Knee Deep in the Mud

September 6
Gorham NH, to Monson, ME

All of the sudden, it is wet. The ground was muddy, the rocks were slippery, and the roots were bare of bark and without texture. Stepping on one meant an instant seat, in the mud, or on a sharp rock.

Goose eye mountain, of course, was blanketed in clouds. Ladybird and I approached a mud pit on a bog bridge. seeing a plank six or so feet away, I decided to jump for it. With one foot back, and my right foot on the edge of the plank, I threw my body forward. Limbs flailed as I flew forward. I reached out with my feet, and hit the plank. Panic struck as I started to slide. My arms went into a frantic windmill trying to maintain balance as I slid on a thin film of mud. Then one foot lifted up. Then the other, as my momentum changed from forward to upward. Now parallel to the ground, I rotated 180 degrees, now facing downward. Then the mud approached. My right leg hit first, then my right trekking pole, 12 feet away. I was helpless to stop as my right leg buried itself to the thigh in cold mud. Then my right arm did the same and my face ended up inches from the surface.

After recovering I was back on the bog bridge. Lady bird walked effortlessly atop what I had jumped. Convinced that the bog bridges hid a mere inch below the surface of the mud I walked fearlessly forward, sinking up to my left thigh.

Then there was Mahoosuc Notch. Often described as “the hardest mile on the Appalachian Trail,” Mahoosuc Notch is a mile long stretch of trail... rout, a jumble of rocks, through which hikers climb and tunnel. It can take up to five hours for some hikers to travel the distance, but typically takes about two. Due to the recent rain, Ladybird and I were cautious. I still managed to draw blood from my right shin.

There are so many attractions in Southern Maine. It is an underrated section of trail. There is Spec Lake, the highest lake in Maine. Spec Mountain has a lookout tower and spectacular views. The Baldpates are, well, bald domes of granite, devoid of plant life in convenient locations for holding on the decent. When wet, these peaks are extraordinarily slippery.



Maine is also home to countless lakes and ponds, which offer excellent swimming. There have not been so many opportunities for swimming since Virginia. However, the cooling weather dissuaded me from swimming as often as I would have liked.

I can see returning to Southern Maine.