Date: 2015-08-03
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: scattered clouds

8/3, 9.7, Grafton Notch stealth camp, 267.2This is proving to be one of the more memorable days on trail for this entire adventure. It is 6:40 pm and I am in my tent listening to a thunderstorm, finishing the dinner I cooked in my vestibule and reflecting on the day. How did I get here? We started earlier today out of excitement for the great nights sleep, the clear sunrise this morning, and the infamous challenge ahead setting foot on trail at 6:30. We had full mill mountain to climb over in the first half mile then another mile to the start of Mahoosuc Notch. In the northeast I have discovered a notch is what we in Wisconsin call a valley, and in Ohio it is similar to a 'holler'. Mahoosuc is a mile long notch that is strewn with bread truck size boulders through which the AT is marked, but the actual path one takes is a sort of pick you way through proposition. Sometimes going under is better, sometimes over and sometimes around. Regardless it is hailed as the hardest, or most fun, mile of the entire trail. I figure it at about 50/50 for each. Yes it was extremely difficult as evidenced by the one and one half hours it took to traverse, as well as the minor cuts and sore feet I have tonight. Conversely it was a lot of fun and reminded me of he way I used to seek out the biggest rocks to scramble over when I was a kid in the woods. No mom you would not have enjoyed watching this. In spite of all the hype and difficulty we made it through and prepared to face the next challenge right in front of us, Mahoosuc arm. This climb up onto a ridge is also hailed as one of the most difficult climbs on the trail, an assessment with which I will not disagree. The total distance from shelter to the top of the arm was 4.2 miles and it took us 51/2 hours to cover the route through the notch and up to the top of the arm. That may even be slower going than any area of the White Mountains so thank you Maine for the fine welcome!After reaching the top of the arm we decided to wait lunch until we made it to the next shelter, only a mile away, where there was water. We lunched and watered up at Speck Pond shelter enjoying the shade since the temperature had climbed to the upper 70's and the sun was beating down hard from a clear sky. After lunch we discussed the options we had for this evening. Our hiking plan had us heading for Baldplate lean to (shelters in Maine are called lean to's) 6.7 miles further North but we had a couple of other options. A hiker friend of IB and JP's passed is yesterday on a southbound slack pack and invited us to join her at a house rented by her friend. Her friend was slack packing her from the house and there would be plenty of room for us if we called from the top of Speck mountain before dropping into Grafton Notch where they could pick us up for an overnight. It was an interesting option but plan A was actually to meet a friend of IB possibly at Grafton Notch where he would begin a couple days hiking with us. Unfortunately neither plan was firm and cell service for any of us was non existent in his area so the best we could do was prepare for the most likely possibility which was to be at the Grafton Notch trailhead between 5 and 6 pm when IB's friend might arrive. After clearing the top of Speck we started down the 4.5 miles to Grafton Notch. IB and I arrived at the notch at 5 pm looking for the possibility that his friend was waiting to join us. When JP arrived a few minutes later we were still just three hikers needing a plan for the evening. To top it off the forecast of 40% chance of thunderstorms had begun its telltale rumble as we were hiking down and it appeared we needed to decide quickly. IB suggested he would wait for his friend until 6 and then hike ip to the shelter and join JP and me if we wanted to hike on now. The problem with that plan was the next shelter is 2.5 miles uphill and offers no guarantee we would not be setting up tents in the rain that now appeared imminent. The alternative plan was to seek out a stealth campsite nearby where we could set camp before it rained and be comfortable for the night. We stepped into the woods and came across an obviously pre used campsite complete wit leaf bed flooring and cover from the parking lot and the road. We decided to set up our tents quickly as the clouds were moving in and the thunder was getting more insistent. IB began to set up their tent while JP scouted the path ahead for a possible water source and I set my tent. Fortunately we are prepared to set quickly and get everything under cover which we were able to do just as the first sprinkles fell. JP had found a good water source and was back with our filter bags full so we ducked inside our tents and started to cook. Cooking inside a tent is not generally a good idea since nearly everything around, tent, sleeping bag, backpack, clothes, etc. is flammable. Nevertheless, with a vestibule that allows the stove to sit on the ground outside the actual tent but still under cover this is not the first meal I will have cooked there. It is now 7:30, dinner is finished and the dessert candy bar I forgot I had stashed in my electronics bag is long gone. The rain, thunder and lightening have been a steady serenade to my dinner and writing but have now tapered to a nice gentle rain with occasional rumbles in the distance. At this point it could rain all night and I would not be bothered, as long as it quits long enough for me to pack in the morning. Even if it doesn't quit, I am able to pack the stuff that needs to stay dry, clothes and sleeping gear, before I ever leave my dry tent. And yes, my tent has been wonderful in the rain keeping me and my gear quite dry. Tomorrow we are hiking 10 miles to East B Hill rd where we will probably check in at the Pine Ellis hostel for resupply and a shower but who really knows what tomorrow may bring? Silverback