Date: 2008-09-17
From: 1/3 mile south of NH/ME Border

To: Old Speck Mtn, ME
Miles today: 11.9

I'm in Maine! I love walking through Maine.I had a hard time waking up this morning. I didn't want to wake up. I finally rolled over at 6:20am and stuck my stove outside the tent to start brewing my coffee.I had three hard boiled eggs and an iced honey bun for breakfast.It felt really nice out. It was in the upper 30's and I could see the skies were clear.I was packed up and walking north on the Appalachian Trail at 7:55am...I was in Maine at 8:01am. I was a little closer to the border than I thought. :-)I took a self portrait in front of one of my favorite signs on all the AT, but only stayed for a few minutes before walking on.That makes 13 states done and just one to go.I walked past the side trail to Carlo Col Shelter without stopping, then climbed Mt Carlo.I descended about 400 feet before starting to climb Goose Eye Mtn.I kept checking for data service because I haven't had any in a few days.I started getting some data service as I was climbing nearer the summit. I found one spot on the mountain that I had data, but only when I was standing. I tried sitting down on my pack because I had lots of pictures along with three days of journal entries to send in, but I had to stand to get the service...no idea why it wouldn't work when I was sitting down. :-)It took about 40 minutes, but I finally got everything sent in to Mrs Gorp. I'm sure she's going to love me for that! :-)I was on the East Peak when I sent in my journal. When I was done, I walked over to the North Peak, then down to Full Goose Shelter where I stopped for lunch. I also got to sign a register and use up a smiley face sticker.I finished up lunch, then climbed Fulling Mill Mtn before heading down about 1,000 feet to the start of Mahoosuc Notch....the hardest mile on the AT.It's hard, but so is the climb out of the Notch when you're all done.I got down to the Notch and started working my way through all the large boulders at 1:12pm.I was being a little more careful than normal because there were still some wet rocks. It could be all over if you slipped on those rocks. :-)I went over, under, around and manipulated my way through the Notch. It's a mile long and it took me till 2:14pm to reach the other end.I saw two nobos resting just past the end of the Notch. Their names were Butterfly Moon and Firesocks. They had a dog named Luna and they said they were tired. ;-)Turns out we had met at Bob Peoples in Hampton, TN back in April.I had the Notch done, but the hard stuff wasn't over. I still had Mahoosuc Arm to climb...a very steep 1,600 foot elevation gain.I started climbing slowly and just stayed steady. I did take one short break to get a candy bar, but other than that, I didn't stop till I got to the top.I walked down to Speck Pond and stopped at the shelter. No one was around and there wasn't a register, so I just went and filled up my water bottles for the night and walked on. I still had Old Speck Mtn to climb.Once again I just walked slowly and eventually got to the top. There's a place I like to tent about half a mile past the summit, so I kept walking till I got there.I like the spot because I get to watch the sun rise from my tent there.I set up my tent while I boiled some water for some chicken noodle soup. I sat down and ate that and had some chocolate for dessert.It got cool enough that I crawled into my sleeping bag and finished eating dinner there. :-)I didn't make many miles today, but I had a good time with the miles I did walk. Mahoosuc Notch is always fun. :-)Another great day on the Appalachian Trail. :-)