Date: 2018-08-09
From: NH/Maine border

To: Grafton notch to Hyperlite party
Miles today: 14.6

Very quiet and restful night.For some reason birds love to perch on the front of my tent most mornings and wake me.Really nice to wake up to.  Somewhat cloudy and misty this morning.Nice and cool though which I love.Humidity destroys me.Think that was part of my problem yesterday. Climbed up Goose eye mtn. early.Nice views .Maine is so different from everywhere else in a great way.You really feel like you are in true wilderness.Nothing but mtns and lush pine trees for as far as you can see. Mahoosuc Notch came next.Everyone says this is the toughest mile on the trail.Its a notch filled with huge and jagged boulders you have to climb above ,through caves and some fun scrambling.It was raining lightly when we went through so everything was slippery .I really thought it was fun and so different from the rest of the trail.Challenfing and a little nerve racking.Some caves I had to take my pack off and push it through the wet ,tight and dripping walls.I love being in tight and wet spots when you really have to push hard to penetrate them.Then finishing off is such a relief when you get through.Another cool thing about this section was the cold air coming from down below the boulders.I saw ice in spots and felt it in rocks while pushing my way through it all.Some people dread this section,was one of my favorite spots on the trail.  Next came a really hard and steep climb up Mahhosuc arm.Pretty much on all rock faces and slabs all the way.Very tiring after doing the notch.Once in top the view of Old Speck mtn to the north is so sweet.Weather cleared  so it was wonderful.On the way down Speck pond was a great spot.Love lakes high in the mountains.Another climb up the side of Old Speck with great views all the way up.Once on top had a storm blow by and watched it not hit us for once.Really cool to see from far away.  On the way down to Graftin notch a southbound hiker told us there was some great trail magic going on down in the lot.We hurried down some really steep terrain to hopefully get there in time.Followed some great streams and waterfalls all the way.We got there just as they were packing up.It was put on by Hyperlite gear.They had great food and little goodie bags for us.And of course beers.Met another guy there named trail magic who gave us more beer.Really cool guy to talk with.The owners of Hyperlite asked us where we were staying and I told them we were going to stealth in the lot.They gave us another beer.Rambo Juice,Stretch and Savage showed after they left.They were bummed they missed  the magic.Rambo Juice was worried he and Stretxh didn¢t have enough food to make it to the next town so I gave them everything I had left so they could make it through.We went to go set up our tents  and Rambo Juice comes flying in and says the Hyperlite guys came back and wanted to buy a campsite for all of us at a party they were having nearby.Didnt even think,just hurried back and went with them.There were probably about 20 thru hikers they put up here tonight.Cooked for us all and beers too.Our site has Rambo Juice ,Stretch ,Numb and a few others.Just a really fun night.I was able to hang out with the president and owner of the company one on one for quite a while.Talked about so much over beers and a smoke .Such a cool guy and generous for doing all this.His girlfriend was so nice to talk with too.He playedsome Dead songs for me,really made my night.One funny thing I need to mention.One of the Hyperlite workers put out a big box of chips and snacks and said eat them all up,we need to get rid of them.I stood back and watched as it was immediately swarmed by starving hikers.It was like watching the walking dead when they are eating someone.This is what we have become I thought and laughed inside.  A huge skunk is chewing on some cans clos by.Not Going to mess with it,I smell bad enough on my own