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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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September 22, 1983: The ascent of Little Bigelow was gradual and the new trail well laid-out. The AT reached the ridgeline of the mountain and traversed a series of rocky knobs, several of which had open ledges.
#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #Maine #nature #forest #mountains #AppalachianTrail
We are standing on open light gray rock ledges atop a mountain looking over the treetops at a much loftier range of mountains arcing to our left as it stretches into the distance. Its slopes descend towards a valley on our left. There are some rocky patches along the ridge crests and a set of massive gray granite cliffs to the left of the crest as it ascends the nearest mountain. Everything else in the picture is covered with a lush forest consisting mostly of teal colored evergreens, with streaks of hardwoods turning red, gold and orange for autumn. The sky is clear and bright, but a bit hazy and whitewashed. The ledges are covered with pale green and dark green lichen. There are a few stunted spruce and leafy shrubs that have turned brick red or bright gold with autumn.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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The sun had finally broken through, the day had turned clear and beautiful. The haze was gone from the air, replaced by a crisp hint of chill. An arc of mountains stretching from Bigelow to Saddleback coiled behind me. Ahead and to my right and left unfolded miles of relatively flat lake country.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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A different kind of pretty countryside lay ahead on the Appalachian Trail, a change of pace from the mountain landscapes and a chance to pick up the pace after the rugged peaks and arduous trails of southwest Maine.

But before that I had one last great mountain to traverse.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
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It had turned into a perfect autumn day, and there were constant viewpoints along the crest of Little Bigelow. Time and again I was able to in a single view see all the magnificent mountains I had climbed today and over the previous three days.
We are standing atop a mountain looking over the treetops at a much loftier range of mountains arcing to our left as it stretches into the distance. Its slopes descend towards a valley on our left. There are some rocky patches along the ridge crests and a set of massive gray granite cliffs to the left of the crest as it ascends the nearest mountain. Everything else in the picture is covered with a lush forest consisting mostly of teal colored evergreens, with streaks of hardwoods turning red, gold and orange for autumn. The sky is clear and bright, but a bit hazy and whitewashed.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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And think back to the impressive variety of weather conditions they had delivered. There were also constantly evolving views of the lowlands ahead, with enormous lakes reflecting the autumn sky and lots of relatively flat country and much lower ridges.
We are standing atop a mountain on a gray rock outcrop covered with pale green and dark green lichen. A giant boulder composed of the same type of rock is to our left. There are a few stunted spruce and leafy shrubs that have turned brick red with autumn. The tops of spruce and fir and hardwood trees are visible past the edge of the outcrop. The hardwoods are sporting bright gold autumn foliage. We are looking over those treetops at a much loftier range of mountains arcing to our left as it stretches into the distance. Its slopes descend towards a valley on our left. There are some rocky patches along the ridge crests and a set of massive gray granite cliffs to the left of the crest as it ascends the nearest mountain. Everything else in the picture is covered with a lush forest consisting mostly of teal colored evergreens, with streaks of hardwoods turning red, gold and orange for autumn. The sky is clear and bright, but a bit hazy and whitewashed.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
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In addition to the nice views, the ridge crest of Little Bigelow was interesting in itself. Lots of fascinating rock formations and trees built to withstand the wind and cold.
We are standing atop a mountain looking over the treetops down a wooded mountainside sloping down to an enormous lake in a relatively flat valley several hundred feet below. Several low mountain ranges cascade to the far horizon. The sky is bright and sunny, with numerous clouds along the horizon. The deep blue of the lake and the very few scattered small shadows moving over the brightly sunlit landscape indicate that the sky above us is much clearer. A vast forest surrounds the lake and covers the mountain ranges. Mostly it is the deep teal of the spruce and fir trees, but their are touches of the bright autumn colors of hardwoods.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
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Although significantly smaller than the giants I had been traversing for days, the summit of Little Bigelow had been almost three thousand feet. As I walked along, the ridge gradually diminished, its crest reaching towards the low country.
Descending from a mountain looking over the treetops to a long arm of an enormous deep blue lake in a relatively flat valley several hundred feet below. Several low mountain ranges cascade to the far horizon. The sky is bright and sunny, with clouds along the horizon. A vast forest surrounds the lake and covers the mountain ranges. Mostly deep teal spruce and fir trees, but their are touches of the bright autumn colors of hardwoods.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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George Steffanos
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Eventually a long, narrow finger of Flagstaff Lake began to dominate the view ahead as I descended towards it.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffano...
Descending from a mountain looking over low wooded ridges to a corner of a deep blue lake a few hundred feet below. We are on a rocky, open patch of slope surrounded by a forest of mostly spruce and fir. There are a few swaths of hardwoods along the ridges with brightly colored red, orange and gold foliage. Beyond the lake, Several mountain ranges cascade to the far horizon. There are a few clouds in the bright, sunny, whitewashed sky.
08:31 AM - Apr 25, 2024
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