Day: 141, 9/8/2013: Bethel, ME

9.7 miles hiked, 9.7 miles to Grafton Notch. Stayed at the Chapman Inn in Bethel, ME. Did the Mahoosuc Notch. The guide book I used says “Most difficult or fun mile of the AT. Make way through jumbled pit of boulders.” It rained the night before and sprinkled a bit in the morning so everything was wet. This made the trail harder also. The boulders range in size from a VW bus to a small 2 story house. There was no easy way to get through and I would spend 3-4 minutes at a spot trying to figure out my next move. Then I would start that direction and sometimes would have to turn around and rethink my approach. There were 3-4 sections were you actually had to take your pack off and push it through a hole under the boulders or pull it through after you. I estimate it took me around 2 hours to go this one mile. If it wasn’t so wet I possibly could have done it a little faster. It was a long damp, cool, windy day.

This photo shows one spot where you had to take your pack off to get through it on your hands and knees.