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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 1/14
September 13, 1983: The Appalachian Trail descended alongside Moss Pond's outlet brook to Gentian Pond. A trail shelter was perched atop a small ridge flanked by the pond on one side and
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A whitewashed evening sky with banks of clouds along the far horizon. Walking an alpine ridge crest along naked gray fractured granite surrounded by leafy ground cover starting to turn gold. Ahead the crest descends to and climbs over a wooded section with 3 large patches of open green alpine scrub, Next is a deep gap and then the crest arcs right as it ascends again over a series of lofty peaks and knobs. There are glimpses of more distant mountain ranges to the right and left.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
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another great view to the south on the other. I caught up to a couple of guys there — the first people I had encountered since leaving Gorham.

Past the shelter, the Appalachian Trail assumed the level of difficulty which I had expected to find in the Mahoosucs.
A soft blue sky, standing on a rocky, scrubby stretch of shore beside a mountain pond surrounded by a mixed forest of northern conifers and hardwoods. A cluster of bright green lily pads floats on the ripples just offshore. Not far beyond the opposite shore, the ground rises precipitously towards the top of a knob. This face is mostly wooded, with several naked rock cliffs towards the top.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 3/14
A near-vertical ascent of smooth rock ledges was followed by an abrupt plunge into a col. I struggled over a couple of rugged knobs and commenced a long, grueling climb up Mount Success. The air remained chilly, but I was sweating up a storm.
A soft blue sky with banks of clouds far away along the horizon. Walking an alpine ridge crest along naked gray granite surrounded by scrub spruce and fir shrubs and leafy ground cover starting to turn gold and orange. There is a small city surrounded by forest and a few farm fields and pastures in the wide river valley below. Another lofty mountain range across the valley runs along the entire horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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The footway was a twisted mass of loose rocks and tree roots, topsoil eroded away down to the bedrock. Many stretches almost required a human fly. I rubbed my two front legs together, folded back my wings, and crawled to the top.
A soft blue sky with a few scattered clouds above and banks of clouds far away along the horizon. Walking an alpine ridge crest along naked gray granite surrounded by scrub spruce and fir shrubs and leafy ground cover starting to turn gold and orange. The northern outskirts of a small city surrounded by forests and farm fields and pastures run through the wide river valley below. Other lofty mountain ranges across the valley run along the entire horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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Insect Boy was rewarded with about a quarter-mile of open ridge walk with constant 360-degree views, following which the Appalachian Trail dropped steeply into a deep col, climbed over the tip of a knob and descended into a shallower col.
Under a soft blue sky, we are standing on an outcrop of gray rock looking out across the treetops of a lush spruce and fir forest as the crest descends towards another large outcrop below. Across a deep valley rises another lofty, rugged, wooded mountain range. Beyond that, other more distant mountain ranges cascade to the horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 6/14
At the bottom of that short, steep descent, I was greeted by a trail sign marking the last state line to be crossed on this journey. I was beginning the final 279.5 miles — the Maine miles — to Katahdin.
A soft blue sky with banks of clouds far away along the horizon. Walking an alpine ridge crest with naked gray granite surrounded by scrub spruce and fir shrubs. Below and ahead the flanks of the ridge are heavily forested with spruce, fir and northern hardwoods. Hundreds of feet below a wide green valley is mostly forested, with a few green fields and pastures visible. Beyond the valley, distant mountain ranges cascade to the horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 7/14
The Appalachian Trail climbed over a knob, descended steeply into a high pass called Carlo Col, and ascended just as steeply to the summit of Mount Carlo. There were great views from up there, but what else is new? I did not encounter a wooded major summit all day:
A soft blue sky with a few scattered clouds above and banks of clouds far away along the horizon. Walking an open ridge crest looking out across slopes forested with spruce, fir and northern hardwoods. A rural portion of the wide river valley hundreds of feet below features low hills, a large deep blue lake and widely scattered farm fields and pastures surrounded by thousands of acres of forest. Other lofty mountain ranges across the valley run along the entire horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
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Even some of the knobs had open crowns. The trail down into the col between Mount Carlo and Goose Eye Mountain was tricky and steep — very hard on a played-out body. I was beginning to question my ability to make it over Goose Eye Mountain to the shelter which was tonight’s destination.
A soft blue evening sky. Walking an open ridge crest looking out across an extremely weather-beaten highland forest of spruce and fir. An interesting mountain rises hundreds of feet above us. The faces of the mountain and its ridges are precipitous and thickly cloaked in dusky fir and spruce forests, while its crest offers gently rounded protuberances with rocky and alpine open stretches.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 9/14
My legs felt like warm Jell-O.

I climbed steeply (of course) back out of the col to the ridge crest of Goose Eye, coming out near the westernmost of the mountain’s three summits. The sun was sinking and taking its warmth with it.
A soft blue evening sky with banks of clouds along the far horizon. We are high atop a mountain looking across an alpine ridge crest descending before us. A few patches of naked rock poke through, but most of the crest is blanketed in golden brown or olive green ground hugging plants with wide swathes of stunted spruce and fir. A series of wooded parallel mountain ranges and narrow valleys cascade to the far horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 10/14
The invigorating bite which had enlivened the air all day was degenerating into a numbing chill.

On the other hand, the entire span of ridge crest between the west and east peaks was rocky and open, with continual panoramic views.
A whitewashed evening sky. We are high atop a ridge crest walking a footpath through stunted spruce and fir beginning the descent into a deep wooded gap. Beyond the gap rise the wooded slopes of a rounded peak with extensive naked granite cliffs near sand along its crest. A series of wooded parallel mountain ranges and narrow valleys beyond cascade to the far horizon.
09:05 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 11/14
I descended into a low sag and climbed over smooth, vertical rock ledges to the east peak. Goose Eye was the scenic highlight of a memorably scenic day of hiking. The ensuing mile-and-a-quarter to the north peak of the mountain were mostly above tree line along an open, boggy ridge
A soft blue evening sky with banks of clouds along the horizon. We are climbing along a mountain crest towards a rounded knob ahead. The crest is open and alpine with patches of naked rock, scrub fir and spruce, golden brown grass-like plants and wide swathes of green ground cover. After the knob is a deep gap. From there rise the wooded slopes of a higher rounded summit.
09:06 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 12/14
so characteristic of the crest of the Mahoosucs. After another precipitous descent from East Peak, the Appalachian Trail traversed open rocks, scrubby peat moss bogs, and a couple of shallow, wooded canyons before making an easy, gradual ascent along the ridge to North Peak.
A whitewashed evening sky. The sun is close to setting offscreen to our left, casting long shadows and a soft golden light across the landscape. We are standing atop a ledge of naked gray granite looking over the tops of stunted spruce and fir. Ahead is a descent into gap and a climb over a long rounded peak. Beyond that is a very deep notch and then a long series of increasingly high rugged peaks and knobs as the crest arcs towards our right along the horizon.
09:06 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 13/14
Thanks, I needed that.

I did not need the final steep descent of the day, climbing down off that open, rocky summit into a wooded col,
A whitewashed evening sky. The sun is close to setting offscreen to our left, casting long shadows and a soft golden light across the landscape. High atop a mountain looking across the tops of stunted spruce and fir. An enormous boulder sits atop the crest below to our left. We are looking across a series of rugged mountain ranges and narrow valleys cascading towards the horizon covered by huge swaths of forest.
09:07 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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George Steffanos
@GSteffanos
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thread 14/14
but on the floor of that col was Full Goose Shelter, my home for tonight.

More of My 1983 #AppalachianTrail Hike in Photos at https://www.georgesteffano...
09:07 AM - Apr 27, 2024
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