Southern Maine was not a joke

Everyone always talks about how challenging are the white mountains in New Hampshire. Whether it is the physical or logistics challenges they bring, they are always the talk of the road in terms of difficulty. But everyone does not mention how difficult the mountains are still just on the other side of the status line. Surely I didn’t realize how hard the south of Maine would be.

My expectations

In my head, Maine was supposed to be flat. They had told me before about how incredible the path is in Maine, since weave the beautiful lakes all day. They had also told me that the path is resistant, of roots and rocky. But they had never told me how steep it would be. Then, with the information I had, I put together the idea that the path in Maine would be slower but even more flat, as a reward at the end of the long trip. Well, I was very wrong about it.

How is the path really

The path on southern Maine is not flat. Actually, it is home to some of the most pronounced rock slabs and drawings that I have seen throughout the path. While Maine lacks the alpine areas and above the endless treuline (and, therefore, dangerous), which has NH, does not lack the inclination. (And it has some beautiful alpine areas of its own drugs). But now, instead of raising the paths created deliberately, but steep, which had previously walked in the whites. Southern Maine is the home of rock slabs that simply go directly. While they are enthusiastic under my shoes, they still scare.

Mahosuc notch

The notch is considered one of the most challenging miles in the AT, but I loved it. It was like climbing through a rock jungle gym. While it took me about an hour to cover a mile, I had a great time while I did. I was able to explore caves and make dangerous jumps between rocks to navigate through the interesting rock fields.

The rest of the south of Maine

After Mahosuc Notch comes the Saddleback and the Bigelow mountain range. These are more rocky mountains and Maine Slaty that are continuously challenging to go up and down. Once again, they frustrated me when the escalation and offspring was difficult and slow. But I was rewarded by beautiful alpine views from the top of these mountains. I loved looking back in the previous mountains that I completed and walking through the alpine meadows and swamp bridges.

The intermediate

After the greats, Maine flattens considerably. While the path is still hard, covered with rocks and roots, its degree is relatively flat, so my rhythm can increase significantly. I could also hit some incredible attractions of Maine, especially the Pierce Pond de Harrison, home of the best breakfast at the AT. I camped to an inclination to less than one mile of the hunting shelter and in the morning I walked for a fantastic pancake breakfast. After that, I only had a few short and flat days to get to the Shaw’s Hiker shelter.

What follows?

Soon I will start the desert of the hundred miles, which will be my last tranco of path before introducing Katahdin. I already made the plans and I will be finished with the path in seven days. On the one hand, it is great to be so close that the goal is literally in sight. But I can’t help feeling sad because the good times of the path are coming to an end. The path is such a special place with its own community and lifestyle. It is something that is difficult to leave. The simplicity of walking every day and hanging out in the forest with my friends is wonderful. But I know that must soon come to an end. Even more important, I know that the path has given me experiences and lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. While the end can be close, I had to enjoy and enjoy until the last second that I have on the road, because I don’t know when I can take an adventure like this again.

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