mile wilderness" stands between me and Katahdin, by most people's standards the last section of trail is mountain-less. Whitecap mountain and the Barren mountain are on the horizon but these two climbs pack a small punch compared to the finale. This hasn't been the case recently though, leaving Stratton we tackled the Bigelows, Maine's "second mountain range" and they were spectacular. After sumiting the horn we could look back below us and see the Horn Pond camps scattered around the now seemingly small pond. In front of us the west and east peaks of the Bigelow range shot into the sky like twin fangs barred against the atmosphere. The rocky summits and outcrops provided ample views and the 360 degree panorama provided points of interest including Stratton, flagstaff lake, the crockers, and sugarloaf ski resort; on a clear day you can also see Canada 40 miles to the west and the Atlantic on the eastern horizon. A large engraved boulder explains the renamed peak and how Myron Avery's dedication to the trail earned him such a great honor. Hiking Little Bigelow was an arduous task but the wild blueberries made the miles more manageable. That night at the shelter we met a guy from Greensboro and had a fire, it was nice to have some southern comforts so far from home.