August 3 - Mahoosuc Notch

Post date: Aug 5, 2012 3:50:16 PM

The AT Guide describes it as the "most difficult or fun mile of the AT". The Mahoosuc Notch is a narrow ravine situated between the vertical cliffs of Fulling Mill Mountain and the Southern Peak of Mahoosuc Mountain formed by glacier activity. The Notch is a one mile long pit of large boulders which requires hikers to climb over, under, squeeze through and jump from boulder to boulder. The trail also weaves in and out of several caves. In the best conditions hikers can take two hours to traverse this one mile.

"Five Pair" and "Dos" were just six miles from the Notch and after the up and down hike of the three peaks of Goose Eye Mountain, the hikers arrived:

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While the challenges were present and likely more difficult for a smaller height hiker, the hikers made their way carefully through the Notch until the skies opened and the rain began to pour down. The hikers found cover in the form of a cave and waited for the rain to pass knowing that the boulder surfaces made slippery by rain would be made more difficult.

The rain passed and the hikers set out again and carefully completed the Notch with a minimum of falls.

Given the rain and the forecast for the next day being sunny in the morning, the hikers called it a day at a campsite just north of the Notch and at the base of the challenge for tomorrow, the Mahoosuc Arm.

1910.1 miles complete/274.1 miles to go.