Hi Everyone
Just a quick update on our progress.
We left Gorham on 8-14 and hiked 12 miles in "Sunshine". It was really great to have the sun on our shoulder instead of rain.
The miles are still pretty hard and it was no different when we entered Maine on the 15th. We only did 10 miles but it was all either straight up or straight down. We constantly ask ourselves if we are hiking or climbing. There are many stretches where they have placed rebar or steps to help you up the slickrock, but there are an awful lot of places where you just have to hang on to the trees and roots and hope your boots hold as you walk up rock. Of course when you add rain and mud it only complicates things. I don't think pictures will ever be able to explain how tough this hike really is. We would both rather go up than down, because going down slick rock is much harder then going up. We had a little rain the afternoon of the 15th, but it was dry when we set up the tent.
More thunderstorms on the 16th and we started early as we had to cross what they say is the toughest mile of the A.T. The Mahoosic notch is only a mile long with 1000 foot walls on both sides and huge boulders all the way through. We had our packs on and off many times as we pushed them through, over, and under openings. It took us 2.5 hours to do the mile stretch which is pretty average and then we had to go another 1500 feet straight up the Mahoosic Arm. We worked with a friend from FL as we went through this stretch and it helped both of us out. By 5pm we had both had enough fun for the day and camped just before we crossed the road and started another climb.
On the 17th we woke to a very sunny day but one that was also very windy above treeline. We crossed a mountain called Baldpate that was pretty much all rock. I was able to practice my first aid skills as a hiker named Wingit fell and dislocated her shoulder. I secured it as best I could and we split up her pack and got her down another 6 miles to the road. We were pretty spent after that and we hiked another 2 miles to a small lake and camped in the pines. We were in the tent and sleeping by 8 pm. We sleep much better in the tent than in a shelter or even in most hotels. There is just something about the wind blowing through the trees and waking to the birds singing. The area we camped in last night is home to some rare types of Wood Warblers and I think we heard them this morning.
Today we hiked 8 miles to a road crossing approximately 9 miles from Andover Maine. We had one very steep up with lots of rock, rebar, and mud and one rock slide to cross that wiped out the trail for about 50 yards. We had no problem getting a ride into town. Town is not very big, just a couple of small gas stations/grocery stores and a couple of small eateries and a Post Office where we picked up box # 15 of the 18 boxes we had prepared. Thanks Amy for the special treat!!! We are staying at the Andover Roadhouse. It is a very large house that rents out rooms and has everything we need. They will also give us a ride back to the trail tomorrow.
I have posted a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure:
1. Patty coming through a section of the notch, I already have her pack.
2. Jeff in the notch looking at the remains of a moose who didn't make it.
3. Steep section of trail
4. Don't fall off the walking boards the bog is deep.
5. Another steep section of trail where they added a ladder for assistance.
Take care all, we are a little tired but doing fine and being cautious and safe.
Red Dog and Lucky Dog.
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