Date: 2005-08-19
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 4.4
Weather: clear sky

On the side trail by 6:30, to the AT by 6:45 but not feeling well. Slept well, but feeling nausea with a churning stomach. So I was weaker than yesterday. Is this nervousness, anxiety about Mahoosuc Notch followed by Mahoosuc Arm? On paper, it seems entirely attainable with a 6:45 start to hike 9.5 miles to Speck Pond Shelter with a 6:45 start. What happened to those 17, 18 mile days I did this year in NC, TN, VA, NY, and MA. But I¢m moving oh so slowly.Today certainly had its rewards - the woods were beautiful with all the varieties of green hues in the mosses. Where there are no mosses or rocks, there are ferns. The weather is again perfect and the views from the Gooses - Goose Eye, East Goose, North Goose - as well as the settings atop the mountains themelves are glorious. Views abound for 360 degrees, yielding among others the Presidentials and Mt. Washington. A few wafts of fog in the valleys add to the charm. I¢ve already decided that Maine has the toughest climbs but the best rewards for those climbs. And unlike the Whites, the summits and trails are not crowded with weekenders and vacationers. Once again, the summit features low bush blueberries and other alpine flowers including apparently cranberries. En route, I saw a spruce grouse; hadn¢t seen one since I hiked the Whites over 20 years ago. So again I lingered a while on the summits and the nausea dissipated. But the hiking is still tiring with the steep ascents up high rocks or walking along flat rock, some at rather tenuous angles. The downhills are even slower. A few well-placed ladders help in some places but also give one an idea of what kind of hiking conditions prevail. At least in the marshy areas, woden planks make the going easier. A fall resulted in a sprained left ankle which bothered me the rest of the day. It seemed worst when resuming walking after a rest.On the descent from North Goose, I met Henry, an older hiker from Newfoundland who was likely the only hiker slower than me at this point. It was 11:10 when I reached Full Goose shelter - 4 hours and 25 minutes to hike 4.4 miles. That¢s not hiking, it¢s crawling!So now what - if I go on and make it to Old Speck, I¢ll be back on schedule. Usually after a mid-day or late morning meal and rest, I feel refreshed and ready to move on but not today. I feel better but not very strong. Let¢s see - an hour to reach Mahoosuc Notch, 2 hours to go through it, at least 2 hours to get up Mahoosuc Arm to Speck Pond. I want to hike further but not this stretch under these conditions with the way I felt. There¢s no other options so I decided to stay. This is likely the shortest mileage day not counting first and last days of any backpack I¢ve ever done. But I want to start Mahoosuc fresh tomorrow. And my ankle can use the rest. Moreover, I¢m experiencing signs of dehydration again. Is it the Lipitor?So I¢m staying. Henry was the next hiker to show up - he¢s planning to find a campsite ahead somewhere in the Notch but before the ascent up the Arm. Knees and 9 Lives also came and moved on. Then it was a plethora of young thruhikers - first Thumper and O¢Connor, 2 young women along with a guy, Snowyman. Later came Vapor (I recognized from TJ) and PacMan. O¢Connor was fighting a cold but we enjoyed talking. She¢s an environmental studies graduate so I talked about Sandra¢s studies. Both girls were interested in my EPA work - both are environmentalists - yay! They plan to make it all the way to Rt. 26 today - wow! Oh to be young and in great shape. Vapor and Pacman aren¢t going as far but I doubt I¢ll see them again.So after everyone left, it was quiet and lonely at the shelter. As I was just about ready for bed, a flip-floping southbound couple arrived - Red Beard and Zen. They¢re taking off some time in September to get married before re-hitting the Trail. Congratulations!