Date: 2015-09-13
From: Bull Branch Campsite

To: Gorham, NH off at about mile 1917.0
Miles today: 2.0
Weather: light rain

Master Yoda for Scout and Tumbles:Yesterday Scout and Tumbles headed into the Mahoosuc Notch. To hear Tumbles describe it, it was unreal. She even did some minor spelunking! They found a lost hiking pole (they gave it to another hiker who just broke theirs that day). There are a lot of items that appear to have been lost. Scout seems to think a Scout Troop in the area should spend some time cleaning up through there. Now the nitty gritty! Icecube and I (Master Yoda) had not heard from Scout and Tumbles since the night they made it to Maine. This evening, Tumbles called. One of the first things we heard was that they were with Miss Janet in Gorham, NH. Then Tumbles said she had a crazy story to tell us! Now, as you can imagine, our hearts sank. I imagined Tumbles in a cast, or bandaged up, or some terrible thing. Tumbles proceeded to tell of their adventures. I have taken the liberty of copying Miss Janet's Facebook post and picture, I hope she wont mind:Janet MissJanet HensleyYesterday a gentleman and his friend were doing a section hike that included the most difficult single mile of the Appalachian Trail in the Mahoosic Notch. One of the hikers took a fall and painfully dislocated his shoulder. His friend helped him to the nearest campsite where 2015 Thruhikers 19 year old Scout and his 16 year old sister Tumbles were setting up camp after thier own long day on the trail. Having had wilderness first aid training both of these young people jumped right in to help. Soon they were joined by two other hikers who were attempting to slack themselves through this hard terrain and had gotten off trail and bushwhacked into thier campsite. These hikers did not have the gear they needed for a long wet night and Scout and Tumbles fed them and gave them shelter in thier own tent. This meant that Scout would spend a long sleepless night getting soaked. At 4:30am they woke and packed up and started the arduous task of getting the injured man to the nearest road crossing to go for emergency treatement. There I found them wet and cold and hungry 15 miles from the road... Still smiling. I am very proud of them and thier selfless efforts for other hikers. With all of the "adults" on the trail causing negative vibes... I wish I had a hundred more of these kids!¢ with Adina Boyd.Tumbles said after they finished the Notch, they stopped in the campsite and took a break. They were planning on heading up the Mahoosuc Arm, when the injured hiker and his friend came in. Since they had some training, they made an attempt at getting his shoulder back in place. It did not work. After some discussion, they all decided to stay put for the night and make their way out the next day (today). The section hikers had a map, so they began to study out options. Scout and Tumbles agreed to help carry out the injured hikers gear. While sitting in camp, their old hiking buddies, Clean Shaven and Doppel came into camp. They were attempting a Slackpack and had run out of time, since the night was on them. They had started to bushwhack out, but after getting turned around they ended up in camp. Since they were slack packing they did not have all their gear. Tumbles carries a SOL survival bag and let Clean Shaven use that and the Tyvek ground cloth. Her and Doppel used the tent, with Doppel using the sleeping bag she and Clean Shaven had brought. Scout and Clean Shaven cowboy camped. Sometime in the night, the rain hit the Intrepid Adventurers. The Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo has a lot of room, so Clean Shaven was able to get inside too. Scout did the best he could, but stayed out in the rain. Finally, they all headed out in the morning, up the Mahoosuc Arm. They were able to split up the injured hikers gear among the 6 hikers. At the top they took a side trail, Tumbles thinks it was the May Cuttoff Trail. After about 3 miles on this Trail, they ran into Miss Janet at a road, and she was able to get the hikers to safety. Scout said that it appears the hiker who was injured, Gene, had to have surgery on his shoulder, since the dislocation was pretty severe. He was not sure on the details. He mentioned the hiker was not going to be able to make a planned biking trip in a few weeks. He and Tumbles spent some time at the laundry mat trying to dry out Scouts sleeping bag and gear. Clean Shaven and Doppel returned the kindness with a Motel room. Thank you guys! We got to Skype with Scout and Tumbles about 40 minutes tonight! They look so tired. But as always, Tumbles is smiling and happy. She had a half gallon of Silk Almond Chocolate Milk! They are planning on heading back out to the Trail in the morning to pick up were they left off. Tumbles was lamenting the fact that the three miles back up to the Trail will not count toward the AT miles. Their mental strength and rejuvenation always amazes us!A huge thank you to Miss Janet for somehow being in a place to pull the six hikers off the Trail. Thank you for the Room Clean Shaven and Doppel. Please keep all the adventurers in your prayers as they strive to reach their goals. Also, keep hiker Gene in your prayers for a fast and thorough healing.