Southern Maine

Bluegrass, Squirrel, Wolfpack and I crossed into Maine on Friday. The final state! I wish I could say the hiking got easier but like the last 200 miles, more tough days.
It's been difficult to estimate our distance in these hills. Most mountains have sections requiring hand over hand scrambling up or down near vertical rock faces. At one time is was easy to assume that I could average over two miles an hour thru moderate terrains. Now, thru certain sections we average 1/4 mile an hour. Ever since northern Vermont the mountains have been extremely difficult. After finishing the White Mts. I was under the impression things would get a little easier....I was wrong. The Northern Maine terrain requires slow and deliberate moves. A 16 mile day from Gentian Pond Shelter, up Mt. Success, across the Maine border, up Goose Eye West and East Peak, down into the Mahoosuc Notch, straight up Mahoosic Arm, then a night hike to the peak of Old Speck Mt. took us 13 1/2 hours.
The Mahoosuc Notch is regarded as the "toughest or most fun mile" on the A.T. I wouldn't agree with either statement but it was interesting trekking thru the boulder strewn notch with vertical walls rising a thousand feet on either side. We hopped from rock to boulder, squeezed thru tight openings and crawled underneath gigantic rocks. As we carefully made our way thru the boulder field we felt the cold air escaping from caves below. We heard a stream running underneath us but couldn't see it. I found sheets of ice still holding strong in the deeper holes.
We made camp well after dark that night. We were rewarded with rare views from Old Spec the next morning. After waking up on the peak, the sun burnt thru the cloud resting over us revealing a blanket of clouds beneath us, covering all the lower peaks.
As always, the days on the trail are long and difficult but always rewarding and beautiful. Our days are numbered though. With over 1900 miles completed we have 16 days until projected summit of Katahdin.