August 30, 2004

My 10 mile hike today took me through the Mahoosuc Notch, the notorious one mile section of the A.T. considered to be the most challenging mile on my 2,174 mile journey.  With me was Plainsman from Alabama, a recent college graduate from Auburn.  The Notch is a narrow gorge where we hiked through a boulder-filled obstacle course.  I learned from a former thru-hiker, a one-year a bull moose had fallen into The Notch and the hikers had to dodge the decaying moose.  Plainsman and I literally crawled on our hands and knees through narrow passageways. We scrambled over, squeezed between, and slid down boulders.  I even popped upward!  The rocks were slippery and moss covered.

Today, Plainsman and I found snow in The Notch...in August!  The temperatures were very cool below and very warm above.  I LOVED hiking through the dark, dank Mahoosuc Notch!  I felt like a Ninja Turtle playing in the cool, misty, vaporous caverns.  The one-mile section took us 1¾ hours which is considered respectable by the experts.  I suppose I have to thank my personal trainers, Jay and Todd for that!  At the end of this day's hike, I was covered head-to-toe in mud.  It was worth the fun!

My total miles hiked to date is 1,916.1.

"I have learned that love does not end, not even with death;

it continues to express itself in ways ever new." -James E. Miller