(Daily Mi: 8.2) Nice, but short, hike today. Stopped short to camp on top of Bigelows.

Also, Crusader and I managed to screw around in town until fairly late in the morning doing laundry. Caught a ride from another person at the laundromat who turned out to be a former thru hiker who lived locally.

The Bigelows are one of the most popular hikes in southern Maine, and deservedly so.

Steep and knobby, and typical unswitched climb up onto the ridge, but just some real pretty aborial and eventually alpine ridgeline. Pretty pond at the shelter before the final climb to the twin summits, Bigelow West Peak (4150 ft) and Avery Peak (4088 ft).

Caught up to Moutain Man on top of the W. Peak. He had been hiking since about 8 a.m. Said he will just keep walking tonight until it is too dark to see (probably make it to the base of the hill but not the next shelter). Slow and steady.

Kind of crowded at the campsite in the col between peaks, and a real challenge to pitch a tarp on a platform -- using hiking poles no less.

Crusader pitches on platform nearby. Glad he is there with his filter as the spring in the col fills a shallow pool located in a recess in the rock face.

Fantastic views from the campsite.