Date: 2015-09-17
From: Gentian Pond Shelter 

To: Full Goose Shelter
Miles today: 9.6

Last night was spectacular with the star filled sky. I got up a few times in the night and just gazed upward in awe despite the cold and wind. It is moments and nights like this that make this hike so incredible. Today was a big day in that I reached Maine, but it was one of my most difficult days because I had to hike the most treacherous part of the trail in the dark and didn't reach the shelter until 9pm very cold, very wet and very very muddy. It was hard but rewarding. I ended up hiking with Kamikazi all day which was fun. We laughed and talked a lot and she stuck with me in the dark when she could have easily gone ahead. She is the only other person I have hiked with in 900 miles other than Little Prince so it was a treat for me.Last night we read in Guthook that someone had said today's hike to the Carlo College Shelter was the most difficult they had done so far which made me quite nervous as I have done some really hard stuff. I met two other hikers today that said the Goose Eye Mountains are brutal. Of course they were right in front of me when I got this information. I knew it was going to be a long day but I didn't expect you be hiking in the dark. Definitely not my thing, and I had promised I wouldn't ever do that again. We had some amazing mountain top views again today, and we could still see Mt. Washington in the far distance. So cool! We climbed to the top of Mt. Success. Every mountain I climb should have such a name. I was really hoping to have a sign to take my picture next to but no such luck.The ups and downs were steep and required some more hand over hand climbing for me. Some of the rock slabs had rebar to grab onto and wooden ladders for assistance. I still had trouble reaching and trying to figure out how to get my short legs up and over. If my legs were even three inches longer this hike would have been a totally different experience. Even the steps on the ladders are made for someone with longer legs. Kamikazi has short legs as well so we both got a good laugh and agreed someone with long legs put the ladders together. We also walked through alpine bogs today over planks that were sinking into the mud. Several times my trekking poles sunk all the to the top of my hands next to where I was going to step my feet. I feel very thankful that I didn't end up to my neck in mud. Both my trail runners did sink into the mud several times leaving them black, wet and mucky. As Kamikazi said we just had to embrace the mud. I also had to embrace getting my hiking dress soaking wet and muddy as well from butt blazing on muddy and wet slabs of rocks. What a fun day! We did see the most amazing and spectacular sunset behind the mountains as we hiked above treeline as it was getting dark. Soon we were hiking in complete darkness and going down a steep mountain that had more rebar and ladders. I mean it was straight down and would have been a nightmare for me even in daylight. I could only laugh at my plight. And we laughed and laughed and had a great time even though I was petrified. At one point we stopped and turned off our headlamps and admired the stars in the dark sky; even saw the Milky Way. We laughed so loud and talked so much that Little Prince and the others in the shelter could hear us an hour before we actually arrived at the shelter. We finally saw a red headlight, and it was Little Prince waiting for us at the shelter junction. I had made it! The shelter was full and very dark. I got situated and changed out of my black wet clothes into something dry and warm. I am so relieved but exhilarated at the same time. My first day in Maine and it feels like a week already. I am munching on cheese and ginger snaps in my sleeping bag. So very tired, and I had planned on getting a good night's sleep tonight because tomorrow is Mahposuc Notch which is the toughest mile of the trail and I hear it can take hours for the one mile. After today I know I can tackle anything.