Made it to Maine - Stratton, ME Mile 1,933

We made it to our 14th and final state, Maine, on August 11th. It's wild and beautiful, with lots of ponds and lakes, and very tough terrain still. We passed through Mahoosuc Notch, a mile long section of jumbled rocks and boulders called the toughest mile on the AT. I don't know if it's the toughest, but it certainly was slow going, under and over huge boulders.
We had several days of rain that turned the trails to swamps and dampened our gear and spirits and hid great views on Saddleback and Sugarloaf mountains. Now we are drying out in Stratton, ME.

 Indian Pipes

 Leaving NH, on a rainy day

The state border between NH and Maine

Goose Eye Mtn, East Peak

Goose Eye Mtn, looking toward Old Speck, which we climb the next day.

Mahoosuc Notch, 'The toughest mile on the AT'

 Over and under large jumbled boulders in Mahoosuc Notch

 We prefer climbing over to crawling under boulders

Making our way slowly through Mahoosuc Notch

 Looking back on South Baldpate from North Baldpate

 Early morning on North Baldpate

First hikers of the day on North Baldpate, looking at the valley fog below

 Not a stream, unfortunately... that's our trail after 2 and a half days of rain.

Foggy views, but improving, coming down from Sugarloaf Mtn

 Drying out our gear at our motel in Stratton, ME

3 Bear motel