Un-uniformed Civil Soldier Squad
July 3, 2010
It was a hot day and probably first day of long weekend, I had only 4 names on the signed up list. Fai was a hiking friend that I knew for decade but it was his first trip in Nature You. Raymond was a new hiker who would like challenging trip. Moon was an important asset of the team because we couldn’t claim us an un-uniformed civil soldier squad without her.
Seven Hills was named because the route had passed 7 hills tops within 7 miles. Since the Blue trail lay between Visitors Center and Lake Sebago, I was lucky to have 2 cars today to make shuttle possible. I put Fai’s car at the endpoint at Lake Sebago and we started from Visitors Center at 10 am. The first mile was a warm up section before the elbow turn to climb the first hill. There were enough of shades so it was a pleasure walk. Somebody dig out and put a giant mushroom on a rock at the trail. It was the largest mushroom I had ever seen which was quite similar but even bigger than Raymond’s hat. I joked if Raymond wanted to switch his hat with nature. Fai claimed it was his first hiking trip after roughly 7 years of hibernation. That was why I didn’t hear any news or see him in any hiking trip. It was my pleasure to be the first trip leader of him to celebrate for his returns. After a short break at the junction of Blue and Orange Trail, I announced we would go a little more on Orange Trail to Ramapo Torne because we had new hiker who never been there. The scenery would be guaranteed excellent which no one would complain of this quarter mile. We took pictures of the area and also to the sky because at least 5 eagles were on duty patrolling. Raymond was an alto phobia so he dared not standing too closed to the cliff edge.
We went back along Orange Trail and continued on Blue Trail. The trail bought us to a summit and climbed down a steep slope. We climbed up the second hill and followed by the third hill. Moon recognized this spot because she thought it was a wall without trail when she was first time here 2 years ago. We climbed up steep slope to the top and enjoyed another good view over the green valley. It was very hot and no much shades along the trail. After finished 4 hills, I found a small tree in an area with breeze so declared we should take lunch at that spot. The shaded area was big enough just liked a table for 4 persons. Raymond said he didn’t really feel sweating after completion of climbing 4 hills. I hoped he has no problem on his body’s ventilation process.
We had a nice chat during the lunch because we were sitting closed. Fai shared his hiking experience and knowledge to the new hikers. We continued on the trip and the trail brought us to a bridge in 20 minutes. Here was where I planned to take lunch and now we could take a group picture with the help of other hikers. I brought them to face the fifth hill which was very tough because we had descended a lot. There were few spots required rock climbing. I told them there was the best viewpoint of this trail up there. The green valley was again in front of us with a few pine trees. Raymond made a pseudo rock climbing picture in order to make a joke with his mom. The sixth hill was not too tough but the trail was on the uncovered summit. It was not easy because it was such a hot and sunny day. We took picture at the spot which Moon made the stamp from. It was a large trail mark with a big blue number 7 on the ground. Moon first found 4 soldiers sitting on the trail. I dared not to say anything when we passed them because I was not sure if they were in a mission. This was the first squad we met.
About 50 yards from the first squad, we saw the second squad resting off the trail. I was afraid that they were in a fighting game and they would fire at each other so I passed them quick. Then we saw the third squad which was on feet. It was again a team of 4 soldiers with 1 female. They were carrying bullet boxes. Raymond was wondered if they would be very hot to wear thick uniform to hike under such weather. After a few hundred yards, we met another squad on the trail which was carrying plastic barrels. We dared to ask the pretty female soldier knowing they were student soldiers from West Point. They were in a 3 weeks continuously training program in the mountain. The fifth and sixth squad appeared on the right side of the trail seemed they were searching something at the bushes. The sixth squad even followed us for a few hundred yards on the trail. Moon said we were the un- uniformed civil soldier squad in the mountain because we were also a 3 men 1 woman formation.
I felt sorry of forgetting to take a picture with any soldiers because it was never happened in my hiking experience. The Blue Trail bought us downhill and we could see the endpoint in a few hundred yards. Here came out the seventh squad with only 2 men 1 woman crossing the trail. Moon and I stopped them to take pictures and knowing there were about 60 squads in the mountain. We finished 7 miles by 3 pm. We met 7 squads and Fai completed his first trip after 7 years of silence.
