Date: 2005-07-24
From: Mahoosic Notch, ME

To: Trident Col Tentsite, NH
Miles today: 18.1

18.1 miles todayTrident Col Tentsite, NH I slept great last night in Mahoosic Notch. I woke up this morning, made coffee and ate breakfast and started climbing through Mahoosic Notch at 6:30. It was easy this time because it was dry. I was through the notch in the same amount of time as the first time I ever did it...45 minutes. It was dry then too. When it's wet, it can take at least an hour longer. There was still lots of ice among the huge boulders in the notch. Once I got through the notch, I started a steep climb to the South Peak of Fulling Mountain. It was only another half mile to Full Goose Shelter from the summit. I had seen Lefty and Poncho earlier on my climb and then Batman was at the shelter. Another climb started right after I left the shelter to the summit of Goose Eye Mountain. There was two summits to that mountain, North Peak and East Peak and I climbed both of them. I ran into Tomcat near the top.Next I ran into Stealth and Ninja. I spotted Mt Washington far off in the distance for the first time of this hike. I could clearly see the smoke from the Cog Train. I climbed a third peak of Goose Eye, the West Peak. When I got there, Moosie was hiding and took a picture of me. He had seen me going down the last mountain. He said he knew it was me because I looked like such a strong hiker. Well, those weren't his exact words, but that's how I remember it and I'm sticking to it. ;-))) It was 10am when we ran into each other. We decided to eat an early lunch. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and he had some kind of good looking focaccia with good looking things in it and a fresh avocado. He never even offered me a bite. :-((( We sat there talking for about 1 1/2 hours. Hey Mrs Moosie, he's looking ok for just coming out of Gorham after 4 nights in a motel.  :-))) I hiked on about 11:30 going down that mountain and up to the summit of Mt Carlo. I was just about out of water, but I didn't want to hike the .3 miles to the spring at Carlo Col Shelter, so I kept going. There was a steep rock scramble right after the shelter turn off. At 12:30 I finished my first state!! I was at the border of Maine and NH. I got to say hi to Pamela and hung out for a short while. I had still another mountain to climb called Success Mountain. This is a very rugged section and my legs were telling me they need a break soon. I may take my first zero in Gorham in a couple days to get my legs ready for the Whites. I hiked on and got to Gentian Pond Shelter. I sat inside the shelter and made another sandwich when Snail came up and said there was a cow moose and calf in the pond. I signed the register, finished my sandwich and went to take a look. The calf was no where to be seen, but the cow moose was still feeding in the pond. That makes 9 moose I've seen on this hike. She looked like one of the largest cow moose I've ever seen. I hiked on and got water at a stream crossing. I saw Cocoa Bean and her friend hiking north, then caught up to 3 sobo hikers by the names of Pirate Girl, Tingo and Ron. They seem to be moving very slow because they left Katahdin on June 12. I may not see them again. I hiked by Moss Pond, then Dream Lake before climbing up to Wocket Ledge. I started down from the ledge and saw a scrawny nobo struggling up the hill. It was Teabreak, good friend of Moosie's. I had met him a few times before also. He's probably so scrawny looking because he hiked with Moosie and Goldilocks for a while. I think they get most of the food. ;-))) We sat down and talked for about 15 minutes and I showed him some of the pictures I've taken on this trip. He said he's planning on summiting Katahdin on August 9th. I hiked on to this tentsite and went right down to the spring to get water. It was running so slow that it took about 15 minutes to get a couple litres. That's enough for coffee in the morning and extra to get me into Gorham tomorrow. I set up my tent and am at home for the night.