Day 27 July 19: Entering the Mahoosuc Mountains

Today was a challenging because of the elevation changes going up and down the Baldpate Mountains and later ascending up to Old Speck Mountain.  The anticipation of hiking through the famed Mahoosuc Notch the next day.  The weather did not cooperate, though.  As I hiked across the Baldpate Mountains the rain made the rocks extremely slick and the clouds removed any opportunities for nice photos from the summits. 

At the crossing of a highway at Grafton Notch I met an AT Hiker who finished his hike and was being a Trail Angel at the trailhead parking lot.  It was the first trail magic I received since starting my hike!  I used the trailhead kiosk as a tiny shelter from the rain that fell persistently.  Despite the rain many hikers were at the trailhead including a teenager who expressed interest in hiking the AT and eventually all three Triple Crown trails.  I was impressed with you young man’s enthusiasm and encouraged him to learn as much as he can by talking to experienced hikers at gatherings and rocks.

The drama of the day came after climbing to near the summit of Old Speck and descending in rain down steep, wet, rocky trail to the Speck Pond Lean-To.  On the first steep rock slab I underestimated how slick it could be, slipped and landed hard on my elbow.  Thankfully there was no bone damage. It was a painful wakeup call to prevent more such falls.  Still, I had one more close call on a wooden ladder I started to descend on.  When my leg slid between a wet rock and the first step on the ladder my body with backpack attached near fell off the entire ladder. Nobody was around to hear my fearful scream in the damp forest.  I was very fortunate to be able to pull myself back up and continue down to the Speck Pond Lean-To. Lucky.  I committed myself to be ultra careful the next day while descending the Mahoosuc Arm and hiking through Mahoosuc Notch.

At Speck Pond there were a lot of hikers, some I have heard of but not yet met.  The shelter was packed full, including a mother and her four kids thru-hikeing northbound. In the company of these people I enjoyed the camaraderie and shared some stories of my long distance hiking and the origin of my trail name.  I slept in the shelter because I was too tired to set up my tent.  The fall and ladder mishap weighed heavily on my mind.