Date: 2018-06-30
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: Grafton Notch (Bethel, ME)
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: clear sky

I initiated the deflation of the air mattresses this morning around 530am. We tend to call that sound the "devil's whisper" because it's essentially the shelter alarm clock. I was just excited to see Abby and pumped to have some time off trail. I feel like the past week has been pretty relaxed in terms of mileage but those miles have torn me up. My last zero was in MA with Mike! 400 miles ago! Although the timing and mileage didn't work out for a full zero here, I was still planning two long nearos back to back that I suppose would make up for that.Two Clicks and I hit the trail towards Mahoosuc Notch. It's noted as either the hardest or most fun mile of the entire trail and we were excited to find out which category it fell in for both of us. I wasn't in much of a talking mood so we pushed on in silence. Eventually we hit the sign for the "notch trail" and took a 90 degree turn downwards. I felt like I was at Disney World entering a ride. The temperature legitimately dropped at least 10 degrees and there was snow in some of the crevasses as we walked up towards a pile of boulders. I invite anyone unfamiliar with this section to look up some pictures. It's gnarly!We collapsed our trekking poles and stored them on our packs. This boulder field would require hands and feet, poles were unnecessary. I lead the charge inward and man is Maine a crazy place. We hobbled through the boulder field at less than a mile an hour. Over some rocks and under others. At times, there were arrows pointing straight down into caves. The openings were at times, too small to wear your pack into so I would take it off and carefully push it through. It took strategy. Just as I thought we were nearing the end, I heard water and of course there was a brook running underneath the rocks. Of course, why wouldn't there be? Just like a Disney ride-- add more scenery and landscape. Now a fall would mean wet shoes as opposed to just landing. Thanks Maine haha.We made it through and got our trekking poles out. No injuries to either of us but two clicks broke his hip belt strap in one of the caves and later broke his Sawyer water filter. Tough times. We ascended up to Speck Pond then Old Speck Mountain. The climbs in Maine, off the typical day hiker path, have been insane with metal ladders, sunken bog Bridges and really tough scrambles. It can get really old quick but I suppose the views are worth it. I just have a tough time the days that I know I'm headed into town but still have miles ahead and mountains to climb before I get there. On this climb I ran into a southbounder. He found out my name and said "your mom reads my journal. She told me to say hi!" Of course she does haha! My mom's pretty awesome. It was cool running into him!On the descent from Old Speck Mountain, I ran into a married couple with their kid. Well, low and behold, it was a family I follow on Instagram. They are "theadventurousfamily" online and I only recognized them at the last minute as they were passing. They are from NH and post beautiful pictures from their hikes so we chatted for a few minutes. Crazy the power of social media.At the bottom of the mountain I ran into the parking lot as Abby walked towards the trailhead. I dropped my pack and we hugged for a while. Realistically it had only been a month since we last saw each other but it felt long! She gave me Gatorade and a Dunkin Donuts breakfast sandwich then we did some trail magic for a bit while Two Clicks showed up. The rest we left next to the trash can so hikers could throw out their trash. We would check it in the morning and take anything extra away.We drove into Bethel and hit up the Sunday River Brewery for lunch. Then we got to the hotel and completed a few chores before hanging out watching TV. Exactly what I crave! We ate my mom's whoopie pies, ordered pizza and drank a few Baxter Brew beers. I told Abby to try and pick up local Maine IPAs to continue the beer tour and they were good! It was a great relaxing afternoon and will be a nice morning too before heading back out. Thank you to Abby, my mom and Leslie Hartley for the food, equipment to change out and the financial capital you guys sent me haha. I really appreciate it!