Date: 2014-08-23
From: Full Goose Pond

To: Baldpate Shelter
Miles today: 12.0

What a great day! I found the Notch and the Arm to be a fun time. Challenging but fun. I only had 2 near falls in the notch and one minor fall where I left some skin and blood. Even better was the rumor that in several places you had to take your pack off to get through narrow holes. Well I only had to take it off once. It was a lot of rock hopping from big rock to big rock and problem solving the best avenue to follow. It was a real trip and I did it in about an hour and 10 minutes. The Arm was no big deal either as it was just another long climb up with some rock faces to get around. Fortunately there were plenty of foot and hand holds and I just plugged my way along until I topped out. Once on top there were some great pictures on top and all the way down to Speck Pond where I initially planned to stop for the day thinking that the Notch and Arm would be a big deal but ended up not being so. Up on top of Speck Mountain I climbed the Old Speck Summit and Observation Tower and got some great pictures there also. there were views 360 degrees of Ski resorts, golf courses, lakes and windmills which were all set with mountain after mountain rolling behind them as far as the eye could see. What a gift to be able to be here! Since I had made such good time I was going to be able to connect with my cousin David from Scarborough ME and meet him at Maine Highway 26. After a few texts back and forth we made plans and I was off. It was a long way down, 3.5 miles with an elevation drop of 2500 feet. Thank God the trail was in good condition as I made excellent time and arrived about 20 minutes early. Man was it great to see David. Not so much because of the trail magic he brought but just to see him. We hadn't seen each other in a while and it was great to catch up. We went to Bethel where we stopped at a micro brewery restaurant where we had some beers and burgers. I wish we never had to leave that day as we caught up on what was happening with our families and what was going on on the trail. I really got a big boost from him coming all the way up and visiting me. It meant so much to me and was a great day. On top of his coming he even took the time to stop and get me a new mini Sawyer filter to replace the one I lost. this was so nice of him. Its times like these that you truly appreciate your friends and family and as I have said before, while I'm the one hiking this I could not do it without their support. So thank you very much everyone. It was hard to pull away, but the trail called and we headed back to the trail head where he gave some food and drink to take with me and what was left we set out for other thru hikers as they passed by. I really hope I get to provide support for David WHEN NOT IF he does the AT. He even gave me 2 packages of Snickers to hand out at the shelter when I got there that night. What a guy and even more important what a friend. The hike up was short and easy and the trail still good. However, when I got there, there was no one else around and I ended up being by myself that night. Again what a fluctuation. As a note, David gave me a t-shirt of a thru hiker who was injured in the early part of his hike. He is a military veteran and David asked me to take the man's t-shirt to the top of Katahdin and take a picture. I was so honored to do this and readily agreed. Again, I can't say this enough I will forever be grateful for the kindness of others and will repay in any way I can.