Date: 2017-09-10
From: Gentian Pond Shelter Tent Site

To: Full Goose Shelter and Campsite
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: clear sky

9/10Gentian Pond Shelter Tent Site to Full Goose Shelter and Campsite9.6 milesTotal miles:  1912.9I was up early and left a bit after seven, even though I expected today to be a relatively short day of only 9.6 miles. Once again, I learned I should never underestimate the AT. The hiking was extremely challenging today, and I got into camp at 6:15, less than an hour before sunset.  The climb up Mount Success had a few difficult sections, and the summit was completely socked in when I got there, with no view at all.  I noticed that the clouds were beginning to clear as I descended, but decided not to backtrack to have a look. Fortunately,  there would be ample views later on.  I reached a major milestone today around noon when I passed from New Hampshire to Maine. I am now in my fourteenth and final state. A group of us stopped at the border for lunch, and I ate with Frodo, Rambo, Gimli, Dove, Dancing Bear, Tango, and Uncle Puck.  I set a bit of Beau free, and he is now in every state of the Appalachian Trail.  Southern Maine is known as the most difficult section of the trail, and she wastes no time getting down to business. I had my first encounter with a huge boulder crawl soon after entering the state. The object is to work your way around these cottage sized boulders with smaller ones jumbled in for good measure. If you slip, it is very possible to fall fifteen or twenty feet between the boulders.  As I climbed and descended Mount Carlo and the Goose Eye Mountains (the West, East, and North peaks), I encountered many rock climbs up steep, slick rock faces and a few more huge boulder areas. I again used the roots and trees along the rock faces to my advantage and had many opportunities to crawl on my hands and feet while grasping roots, trees, and the edges of rocks. Puzzling out the boulders was a different matter, which might utilize any number of the above techniques, minus the roots and trees. Numerous times I had to sit down and slide down a rock face to its bottom edge. One area required dropping into a crevice, turning, and then squeezing through a narrow crack to access the next part of a descent. For once, being short and thin worked to my advantage, as I did not have to take off my pack to fit through.  There were several areas where rebar was driven into the rock faces to make it possible to climb them. One such place required me to climb a rebar ladder and then slide along a narrow ledge to access a second ladder. I made it up the face, aware all the time that a friend of mine had his hike end at this spot a few days ago when he fell while attempting the transfer between ladders. He will be fine, but his injuries negate any chance to return to the trail this season. The flatter areas between climbs were complicated by boggy, muddy areas with some help provided by boardwalks. I had more than one of these either sink into the mire when I stepped on it. A few others would tip steeply up at the other end like a teeter totter. There were places where my trekking poles sank into the mud for several feet, although I never stepped in anything deeper than a few inches past my ankles. The trail conditions were challenging, but the skies had cleared, and I had the advantage of beautiful weather. The views from the summits were breathtaking, as Maine has also started living up to her reputation as a gorgeous state. I've been told that the first twenty-five miles are incredibly difficult and challenging, and then conditions ease up. Tomorrow morning I encounter Mahoosuc Notch, which is known as the most difficult and/or fun mile on the entire AT. It will take several hours to make my way through a "jumbled pit of boulders." Tango, Gravity, and I are planning to hike through together. Immediately after the Notch, you climb up Mahoosuc Arm, which has its own reputation for difficulty. We'll have to get started tomorrow and take the time needed to get through these obstacles. Tango and I reminded each other as we hiked into camp that we need to remember to find the fun in these rock climbing adventures we are having. It is quite cool this evening, and it took awhile for my feet to feel back to normal after getting them out of my wet, muddy shoes. I'm toasty right now and am going to wrap this up to make sure I'm adequately rested up for more challenges that Maine has to offer.