Date: 2015-09-05
From: Bull Branch Campsite

To: Grafton Notch
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Lots of hikers came in to the campsite while I was sleeping! They did Mahoosic notch while night hiking! I woke up and saw hammocks hanging everywhere, I decided to fire up my stove for oatmeal, and got it going pretty quickly. I made some coffee too and it was the best trail breakfast I have had in a while! I am really liking my stove, now that I have gotten over the learning curve. It is not as simple as my mini mo but is a fraction of the weight and does the job. As I was sipping my coffee, bearded boys started popping their heads out of their hammocks, one by one. Some I have seen before, some were new to me. I really like the kids (I say kids, but I'm talking about twenty-something's) I meet on this trail. They are so funny and nice- having a grand adventure. One of the guys was wearing batman pajamas ( footie pajamas) complete with the cap with little horns.Our first climb today was Mahoosic Arm. It was steep and fairly difficult. But it was fun! Big rocks and rock slabs going up a steep grade. It was challenging and I'm glad we did it in fresh legs! We were only doing a mile an hour or so. We had only 7 miles to hike to Gradton Notch, where Cherri- a trail angel who hosted Left Turn last year was picking us up for a few days of slack packing. I have only been inside of a house 4' times on the whole trail, so I was excited. And very dirty. 5 trail days of dirt and sweat were ground into my clothes and my skin. We passed Speck Pond, a gorgeous lake, and soon came to the side trail to Speck Pond Shelter. After watering up- we tackled Old Speck Mountain. The climb was beautiful, sometimes rocky, but I LOVE Maine! Hiking in The Whites was like being in an abusive relationship with an extraordinarily good looking person. Maine is more George Clooney; rugged, good looking- and fun. The Whites were like a skin tight pair of uncomfortable white leather pants- Maine is your favorite pair of broken in blue jeans. The Whites are Veronica, Maine is Betty. The Whites are a sandwich made of glass shards and a rare delicious jam; even as you spit out blood you exclaim how wonderful it tastes. Maine is a strawberry rhubarb pie. But I digress....Seriously though- Maine is lovely and earthy and so green. I saw rocks covered with moss, thin here and there, reminding me of well loved velveteen toys. Foliage is thick, almost jungly in some places.When we got to the (almost) summit of Old Speck, the trail started down, just 0.3 shy of the summit. The descent was very long- trail Angels were waiting- so we did not go all the way up to the observation tower. We met some day hikers who informed us that it was Labor Day weekend. Who knew! Lots of people and families out enjoying the trail made the hike interesting. When we finally reached the bottom- Cherri was waiting for us. She had cold soft drinks and Doritos for us, and after a quick photo shoot for her clients at a barn , we headed to her home. She and her husband live in a beautiful log home with two black labs. Power was out at the house due to a downed transformer so we ordered pizza. We chatted about the trail, Left Turn, and logging. Her husband is a logger. A short but wonderful day on the trail!