AT Day 135: Into Maine & Goose Eye Peaks

Daily Miles: 9.8, Total Miles: 1,920.5

Not a comfortable evening sweating in my tent – finally cooled early in the morning.

I almost immediately started climbing this morning to the summit of Mt Success, the southernmost peak in the Mahoosuc Range. Walked across the summit ridge on glacially smooth granite slabs, also having to cross several alpine bogs on sometimes submerged and very slippery boardwalks. I tested a few bogs with my poles – two to three feet of mud in places. Late in the morning, I crossed the NH-ME state line – my last state on the AT!

Next, a series of ascents to the Goose Eye Mountain peaks, more exposed granite slabs with spectacular views and more alpine bogs.

I got caught in an unexpected thunderstorm on top of Goose Eye North Peak.

While trying to hurry across an alpine bog in a torrential downpour, I slipped off a board and one foot completely disappeared in the thick mud. I had about one mile to get to Full Goose Shelter and it was still raining when I got there. Sopping wet, I climbed into the shelter and met two retired teachers from Michigan on a section hike. Stripped off my wet clothes and waited awhile for the rain to stop. I made the decision about 4pm to stay put. After 1,900 miles on the AT, I spent my first night inside a shelter. I couldn’t have asked for better shelter mates. They looked pretty comfy in their portable chairs but acknowledged they would leave the chairs behind in the next trail town. The rain finally eased and I walked down to a nearby spring to fill my empty water bottles.

Quite an assortment of different dinners and smells tonight but I enjoyed my chicken coconut curry. Lights out early on another warm evening – quite a few gnats and skeeters out and about.