August 4th, 2018, Maine
It was very cool and steadily raining when I woke up—still alone in the shelter. Based on the weather report I saw yesterday, I expected the rain the start tapering off toward mid day and hopefully be finished by nightfall tonight. After breakfast it was still coming down so I stayed in the shelter reviewing the options for the next few days of hiking.
Coming up is what may be among the more challenging sections on the trail, Mahoosuc Arm and Mahoosuc Notch, which involve descending a long boulder-filled, rocky section. Then the Notch climbs over and through a boulder field with a few tunnels that require a crawl while pushing or dragging your pack. Everyone says to do these sections on a dry day.
As I waited in the shelter a NOBOs called Giant (skinny and maybe 6’6”?) stopped in for a break. He is an Arizona State student hiking the trail during his summer break. He started after his last final exam and will arrive back on his first day of class. Then the two NOBO hikers, a man from Cincinnati and a lady from Los Angeles, who tented near the shelter last night came in to finish packing up. The rain continued harder again and they decided to sit and wait for it to break.
The rain slowed and then stopped at noon. I was packed up already and headed straight out. After all the rain the trail was full of puddles and was even a running stream itself for much of the hike.
On the positive side, once your feet get soaked there is no longer any reason to avoid the puddles. You can proceed at higher speed, and safer, without hopping from rock to rock avoiding puddles. My main goal today was to avoid any falls so that I can start Mahoosuc Arm and Mahoosuc Notch in good shape and in drier weather tomorrow.
It was quite a slow climb in the rain to the top of Baldpate Mountain. Even without views it is beautiful hiking in the mist and clouds.
On the way down the mountain I passed a sign for a view described (by the sign itself) as “extraordinary.” That was tempting, but it was rainy and cloudy and it would have been a mile round trip. So no extraordinary view for me today.
As I reached the bottom of the valley there was a road crossing and the weather started to break. The clouds cleared and the late afternoon turned sunny.
On the other side of the road it was another climb alongside a rushing river cascading down the mountain. I climbed for another hour or so and found a place to “stealth camp.” Stealth sites are just little areas suitable for a tent or hammock off the trail—not official sites listed as shelters or camp sites. Sometimes these are nice for the privacy and quiet they provide.
I only hiked about 8 miles today but, given the late start and success at avoiding slips or falls, I was happy with the progress.