Started today with leftover pizza. The shuttle from the hostel (friend of the owner with a station wagon) got us back on the trail around 7:30. Weather was good for the first part of the day and we had good views from Baldpate Mountain.
Around mid-day, we came down to Grafton Notch. There we met Soda Mike, who is a park ranger and trail angel. He gave us some peanut butter cracker packets and some root beer. It was a nice treat and helped power us up Old Spec Mountain.
Old Speck Mountain is just over 4000 feet. The climb was steady. The rain started fairly early into the walk up the mountain. It was cooling so not necessarily a bad thing, though we are bummed to have wet shoes for tomorrow. It was the third time that we have encountered hail on the trail.
The walk down Old Speck Mountain to Speck Pond was over ledge slabs that were fairly steep which made it difficult, only to be compounded by the rain.
After we had arrived at the shelter, a couple of other south bounders showed up that we had presumed passed us. Nice to have their company this evening.
Tomorrow we hike through Mahoosic Notch. The guidebook says it is either the most difficult or the most fun single mile of the trail.
Daily Distance: 14.9
Trip Distance: 271.7
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