276.9 down, 1909 to go
Woke up in the middle of the night to a slight rustling sound. "Is that a mouse getting into our food bags, Ethan?" Nudge. "Hmmm..." Nudge harder. The sound is still going and getting louder. Maybe it's on our side of the lean to. Orrin thuds his leg to scare it away. The sound is still going. NotYet turns on the headlamp. What's looking at us? Sets of wide eyes, chomping on bushes. Moose were having their midnight snack!
Once we got back to sleep, after the moose left, we slept well. We met a married couple on the way up Old Speck. We enjoyed chatting with them for a bit. At the top of the mountain, we received the highest compliment. The woman told NotYet, "don't take this the wrong way, but you really don't smell bad!" A big compliment for a thru hiker!
We started down the Mahoosuc Arm, after being warned by several NoBos that it was so steep we'd be putting our trekking poles down and sliding down the rock on our butts. We got going down and had to pull out our guide, expecting another uphill before the descent of the arm started. We were already halfway down the arm...great! We are seasoned hikers! The arm was nothing worse than we'd seen so far in Maine.
The Notch was a scrambled boulder pit, a mile long. It was hard, but fun! Made it to Full Goose Pond Shelter. Officially in AMC, Appalachian Mountain Club, territory and out of MATC, Maine Appalachian Trail Club territory. That means less blazes and random signs for other trails. The AMC is also known as the Appalachian Money Club by thru hikers, since they often charge for stay at shelters. Boo!
NotYet climbing down a crevasse in The Notch
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