Day 3- To Mahoosuc Notch and Bull campsite

Got up and out by 6:30. It took 10” to get back up the .3 mile side trail to the AT. 

Today is the challenging Mahoosuc Notch

5 miles to Mahoosuc 

Always new flowers

Perfect weather 

Warm up for the rock scramble at Mahoosuc

Lunch at Full Goose lean-to

2.5 hours to do the 1 mile of the Notch with 15” nap on a nice flat rock. 

Ice in the cracks

Just Rocks in the Notch

Miles 6.1

Total 22.9

Total AT 1915.6

Day 2 To Carlo Col Shelter

It gets light early. It woke me at 4:30 am. I dozed until 5:30 and then started getting ready for the day. I rolled my air mattress and stuffed my quilt. Then I went to the bear box for my food and had a handful of trail mix (mostly dried fruit) a piece of jerky and a bag of blueberry granola wetted with half a cup of water chased with a cup of chocolate milk. Then I struck the tent and drank a liter of water and went off to the spring to refill my water bottles.  I was off by 6:50. 

Trip to the outhouse first. 

There’s lots of streams. 

Page pond was nice in the morning sun. 

Boardwalks over the bogs help keep the feet out of the mud. 

But not always. 

Flowers I’ve never seen. 

Finally at the end of a tiring day, bunked in at Carlo Col shelter because all the tent pads were taken mosty by a large group of Girl Scouts. But then along came a couple of thunderstorms which I slept through and I was glad to be in the shelter with McGiver. 

Today’s miles. 10.1

This year’s miles  16.4

Total AT 1909.1

Day 1 Rattle River Hostel to Trident Col Campsite

The day started slow and easy. I breakfasted on DIY waffles in the Rattle River Hostel kitchen. I did some fins emails. Then I was shuttled into Gorham to mail my pack cover (to protect my pack while flying) home. 

I packed up and left at 10:0 am

I set off down the road northbound!

But had a last look back. 

Crossed the river

And re-entered the green tunnel. 

It was a long climb to the top of Mt Hayes (1700ft). But the views were nice. 

Then some ups and downs over Cascade Mountain (2631’). And then down to Triden Col Campsite. 

Distance. 6.9 miles

Total this LASH 6.9

Total AT 1899.5

Altitude gained 2400’

(Backup) All packed ready to go!

After a week at my mom’s in Urbana I’m all packed and ready to go. On my ULA Circuit pack I replaced the hip belt which had been chewed by mice last time and replaced the back pads worn thin after 2000 miles of wear. 

I’ve gone through everything and all the gear is ready (including Gatorade bottle as tent toilet).

I sent my bounce box and the first two supply boxes to Andover and Stratton Maine. 

The trail is waiting and my stops are mapped out. 

Tomorrow back to Gotham NH and a night the Rattle River Hostel. 

Urbana to Gorham

Up at 5:30 am to catch a 7:00 am flight to Chicago. Becky’s going with me to spend the day with a friend before going to Florida. 

Me I caught a flight to Boston and am now on a WiFi equipped bus on a nearly five hour ride to Gotham. The connection is great...Concord Coach lines picks up at right outside the arrivals of Boston-Logan. Mick our funny bus driver assured me I was on the right bus and wouldn’t even have to change. 

That’s him standing in the window. 

I called the Rattle River Hostel where I’ll be staying and they said they’d pick me up for free if the bus is not late. Otherwise it’ll be 20 bucks. 

There’s every convenience on this bus. 

All packed ready to go!

After a week at my mom’s in Urbana I’m all packed and ready to go. I replaced the hip belt which had been chewed by nice last time and replaced the back pads worn thin after 2000 miles of wear. 

I’ve gone through everything and all the gear is ready (including Gatorade bottle as tent toilet).

I sent my bounce box and the first two supply boxes to Andover and Stratton Maine. 

Getting Ready again

Only a month and a half to a new start in my final AT Lash. I’ll start where I left off... Gorham NH. 

Getting some miles in the legs.

Up on the Jura

I mixed a little water sport with hiking. I took a little course for in port maneuvers was in order (Port Camargue for the weekend) 

More to come