Date: 2007-08-04
From: Carlo Col Shelter. ME

To: Frye Notch Lean-to
Miles today: 19.9
Weather: clear sky

Wow, what a gorgeous day it turned out to be. I started out just barely across the border into Maine but now I am well imbedded in the Maine wilderness. It was a tremendous day of ups and downs. There were many climbs up rock faces, but through it all I couldn't help but smile about being home.   The day started with a climb up Mt. Carlo and then one of my favorites, the West Peak of Goos Eye Mtn(3854'). It looks like a giant fin jutting out of the earth. The views are magnificent. From there it was over to the East Peak of Goose Eye(3795') and then the North Peak of the same name. It was nice walking in familar territory. While it has been a few years since I have done the Mahoosuc Range it is still fresh within my mind. The many bog bridges and splendid views above treeline are just fantastic, and oh yeah the Mahoosuc Notch. Often described as the most difficult mile on the AT. It is also one of the funnest in my opinion. There are many gigantic boulders tossed about that you have to climb over and under and around. It is tedious at times but it is one of a kind around here. Greeting me this time around was a dead moose that smelled odiferous as my Uncle David might say. I may have stumbled upon Calvin Kleins new scent for the fall season. After jostling around the notch for a while I climbed up the Mahoosuc Arm(3765'), a challenging climb up onto a ridge. From there it was down to Speck Pond, the highest body of water in Maine I believe at 3400'. I took a lunch break here to enjoy the water and the sun. Then I scrambled my way up Old Speck Mtn(4180'). I think it is the third highest mountain in Maine if I'm not mistaken. It has a nice observation tower on top. The skies had really cleared up a lot by then and I could see 360 degree views of the highlands. I could even see the plume of smoke from the cog railway on Mt. Washington. On the way down I ran into this nice lady. She said you're Rangoon right? I said yes and she, Elaine was here name I believe, said she had seen me on Trailjournals and had seen me on Moosilauke and Madison Mtns. I thought that was pretty neat that she recognized me. I made it down to Grafton Notch and contemplated if I should go 2.5 more miles or 6 more. I was entering a part of the trail I had not ventured into before and I was anxious to see the peaks of Baldpate Mtn so I chose to do 6. I was blown away, literally, by the views and the fierce winds on the East Peak of Baldpate(3812'). It was a really cool climb up almost a dome of rock with great views. I turned and could see what I had accomplished the past few days, The Presidentials, Wildcat, Carter Dome, and the Mahoosucs. It gave me great satisfaction to see that. Then I turned and looked ahead although wasn't really sure where I was headed exactly, but I could see many possibilities out there. Right now the wind is a howling and I'm next to a bunch of section hikers so they should be a howling real soon(snoring). All well, I can always move if I have to. Well it's almost hiker midnight so I'll be hitting the hay real soon. Tommorrow is more adventures in the Maine wilderness.