Date: 2014-09-13
From: Carlo Col Shelter, Mile 1904.0

To: Baldpate Lean-to, Mile 1920.4
Miles today: 16.4

I used my ear plugs last night, and woke up later than usual this morning, about 7:00. Tabasco, Ronin, Mailman and No Rush all left ahead of me, and I left ahead of Ajax and Giggles. We were all looking forward to getting to Mahoosuc Notch 6 miles down the trail. I caught up with the foursome after a few miles and hiked with them. Just before we got to the Full Goose Shelter, Ajax and Giggles caught up with us. We all stopped at the shelter for a break, but Ajax and I were the first to head out from there, both wanting to get ahead of the big group. As we approached the Notch 1.5 miles later, Giggles caught up with us. Ajax and I started into the Notch, which is about a mile long section of trail consisting of a jumble of large boulders that we have to navigate, including at least one point where you have to take off your pack to get through. I had mentally allowed myself two hours to get through, and was looking forward to having fun doing so. Giggles took a break before going through and Ajax and I went through together. A short ways into the notch, we met Camo, a day hiker who sat in one spot and handed out Snickers to thru hikers. Trail Magic in the Notch! He also showed us a spot deep in the shadows where ice still lingered from last winter. Ajax and I continued on - we both had to take our packs off to slither through one tunnel. A little later, Ajax took a low path and I took a high path, and he had to take his pack off to slither through while I didn't. I must admit, that having long legs certainly helped, along with experience boulder hopping since a teenager.After about 40 minutes we met a couple of day hikers going the opposite direction thru the Notch. I jokingly asked them if we were almost at the end, and they said yes, we were. I was expecting that answer as a joke, but as Ajax and I continued on we weren't sure if they were joking or not. Suddenly the boulders stopped and we were on dirt path in the woods! We thought maybe the boulders would start up again, but we then came to the tentsite and water source we knew were 1.2 miles from the start of the Notch and after the end of the boulders. We had gone through the Notch in 45 minutes and the 1.2 miles in 50 minutes! Fun! :-)Giggles caught up with us when we took a break at the tentsite. Then it was a tough climb up Mahoosuc Arm (mountain). Ajax and Giggles left me in the dust going up, but I was energized from getting through the Notch so easily. Easy Part of Climb - Thanks Trail Crew!As I got to the top of the mountain I passed several day hikers coming in from a side trail and heading down the way I was going. Shortly after heading down, a group of four young day hikers caught up with me and I let them pass. Then I joined them in the back and kept pace with them. More inspirers! We hiked together the several miles down to Grafton Notch, Rt 26, where they had parked their car. Sky, Sarah, Justin and James (twins) were from Portland and had driven the two miles up for a five or six hour day hike. We had fun hiking and chatting down the mountain. When we got to the bottom, they gave refilled my water bottle with fresh water and gave me a peach, an apple and a couple of Cliff bars. Inspirers and Trail Angels combined! They talked about how nice everyone they meet on the trail seemed to be, and I agreed! :-) Sky, Justin, Sarah & JamesBeing inspired, I hiked the additional 2.3 miles up the next mountain to Baldpate Lean-to (Sometimes they call shelters lean-tos here, but they're pretty much the same.) Ajax and Giggles were already there, along with Sobo section hikers Switchback and Liz and another older guy whose name I didn't get. Switchback thru hiked a couple of years ago and was taking her friend Liz from Wilmington, NC out for a section hike.The trail is starting to get more "normal" in terms of rocks and roots, and I'm getting more comfortable hiking. Getting through the Notch much quicker than expected was certainly a morale boost! :-)