Date: 2015-09-19
From: The Yellow Deli

To: Carlos Col Shelter
Miles today: 17.0

We were up early in the morning and I got my gear together and ate another big and delicious breakfast. We piled into our respective vans and were off. Out van took us to US 2 past the Wildcat Mountain and Rattle river. It took us a few minutes to find the trail north from the parking lot as we couldn't see the blazes in either direction. I started walking to the left down the road in order to find a blaze and soon located one. I had good weather and a goal - reach Maine today! I had looked at the map and topography and thought that it would be tough but doable and the weather was cooperating. Soon after I came upon a fellow thru-hiker called Odin as we walked across a bridge looking up at a hydroelectric dam. Odin and I began talking and I found out that he was from Germany. We hiked at the same pace and so we talked as we hiked and the miles flew under my feet. Odin helped me out through numerous places going over Mt. Hayes and Cascade Mountain and we took numerous breaks to drink in water and the views. We had stopped for a break at one of the stunningly beautiful view. before pressing on. We also stopped for a snack break at the view from Wocket Ledge. We took a break at the Gentian Pond Shelter and paused for a picture and do a happy dance at the 1900 mile marker! Then the trail was heading down to the Mahoosuc Trail Junction with the AT. It was so nice of this German to slow down from his strict schedule to help another hiker in need. Acts of kindness like this is the reason that the hiking community has some of the best people on earth! It was pretty windy and cloudy when we climbed up Mt. Success although I got it mixed up in my YouTube video and called it "Safety Mountain!" I probably had a safety meeting on the mind at the time. It was getting dark and Odin went ahead to the shelter so I pulled out my headlamp and continued on alone. That is when I had the scariest incident on the trail. It was hard finding the trail in places and in one spot, it appeared that you had to let yourself down about 6' but I couldn't be certain. There seemed to be not other way to go but down so with great pain and trouble I let myself down not knowing if it was even the trail or a ledge leading to nowhere. I had committed myself as there was no way possible for me to climb back up again so I may have been stuck on a ledge until help arrived if it wasn't the trail. I had to make a few more drops before reaching the bottom and searching to find that I was in fact, on the trail. I was exhausted mentally and physically and my shoulder was in extreme pain when I reached the NH/ME State line. I snapped a few hurried pictures as the cold had set in and pushed on towards the shelter. The shelter was an old looking log cabin with a small opening in the front, two sleeping levels and skylights to let more light in. I found Odin waiting and some old timers, one from Colorado. I was extremely disheartened when upon pulling out my cooking kit to find that while climbing down the chutes that the bottom of my Jetboil had bent all out of shape and wouldn't fit on my stove any more! That was a sever blow as almost all of my food (breakfast and dinner)required cooking. Colorado asked to see it and if he could take a whack at trying to fix it. Having no alternative I was happy to have a remote chance of using it again. He was an old time backpacker who probably carried about 75lbs on his back (and probably had a kitchen sink!) and he pulled out a pair of pliers and started twisting and bending until he could put the pot on the stove with just a little effort. While he was doing that I went down to the small spring with sweet and clear water and filled up. Being so tired I didn't even do my usual clean up but after going back to the shelter took a hooker's bath with wipes in the outhouse! I was so grateful to see my stove, seemingly whole, and put it to the test by cooking dinner. I showed my gratitude by sponsoring a safety meeting with my glass pipe which worked well for four people. Not long after that meeting, my arms and back were feeling much better and I began to relax. I changed into my camp clothes and crawled into bed and watched an episode of Korra and then the Bible on audio and was soon asleep.