My Hiking Life: Mahoosuc

Monday, July 31, 2017

Mahoosuc

Day: 141
Start: 1912.9
End: 1922.6
Miles: 9.7
Hours: 7
High temp: 72
Low temp: 52
Thru Hikers met: 3

I'm on the right

Hermit was thoughtful setting up his tent on just half of the tenting platform leaving room for me to setup. Few are stirring at 0530 hrs as I rise. The sun is peeking through the trees with its orange morning light.

I'm on the trail by 0600 hrs. I climb to a ridge then drop down into the Notch.

From the top of my first climb. A nice slab of horizontal rock.

The Mahoosuc Notch, a narrow canyon filled with enormous rocks. The trail goes over and under these rocks, this is something that I have not seen on the trail before.

Mahoosuc Notch

So I rested my pack and crawled through to the other side

Yet another crawl through spot, I was able to keep my pack on for this one

I hop from big rock to big rock, I ease myself down to the floor and climb out, I crawl under enormous boulders to the other side. I do this again and again until one hour later I've made it through.

One half of the day's challenge is complete, now I face the 1600' climb up the Mahoosuc Arm. This is steep, I climb up to a rock slab then carefully walk it to its top, then I do it again and again until relief enters my mind as I realize I'm at the top. Sweat dripping from my brow and salt stinging my eyes. I completed the second challenge of the day. Now a rest and some food before continuing on.

Speck Pond, I follow this around to the right to have lunch at the shelter

After hiking up Old Speck to the view point I descent a 3 mile section to Grafton Notch and ME rte 26. On the way down a nice little waterfall makes itself known.

I like the little rivulets of water

In Andover is a hostel called the Cabin operated by Honey and Bear. I'm planning on heading there when I get to the Notch. I reach the Notch parking lot and walk to the entry drive. I ask for a ride as I swing my pack to the ground. A car with one available seat comes out of the parking lot. The passenger asks "where are you going?" I tell them and it is where they are going. On the way we stop at a self serve pie stand, where besides pies they offer maple cream filled cookie sandwiches and whoppie pies. I try the cookie sandwich which is delicious.