Date: 2003-09-06
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Andover, ME
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: few clouds

If you are familiar with the trail in Maine and you are a careful reader, you'll realize that it would be pretty difficult to get from Full Goose Shelter to Andover, ME in one day. Even if it were possible, it is much more than 16 miles.Remember those slippery rocks I mentioned yesterday? While heading from the shelter this morning towards Mahoosuc Notch, I lost my footing on a slick smooth rock and fell backwards landing on my butt in a not so gentle manner.I limped down the remaining 100 feet or so to level ground just before the Notch and tried to walk it off but my left leg couldn't hold my weight when I tried to step up. I could manage on level ground but climbing was out of the question for the day.Instead of tempting fate and trying to hike Mahoosuc Notch with a bad leg, I decided to hike out the side trail to a dirt road and then to town. I told the guys I would meet them in Andover the next day. Even though I had hiked the Notch last year, I was pretty upset about not being able to go through it again this year with everyone. I stomped down the trail as best I could venting my frustration to no one in particular as I made my way to the road.I did luck out along this blue blaze and saw a moose in the distance as well as a coyote or perhaps a wolf. So far my blue-blazes and payed off in terms of wildlife. I also passed a ice-cold piped spring which I enjoyed since it had warmed up quite a bit today.The exit route that I had decided on took me around the Notch, Mahoosuc Arm, and Old Spec Mountain and eventually back to Grafton Notch where the trail crosses the highway. I was hoping to hitch a ride along a good portion of this route since the trail came out on a road after only 2.5 miles. I didn't have much luck. Most of the road walk was on a gravel/dirt logging road and not a single car was going in my direction (only two passed me going in the other direction during the three hours or so I was on the road). Even when I hit the highway, I didn't get anyone to stop.A slipped a couple of times on the gravel and was not too happy with the pain that shot through my legs.I eventually made it to the parking lot at Grafton Notch around 1:30 and found a couple of day hikers who were nice enough to give me a ride into Bethel near the Sunday River Ski area. I left a note for the guys in the trailhead register before heading into town.In town I got lunch, Ibuprofen, and then decided to hitch up to Andover instead of staying in Bethel for the night. After two hitches, the 2nd by a 1977 thru-hiker (G-man), I found myself at an ice cream stand on the corner of route 5, which runs up to Andover. I enjoyed a nice milkshake and then called Pine Ellis B&B to get picked up and shuttled back to Andover since I didn't have much luck hitching on the corner.Paul and Ilene Trainor, the owners of Pine Ellis, got me settled in right away. They recommended a massage therapist in town and I quickly had an appointment lined up for the next morning. I was hoping that with some rest, a long massage, and some slack-packing I would able to stay with the guys when they headed out of town in a couple of days.