Appalachian Trail (day 85) - Full Goose Campsite to Bethel Village Motel / mile 1931

One of the days I couldn't plan for so I just rolled with the punches.

Early start with the "hardest and most fun mile on Appalachian Trail" just behind the corner. Mahoosuc Notch is a one mile long boulder field that requires you to put away your trekking poles and use your hands and legs extensively to weave your way through it in a problem solving fashion.
"The exact origins of the word Mahoosuc are unknown. One possibility is that it comes from the Abenaki phrase meaning “abode of hungry animals”. It is also plausible that the name corresponds to the Massachusett for “mountain peak”.

It took me just over an hour to solve the puzzle and it was indeed fun despite the wet conditions. Shortly after it started to rain again. I've climbed over the Mahoosuc Arm and carried on along, weather was getting worse by the minute, temperature was low and it made my muscles stiff. Trail was exposed, rugged and steep.

At midday I've arrived at the Grafton Notch trailhead, cold, tired and not quite sure if I should carry on. Downpour continued, I've got approached by Pastor Candice, it was her outpost and she was making sure that hikers are taken care of. She asked me what my plans were, initially I wanted to hike another seven miles to a shelter but in this weather it was risky and pretty reckless. I've asked her if she could give me a ride to Bethel, trail village located 20 miles away in Maine and she said yes.

Pastor dropped me off by Bethel Village Motel, it was 75$ a night, not cheap but I felt like staying here tonight was a reasonable choice. Treadmill, Rainbow and several other hikers made the same decision. Pastor Candice promised to pick us up tomorrow at 6 AM and drove off to scout the trailhead for other hikers in need.

I've spread all my wet gear throughout the room to dry, had a walk around the village and bought whole roast chicken for dinner and breakfast. I've relaxed for the rest of the evening, watched Braveheart and Gladiator on TV (yes they've been playing one right after the other). 

I felt kind of bad that I finished hiking so early but also though that I made a right, tactical decision. I wasn't in a hurry anymore, finishing the AT was my main priority at this point and I've heard too many horror stories from people getting injured towards the end of it.

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