2005 MAINE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

BACKPACK ANDOVER, ME TO GORHAM, NH

On September 6 Barry Nelson and Dan McQueen drove 666 miles to Gorham, New Hampshire where we met Andy Buttles. We shuttled to Andover, Maine where we started backpacking the next day for 4 days covering 41.1 trail miles and climbing 15,000 feet on the Appalachian Trail. We covered some of the toughest hiking on the entire AT passing through the Mahoosic Notch. We had cool nights down to 41o and warm days ranging from the 60s to the 80s with no rain. We crossed several high peaks and ridgelines with spectacular vistas in every direction. My go light equipment (25 pound pack) including the alcohol stove, tent, and food worked to perfection. The hike went very well despite the difficult terrain and hard work.

September 7, 2005 Wednesday Drive Columbia, MD to Gorham,NH

Got up at 4:30 and had breakfast orange juice, banana, oatmeal, toast with butter and raspberry jam and chocolate milk.

At 5:10 drove across Columbia to pick up Barry. At 5:23 we drove north on US-29, I-70 east, I-695 east, I-83 north, I-81 north, I-84 east, I-91 north, US-302 east, NH-115 northeast and US-2 to Gorham, New Hampshire 666.4 miles at 4:50. We stopped at Turkey Hill for 9.3 gallons of gas at $31.75 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. Paid a toll with my EZ Pass crossing the Hudson River on I-84 in New York. Stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Holyoke, Massachusetts for chicken, dumplings, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits and ice tea for $13.00 including tip.

We checked into room 30 at the Northern Peaks Motel 803 486-2288 in Gorham for $75.90 for 3 people which Barry charged. At 5:00 I drove from the motel and stopped for 12.4 gallons of gas for $41.07 at the Mobile. I drove south on NH-16 to Pinkham Notch visitors center to pick up Andy Buttles who had been backpacking for 3 days. We returned to Gorham and turned right on US-2 about 5 miles to where the Appalachian Trail crosses US-2 to pick up Andy’s 1983 Camaro. I returned to the motel at 5:58 having driven 38.3 miles.

We walked about ½ mile to Mr Pizza for supper. I had haddock, baked potato, slaw and ice tea for $16.43 including tip.

September 8, 2005 Thursday Backpack East B Hill Rd - Baldpate Lean-to

Got up at 5:35 and drove about a mile to the Quick Lube Diner for breakfast in 45o. I had eggs, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice and milk for $7.43 including tip. Packed our gear in my 1996 Mazda 626.

Drove from the motel about 7:15 and dropped Andy’s car in the parking lot where we picked it up yesterday. Drove on east on US-2

to Hanover, Maine where we turned north on ME-5 to Andover. We turned left on East B Hill Road for about 8 miles to where the Appalachian Trail crosses it. I parked my car in the small lot and we put on our backpacks.

We started backpacking south on the AT at 8:28 stopping briefly to talk to a young redhaired lady trying to catch a ride into Andover. We soon passed a large group of young people breaking camp, probably though hikers. In 8/10 mile we came to Dunn Notch Falls a pretty little rocky gorge. After a couple of small rolling hills we started a long climb. It is hot at 76o with no appreciable air movement. We passed Frye Notch Lean-to 2280’ after 4.5 miles. Another big climb to Baldpate Mountain east peak 3810’ where we stopped for lunch at a trail junction. I had two tortillas, Ό pound of cheddar cheese, salsa and three Oreo cookies.

The terrain is a more rugged as we continue over Baldpate Mountain west peak 3662’. We arrive at the Baldpate Lean-to .1 mile off the AT at 2:21 and set up camp in the woods on three nice spots separated by trees. We hiked 8.1 miles in 5:53 averaging 1.37 miles per hour climbing 3660’ while descending 2420’ in 4 climbs.

I set up my roomy green and black 24 ounce Six Moon Designs tent with one of my hiking poles and six titanium tent stakes. Using my .2 ounce aluminum can alcohol stove I boiled a liter of water with 1.5 ounces of Heet (dry gas) as I drank two cups of peach ice tea. I drank two cups each of vegetable soup, chicken bouillon and hot chocolate. I washed up (no soap) and rinsed my clothes in the stream and hung them to dry. I cooked dehydrated noodles Alfredo and chicken for supper with a cup of pistachio pudding. I hung Barry and my food in a tree about 15’ up and 4’ from the trunk to protect it from bears and other critters. It started getting dark at 7:00 and was very dark by 7:30. I did my chores inside the tent and read my Bible before turning in about 8:10.

September 9, 2005 Friday Backpack Baldpate Lean-to to Full Goose Shelter

Got up at 5:44 in the dim gray light in 48o. Boiled water for two packets of instant peach oatmeal and 16 oz. of tea as I packed up and took down my tent. There is a bit of anticipation in us as today we are going through the famed Mahoosic Notch touted as the toughest mile on the entire 2150 mile Appalachian Trail. We are slightly apprehensive but also excited.

We were ready to go and started hiking at 7:10. We crossed ME-26 in Grafton Notch 1495’ after 1.1 miles. Climbing 3.5 miles we

came to the Old Speck Trail intersection 3985’ and .9 mile later the Speck Pond Trail in 64o. We kick up some quail. We stop for lunch and I have two tortillas with cheddar cheese and salsa and 3 Oreo cookies. We climb back up to Mahoosic Arm at 3770’ before descending to the east end of the Mahoosic Notch 2150’. Descending we stop to talk to a young hiker from Rhode Island wearing a kilt.

It is a hard hike into the Notch but we are ready. The Notch is exactly that, a narrow steep sided stream bed piled high with huge boulders. What seemed more than a mile we squeezed under, scrambled over and scrambled around boulders trying to find a feasible route through the jumbled maze of rocks. There were scary times inching around a narrow ledge, jumping over deep chasms while

maintaining ones balance and getting wedged under a boulder with one leg dangling in air and having to be extracted by Andy. It took a long time to get through the Notch and then as we celebrated our passage we entered a continuation of the Notch. The next time we were dubious and sure enough we entered another section. We were finally through it all at the Mahoosic Notch Trail and were exhilarated despite facing another tough climb today.

We starting up about 1200’ for .5 miles talking about the Notch as we summited the south peak of Fulling Mill Mountain 3395’ descending slightly and then over the north peak. Again we descended to Full Goose Shelter and Camp located at 44o 31.451 N by 70o 58.658 W elevation 3000’ at 4:29. Today we hiked 12 miles in 9:19 hours averaging 1.30 mph climbing 4850’ while descending 4600’ in 4 climbs.

I set up my tent and started my rehydration process by boiling a liter of water and drinking it with chicken bouillon, soup and hot chocolate. I also had 16 oz. of cold peach ice tea. My routine also included a sponge bath with the cold spring water in my water bag. I ate supper of instant mashed potatoes with butter and dehydrated ham topped with 8 oz. of vanilla pudding. Hanging the food bags on a line in the trees is always exciting. It gets dark early in the mountains in the fall so I was in my tent and sleeping bag by 8:00. After a short reading of my Bible and prayers I was fast asleep.

September 10, 2005 Saturday Backpack Fullgoose Shelter to Gentian Pond

Got up at 5:47 in 41o. Boiled water for two banana oatmeal packets and tea as I packed up and took down my tent.

We hiked from camp at 6:56. We climbed a mile up the north peak of Goose Bye Mountain. The top was a large rock dome with very good vistas. We dipped down then up to the east peak 3790’ mostly on solid rock with no trees over 1.2 miles. Again we went down then up in 1.8 miles to Mt Carlo 3595’ and on to the Carlo Col Trail and shelter. We stopped for an early lunch of two tortillas with cheddar cheese and salsa and 3 cookies. The trail is quite rugged and we had some interesting scrambles over obstacles but nothing as extensive as Mahoosic Notch. We arrived at the Maine-New Hampshire border 2972’ in 60o to find a large group of young through hikers. They were interested in our thoughts of Maine. We climbed over Mt Success 3565’ (probably named so because we finished Maine) and down to Gentian Pond camp 2165’ at 44o 27.116 N by 71o 04.142 W at 1:54. We hiked 9.6 miles in 6:58 hours averaging 1.38 mph climbing 3530’ while descending 4362’ in 6 climbs.

Set up my tent and washed up in a cool breeze. It was a little cold. Went through my usual rehydration process and read some before supper of noodles and clams with a cup of butterscotch pudding. It was very relaxing lounging around for a few hours near the bucolic pond. The older lady we passed this morning going in the opposit direction came in and occupied the large tent set up in the woods behind my tent. Again it was early to bed and fast asleep.

September 11, 2005 Sunday Backpack Gentian Pond to US-2

Got up at 5:55 in 48o. Packed up and ate two peach oatmeal packets with tea.

We hiked from Gentian Pond 2165’ at 7:03 over a small ridge passing Moss Pond .7 mile later. A mile and a half later we stopped on a large flat rock on Dream Lake to fill our water bottles and take some pictures. We passed Trident Col tent site 2000’ and then had an easy 1.2 mile climb up Cascade Mountain 2631’ where we stopped for lunch.

We crossed a brook after 4.3 miles and came upon another kilted hiker, this one from Ohio. In over 15 years of hiking I had never seen a kilted hiker before and now I have seen two in 3 days. It must be a new trend. The terrain is much easier now and we are headed in as we cross the Androscoggin River 750’ and go up about a quarter mile to US-2 in a hot 80o at 1:40. We hiked 11.5 miles in 6:37 hours averaging 1.74 mph climbing 2920’ while descending 4220’ in 4 climbs.

Andy’s Camaro was still there and after some arranging to fit us and our packs in the car it started and we were off for the East B Hill Road outside Andover, Maine. We arrived at my car at 2:48 and Andy took off for Vermont. Barry and I drove back to Gorham, New Hampshire.

We checked into room 21 of the Northern Peaks Motel phone 603 466-2288 for $60.48. We had a good conversation with the two ladies running the motel then continued outside with a hiker from New Orleans (escaping Katrina) and a group of Trinidadians on vacation (couldn’t understand why they were vacationing in Gorham , New Hampshire). We iced some beer and drank it as we cleaned up. Walked to J’s Corner for supper of shrimp, scallops, fish, potatoes, green beans and ice cream for $27.13. Went to bed early but found it hard to sleep in the warm soft bed.

September 12, 2005 Tuesday Drive Gorham, NH to Columbia, MD

Got up at 5:13 and hit the road at 5:25. We retraced our route back to Columbia. We stopped for breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in Holyoke, Massachusetts. I had sausage, eggs, potatoes, biscuits, orange juice and milk for $13.26 including tip. Stopped at a Mobile in Fishkill, New York for 12.6 gallons of gas at $41.26. Stopped at a Crown station in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania topping the tank with 7.2 gallons of gas for $21.00. Stopped in the Cracker Barrel next door for chicken, dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, biscuits and ice tea for $14.13 including tip. Continued on home arriving in Columbia, Maryland at 6:21 having driven 662.8 miles in 13:08 hours averaging 50.5 miles per hour.