Bemis Mountain Range and Lean-to

We got back on the Trail at about 9:15 this morning and hiked to Long Pond, where a sandy beach tempts hikers to take a quick swim. Next, we passed Moxie Pond, and the Trail wound down to ME 4. About 500 feet north of the trailhead we came to a scenic view named Height of Land, from which we had a wonderful view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and Toothaker Island. Height of Land is on top of Spruce Mountain and part of the 32-mile Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway.

We continued following the Trail southbound, crossing Bemis Stream twice. Next, we cut across an old railroad grade, after which the Trail climbed up and down the First and Second Peaks of the Bemis Mountain Range. For several hours we navigated rocks and ledges. By 3 p.m., I felt like I had been taking the Army Physical Fitness Test all day long, and Forest's tongue was hanging out at full length, so we stopped to have a drink and take a break. What is so exhausting about hiking in Maine is that there aren't any switchbacks on the Trail; you just hike straight up and straight down, over and over and over again.

Finally, we descended down to our stopping point for the day and set up camp outside Bemis Mountain Lean-to (Mile Marker 238.1). I was seriously dragging after this 8.3-mile day. After looking at the Guthooks app and my maps I realized that I'll be in New Hampshire in 46 miles, and in Vermont in 208 miles!