Date: 2015-08-19
From: Full Goose Campsite 1912.3 miles

To: Grafton Notch/ ME26 1922.0 miles
Miles today: 10.0

Wednesday, August 19th   As you can imagine the Iceman didn't have much sleep last night with worrying about making it to ME26 before dark today. The trail went over the peak of Fulling Mill Mountain, through the Mahoocuc Notch, up the Mahoosuc Arm for a total vertical of 3,500 feet. As tough as it sounds, and is, the Iceman's real concern was getting through the Mahoosuc Notch and up the Mahoosuc Arm. Once the Iceman and 3D left the camp, at 6:15am, they never stopped moving. They got through the Mahoosuc Notch in one hour and 45 minutes. They were very pleased with that since they thought it would take twice as long. They climbed up the 1,800 ft., very steep rock face of the Mahoosuc Arm , in about 2 hours. They were totally wiped out when they got to the top. Just as they started up the Arm, they passed a young mother in her 30's with her 3 small children. The children were about 7, 10 and 12 years old. The youngest asked the Iceman how he liked the Notch. They had passed through the day before and it took them 5 1/2 hours. He was blown away by what this young mother was doing. She was carrying a backpack that included an 8 ft x 8 ft. tent and food for all four of them. Her backpack, he estimated, had to weigh well over 40 pounds. Each of the children carried a small backpack. The Iceman now felt that his effort, which he thought to be strenuous, was just a "walk in the park" compared to what she was experiencing. According to the Iceman, the trail brings many revelations. Finally at about 4:30, 3D and the Iceman walked into the parking lot on the ME26 road from the trailhead.   They were two VERY weary hikers that had made it. The Iceman claims that it was one of the happiest days of his life when he saw the Sherpa waiting there. It was also one of the happiest days of the Sherpa's life to see the Iceman alive and still in one piece, except for his bruises and sore body. He has lost an incredible amount of weight and hopefully, when he's finished this journey, he'll regain all of his muscle and body fat. Wish the Sherpa could say the same for herself. It's the gym, non- stop for her when they return home. During the day the Sherpa took a ride to Bethel, ME and visited the Chamber of Commerce, they don't have a visitor's center. The woman there couldn't really answer any of the Sherpa's questions about which roads, in the next section of the hike, were drivable with the Yukon. The Maine atlas shows roads that are paved and those that are unimproved (gravel or other surface). The Yukon is a heavy vehicle but is low in the front and can't tackle roads with large boulders sticking up so before driving on the unimproved roads the condition must be known. The Sherpa is receiving help from Rocketman and Princess, who have just completed the entire AT and recently completed the section the Iceman is headed for. They know the roads and their condition and also know people who can help shuttle the Iceman in and out if the Sherpa can't. After a warm shower and more Neosporin on the arm the Iceman and Sherpa went to dinner at their favorite restaurant, The Wentworth. The Iceman is taking off Thursday and Friday to get some much needed rest.