Date: 2018-08-23
From: Gentian Pond Shelter

To: Bull Branch Campsite
Miles today: 12.3
Weather: clear sky

The snoring was bad, but the earplugs helped. I woke up at 5:30 almost on the floor with my pad pretty deflated, and got out around 7.The climb up Mount Success was steep, but no scrambling. It was pretty cold still, so I kept on my jacket and hat even though the sun was out and I was working hard.A few miles in was the border with Maine. New Hampshire was tough and I¢ve heard good things about Maine so super excited! Plus it¢s the last state and all.Right before the Carlo Col Shelter was a super steep downhill section with smooth wet rocks. There was a part that involved jumping down, I guess I missed wherever I was aiming and ended up tumbling face first for about ten feet. It was really scary, but somehow I managed to not get seriously hurt.Climbing up Goose Eye wasn¢t too bad, and near the top there were even metal rungs to hold on. I was like Where are these for the 300 other places that need ¢em? It was nice views but super windy along the ridge, as bad as the Presidentials.I stopped for a late lunch at a shelter to get out of the wind. Eddie and the Warrior crew showed up shortly later, they had lunched at the top of Goose Eye but it had been too windy. I sat down to eat and when I got up again it was like I had aged 40 years - all my bones were creaking and I was groaning with every movement. I ended up staying a little longer than ideal to rest up for what was next.After Fulling Mill Mountain (which was a steeper ascent and descent than I would have liked) is the Mahoosuc Notch. This is known as ¢The hardest mile on the AT¢ (and for some the most fun) because it is a bunch of climbing around boulders, jumping, crawling, etc. There are a couple places you have to take off your pack to fit through, and it is not well blazed so involves a bit of problem solving.I was a bit anxious for this part considering I don¢t have the most body awareness and I fall so much on regular terrain. So I took it super slow. I started with Eddie and the Warriors and it was nice to folllow their path, but they quickly got ahead and I didn¢t want them to wait. Another group who had previously said they were going super slow passed me, so I was officially the slowest. Oh well, I just wanted to finish before dark!A few minutes in, there was a part to throw your bag over and my water bottles fell in a crevasse. Luckily I was able to save one of them, the other was out of reach.A little bit later I was trying to balance on a rock and my foot fell in a crevasse. I started freaking out but realized the ground was only a few inches down! Still, my heart skipped a beat and was the second time today my life flashed before my eyes.I finally made it through in about two hours (yes for 0.8 miles) which I¢m guessing is above the average but oh well I survived! Overall I scraped my limbs a few times and probably ripped my bag and a bunch of gear, but made it out relatively unscathed.A few feet after the hard section I guess I wasn¢t paying attention and went to step down on rock, totally missed and fell hard on my knee. It was ironic that I had made it fine through the Notch and got hurt right after!There was a campsite shortly ahead, and I stopped by to check even though it was only 6 and was thinking about going up to the next shelter. Ping and a couple people were there and since I was pretty beat up and it was a steep climb ahead, I set up camp. So another shorter day but oh well I survived the Notch and could get to bed early!