Date: 2015-09-03
From: Full Goose Shelter & Campsite 

To: Bull Branch Campsite
Miles today: 2.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Before I seriously considered hiking the AT I read at least 2 dozen books written by folks who thru hiked it before me. So I have been aware of the dreaded Mahoosuc Notch for a long time. I knew it was a jumble of boulders (very big boulders), over 1 mile long, which had to be climbed over or under, and I have been dreading it.Besides the Blue Beast I am carrying a lot of other baggage on the AT. I am afraid of heights, I hate to rock climb, I am claustrophobic, I have short legs, and I have very tight hamstrings. Under the circumstances have been dreading the Mahoosuc Notch for a VERY long time.A while back, on my way to Lake of the Clouds Hut, I ran into a southbound woman about my age who was also hiking solo. We stopped to chat with one another, and I asked her several questions about the Mahoosuc Notch. She warned me that in addition to the difficulties in climbing over or crawling under the boulders, there were large deep holes between the boulders. She advised me to not have anything loose on the outside of my pack because it could fall into one of those holes and be lost forever.   She also suggested that I not go through the Notch alone. I could fall into a hole and become trapped. Or worse, I could hit my head as I fall into the hole and end up both unconscious and trapped. Of course, she also warned me to avoid the Notch if it was raining because the rocks would be wet and slippery.She gave me a lot to think about, and all of it scared the hell out of me. I really wanted to go through the Notch well rested, but that was not going to happen. I got to bed late last night, and I did not sleep well. Rain was predicted by late morning. So there was no sleeping in.Tiger Mike, a very nice retired cop from Mass., was one of the hikers in the shelter last night. He agreed to go thru the Notch with me, but he did not want to wait for me too long because the rain was coming. He did wait for me, but I did not reach the Notch in time and he started without me.I entered the Notch at 9 a.m. Before entering I made sure nothing was hanging off my pack. The huge boulders are packed into a jumbled mess at the bottom of a deep smooth walled high rock canyon. White blazes and white arrows loosely guide hikers through the canyon and over/under/around the boulders.Everything the woman told me was true. The holes were scattered everywhere among the boulders. Then I noticed the scat and realized the holes were probably animal dens. Some of the holes were huge - big enough for an entire bear family. I could easily fall into one of the holes and become trapped and/or hurtI slowly started to make my way over and around the boulders. Occassionally I had to take my pack off and push/pull it around or under the boulders. Occassionally I could not see the next white blaze or arrow. I had no choice but to try several different paths before again finding the AT. The whole time my heart was pounding and I was watching the weather build. Rain was definitely coming.Up, over, down, under, and around the boulders I carefully went. I saw 4 other people the entire time - all of them young with long legs, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Not me. This was my purgatory.I could hear water rushing deep under the jumbled boulders, but there was no way to reach it. Fortunately I had plenty of water. But then I realized that the canyon could be subject to flash flooding. Wet slippery rocks could be the least of my problems in the rain.At one point I climbed over a boulder and into what appeared to be a large rock box. I could not see a blaze or arrow anywhere. And then I felt the beginning of the rain drops. The rain was coming earlier than predicted. I was sore, tired, and mentally exhausted. I was done. I wanted to cry. Despite my rule there is no crying on the AT, I had enough and I wanted, make that needed, to cry.But then I realized that if I was trapped and exhausted in the boulders, and I could hear but not reach water, I could not afford to cry because I would run out of water and become dehydrated. My husband always says I am too analytical, and this was one prime example. Instead of crying I began to laugh. I could not afford to expend the water needed to cry!Then I took a deep breath, put on my big girl granny panties, and started to figure out how to get my butt out of the stupid boulder box. Eventually I figured a way out, found the AT, and continued moving up the boulder filled canyon.I crawled under a boulder as big as my bedroom, pulling my pack behind me, and came out the other side just as it really started to pour. I found a rock overhang and tucked the Beast under it to keep it dry. Then I put on my rain gear and tried to tuck under the same overhang. I hunkered down hoping the rain would quickly pass and the sun would come out to dry the rocks. I waited a long time.The rain stopped. I continued to wait for the sun to dry the rocks. The sun never appeared. Finally I decided to move on, despite the wet rocks.I found a spot with access to the water flowing under the rocks. I decided to collect and filter water in the hopes that the rocks would dry if given a little more time. Suddenly a large animal landed on one of the boulders right in front of me. I screamed, and then quickly realized it was a dog with a pack. The owner called for the dog, and I let him know the dog was fine. (The owner heard me scream and thought an animal was after his dog.) It just scared me.I continued making my way through the Notch. Fortunately I did not have much further to go. I cannot describe the sense of relief I felt.But I was now facing the Mahoosuc Arm, a steady climb of a little less than 2000 feet in about 1.5 miles. I had enough. The Arm would have to wait until the morning. I looked for and found the Bull Branch campsite. I was done for the day and going to bed early.The Notch reminded me of my grade school days in my neighborhood. My brothers and other boys decided to form a club. It was fashioned after the Little Rascals He Man Woman Haters Club. To be a member you had to successfully complete a ridiculous obstacle course, which a girl was not expected to be able to complete.The purpose of the AT was to permit urban dwellers the opportunity to hike and enjoy nature. Nothing about the Notch seems to fit the original purpose of the AT. Instead it seemed like another ridiculous test to determine whether a person was worthy of being called a thru hiker, or member of the club.I am not saying that the ATC or AMC or MATC hate women. In fact, I am a proud member of the ATC, AMC, and also ALDHA. I just do not understand why the Mahoosuc Notch is part of the AT, or how it fits in with the original purpose of the AT. But I am glad it is now behind me.The AT is calling. I survived the Notch - without crying - bring the rest of it! I think (hope) I am ready.