Stratton to East Flagstaff Lake

Hiked three miles and came to... THE 2000 MILE MARK!

This is official for this year, since the mileage of the trail changes each year. The A. T. C. had a sign up also, but Barbie was a mile or so short of the actual 2000 mile mark.

The last of the big climbs for awhile today! The Bigelows. 

View from Bigelow Mountain to Avery Peak

View from Avery Peak looking back at Bigelow Mountain

A little breezy up on top!

View of Little Bigelow from Avery Peak. 

Avery Peak is named for Myron Avery who was one of those with the foresight and follow-through to help make the Appalachian Trail a reality.

We walked the ridge line on little Bigelow.

The night I got to Georgia to start this insanity :) I stayed at a place called the Hiker Hostel. There were four of us in our bunkroom. Me, Big Spoon, Toast and a woman named Sandra. I have hiked off and on most of the way around Big Spoon and Toast, but none of us had seen Sandra since Springer Mountain in Georgia. Well... today, hiking along Little Bigelow... there she was!!! 

Statistically, about 20% of the people that start the trail, complete it. Crazy that 4 out of 4 from that bunkroom on March 19th are still out here plugging away!

Cool!

We have all been feeling pretty wiped out lately, but I think today was sort of a turning point. Since Vermont, each and every day was a major challenge. We had the Whites looming, with the Presidentials and then the Wildcats. Southern Maine is extremely challenging with Mahoosuc Notch, Saddleback and Crocker Mountains, to name a few, and today, the Bigelows. We've had to gear up every day. There are still challenges ahead..some climbs, the 100-mile-wilderness and of course, the biggie, Katahdin, but we get a little bit of a breather and the end is actually measured in days, not months now. The end will be bittersweet for sure. So many good new friends, memories, and the adventure of a lifetime, but the ultimate goal was to complete the trail.. and with a little luck and a few more steps... that just may happen :)