Date: 2004-05-31
From: Carlo Col Shelter

To: Baldplate Lean-To
Miles today: 16.4

Log entry: 121Happy 30th anniversary Mom and Dad! I hope this trek of mine hasn't been toomuch of a burden on you both. Can't wait to see you June 20!!!Also I hope you all took a moment today to remember those who lost their livesserving their country. Thanks Great-Uncle Fritz.Start hike: 0900End hike: 1830Morning weather: Cold, sunny, and breezy. 37 deg at 0830.Afternoon weather: Perfect weather, sunny with a slight wind, around 65Evening weather: Windy and chillyBreakfast: Hotfudge Sundae PoptartsLunch: Grandma Reuschel's chocolate chip cookiesDinner 1: Honey Bunches of oatesDinner 2: Oatmeal and Grandma Sternberg's chex mixTrail description: I had a smile on my face all day, seriously. An unbelievable stretch today. Some long climbs but views that were worth it. And then there was the 1.1 miles called the Mahoosuc Notch which is "the hardest mile on the AT". I beg to differ on it being the hardest but instead the most fun. Very technical and slow going. It took me an hour and ten minutes. There was lots of snow and ice which made some boulder scrambles a little tricky. Several times I had to remove my pack as I ducked under boulders. The Lord saved me from any mishaps which according to the shelter logs are frequent.People: One day hiker.Animals: Lots of birdsMoney spent: NoneComplaints: That today had to end.Thoughts: I first woke at 0500 to go to the bathroom. Which was accomplished then I returned to the warmth of my sleeping bag. The next thing I knew it was 0830, so I quickly packed up and hit the trail. In the back of my mind I wanted to push on past Speck pond, which was the plan, but that ment another 6.9 Maine miles. I only planned on doing 9.5 because of the Mahoosuc notch and then the climb up Mahoosuc Arm.But I figured if it is meant to be, God will provide. Mt Carlo and all the peaks of Goose Eye were great. Views that I wanted to share with someone. I took 20 minutes at Full Goose Shelter to eat cookies and prepare for the upcoming boulder scramble. As I munched I read about last Fall's southbounders who had just finished the scramble. One dude busted his head open and was going to need a stich or two. My favorite was from Crash Test Dummy who said something like, "Do me a favor please. Swab some of the blood off the rocks back there as it belongs to me and save it so that next Spring when my bleached skelton is found somewhere along the trail they will be able to match the blood type to my bone marrow. Thanks".I got to the first boulders at 1250. The amount of snow present really caught my attention. I took my time going through, carefully plotting and planning mycourse. My Leki trekking poles get big props. They made light work of the many drop-offs and at times were the extra 2 legs I needed to traverse sections. Besides hearing about how tough this section is I have also heard how crowded it can be with dayhikers. I figured on the holiday and the perfect weather that the place would be packed but I saw no one. Which is a little scary considering that if I did slip into a crack and the fall didn't kill me, then the ice and snow would do me in within a couple days. Good thing God had another legion of angels with me today.By 1300 I had scooted under the last boulder and I was on my way up the Mahoosuc arm, the "big hill" on the other side of the notch. It was a steep one but rather easy to walk and by 1530 I was at Speck Pond shelter.I didn't want to stop mainly because I still had too much energy. So I atealmost a whole box of cereal and decided to push on. Either making it all theway to Baldplate or camping somewhere inbetween.What worried me most was the descent down off Old Speck Mt into Grafton notch.It looked to be 4 miles of down. And it was, but not a painful downhill. I took a quick side trip to check out "The eyebrow" which is 825 foot cliffs. I was thinking I was going to see them but I think I was just on them, maybe I didn't go far enough.The rest of the AT into Grafton Notch borders a small stream which has somegreat waterfalls. The subsequent climb up to the shelter was mild considering I am in Maine. Thetrail was wide, good walking, and gradual.Once at the shelter I cooked up some oatmeal and munched on chex mix. OntoAndover tomorrow where I shall spend the afternoon chilling like a death rowinmate at one of the many lodging options there.I thought I'd have it down by nowBeen practicing for 20 yearsI could have walked 2000 milesBut what am I still doing here?Reaching out for that same old piece of forbidden fruitI slip and fall and I knock my halo looseSomebody tell me what's a boy supposed to do?I get so clumsy, I get so foolishI feel so stupid sometimes and then I feel so uselessBut You're sayin' You love meAnd You still want to hold meCause You're makin' me holy, yeah.Chris Rice