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🧵 1/7
October 1, 1983: After crossing Pollywog Stream on a logging road bridge, the AT proceeded to Rainbow Stream, which it followed for a good distance upstream, passing a long series of cascades and small waterfalls in the boulder-strewn shallow waters.

#backpacking #hiking #outdoors #landscapephotography #maine #nature #forest #stream #adventure #trails #AppalachianTrail

in reply to George Steffanos

2/7
About two miles into this stretch I arrived at Rainbow Stream Lean-to, where I took my first real break of the day.
in reply to George Steffanos

3/7
I had eight miles under my belt and had climbed the second-to-the-last mountain on the Appalachian Trail. I kicked back for a half-hour.
in reply to George Steffanos

4/7
When I set out again, I crossed Rainbow Stream and followed the opposite bank past the three Rainbow Deadwaters. These were small pond-like stretches, along which the stream widened, and the current became very still.
in reply to George Steffanos

5/7
The scenic qualities of the lake country have been a pleasant surprise.

The shallow, rocky stream widened and deepened, becoming a placid channel wandering through an extensive freshwater marsh filled with water grasses teaming with birds and small creatures.

in reply to George Steffanos

6/7
Eventually, the Appalachian Trail came out on a grassy stretch of the southwest shore of Rainbow Lake. The haze of the morning had cleared, and across the lake there was an absolutely fantastic view of Katahdin's massive profile. The trail followed on or near the shore of the enormous lake for the next five miles.
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