Day 29 (July 23)

I left the Full Goose Shelter and Campsite this morning at 6:50 a.m. with a bit of anxiety and anticipation. Mahoosuc Notch was a mile and a half up the trail. This part of the trail runs about a mile and is basically a canyon full of boulders the Almighty threw between two moutains. It requires climbing over, through, and underneath boulders and takes about an hour to do the mile. The climbs under boulders are fun because there is ice in the tunnels. Mist rises from the openings as it meets the warmer air. Really, it is fun but takes a lot of energy and careful climbing. After the notch comes a climb known as Mahoosuc Arm, another monster mountain with rock scrambles, wooden ladder ascents, and beautiful vistas. But it's wearing.

Speck Mountain ended the day. Had a nice swim half way through that stretch at Speck Pond. Speck mountain is dangerous for south-bound hikers because of a number of straight down rock slabs. An old guy (like me) slipped and got hauled off this week. Once at the top of Speck, it is a three mile downhill. Best downhill of the trip so far. Not too many rock scrambles, but at the bottom, my legs were toast. And it started to rain! Downpour. But I caught a twenty-two mile ride into Andover, Maine where I am staying in a hostel with about a dozen other thru-hikers. I had watermelon and a great dinner and got my clothes washed -- all for fifty-nine bucks. It's still raining, but I am dry and pumped for tomorrow! Take care.