Summary:
05:11 I can’t believe that I will be waking up at that hour, but yes, I am rising from my hammock on platform number 2 at Bull Run Campsite. During the warm night I woke up in complete darkness 2 times and then one more time at 03:05AM with moonlight making contrast spots and shadows everywhere. It was a quiet night, but at one point something heavy fell on the ground – a branch or a tree. This time the wake-up call came from angry cracking sounds of squirrels.
05:22 Very slowly, part-by-part I am emerging from the hammock, one leg at a time.
05:44 the platform is convenient, but don’t place anything directly on the boards. They are covered in sap. When I walk, the soles of my sandals stick to the boards. To sort things out I use spruce branches as an insulator from sap.
06:54 start the hike up the Speck mountain
07:41 hiked 0.73 mi – elev. 3363′ – I am sitting on the ground in a gorgeous setting. The forest is light and airy. Bug are a few. The road ahead is clear and unambiguous. Every step of the way is littered with
08:59 – hiked 1.86 mi – elev. 4215 – I am on top of the watch tower at Old Speck Mountain. I climbed up here to have breakfast and a session of Duolingo. The signal is not very strong, but just enough. It took about an hour for black flies to discover me here up top. The breakfast is plentiful with seeds, nuts, dry fruits and water still from home.
10:49 Finally, I chased out by clouds of flack flies, and I ran away to the next destination. Here I encountered my first hiker in 2 days.
10:56 – 11:12 hiked 2.11 mi – elev. 4091I am on AT. Only now my water from home ended, so I would plan to replenish. I would use AT to go down the mountain towards shelter and Speck Pond.
The hike down is fantastic here. You can see far ahead where you are going and if you turn around, you can see grandiose mountain you are descending from. On two previous occasions I was going up in the opposite direction and only saw the mountain ahead of me.
12:14 I can see the waters of Spec Pond. I will go to the left around the pond I will not walk near the shelter.
12:29 – 12:54 hiked3.33 mi – elev. 3423 – take a swim at Speck Pond near the water outlet. I filter about a liter of water as I run out.
13:15 A nice and confident climb up. As I climb to Mahoosuc Arm (local mountain) I can see the Speck Mountain and with significant amplification the tower where I was this morning
13:27 – 13:38 hiked 3.93 mi – elev. 3774 – I forget to tun on the GPC recording for a 0.6 mi section between Speck Pond and Mahoosuc Arm.
Now begins a very steep hike down. I need to descend 1500′ in one mile. It is 16° incline or 28.4% grade. I just learned that these are two different things.
Hike from the heights of Mahoosuc Arm sharply down to Mahoosuc Mile.
14:40 I lost the plastic cap cover from a tracking pole but was able to retrace my steps and recover and re-attach it. A touching moment. Without this cap, the walking stick gets through the ground and doesn’t provide any support.
Meet a few more hikers including two through hikers.
14:55 -15:25 hiked 4.91 mi – elev. 2437 – Ok. The very steep decline is over. I took a second swim in a familiar brook at a familiar spot from my visit in May 2022. I remember that water here is crystal clear and plus I am not far from the camp for tonight. So I filled my 3-liter bladder with fresh cold water and carried it down the trail. Bladder in one hand and one trekking pole in the other. It was rather uncomfortable.
15:47 I’ve reached an unofficial camp site that is nevertheless marked on FarOut APP. Drop the backpack and walking sticks to mark the territory.
15:50 With almost no break I go down to the river to start exploring the area around. Sharply down there are a few more camping spots and I can also see a trail marked with pink ribbons that crosses the river and goes in a right direction towards Bull Branch Rd. Excellent! This is a good find for tomorrow. But today I still want to go up and down the Mahoosuc Mile. Using the same pink ribbon marks I go along the river back to AT and
16:06 I am entering the notch. The interesting thing is that river turns into a Mahoosuc Mile with only traces of water visible. Sometimes you can hear the water, but it is as if water goes somewhere else. I have time to track the entire Mahoosuc mile up and down and return to the camp.
16:31 I see first traces of ice and show, and in some areas, you must step onto the snow to advance on the trail. It is a treacherous hike with steep walls on both sides, huge boulders to climb either over or sometimes under, snow, ice and no end in sight. Additionally you would go through intermingled cold and hot section of the trail where at one place you would shiver and another – sweat. And the trail goes up in southbound direction.
17:21 – 17:25 finally, oh finally, I arrive at the south-west (upper) terminus of Mahoosuc Mile. It was tough, it was dangerous, and it is getting late. But there is no time to relax. I need to start scrambling back right away. This time it will go imperceptibly down.
Going back is much easier mentally as you are going “home” towards the camp. On the way back I mentally marked sections as trail constantly changes. I named 30 different sections but now I remember only a few: 1 – entrance, 2 – step into snow, 3 – take a break, 4 – narrow uneventful, 5 – west gray great wall, 6 – arc that can be avoided, 7 – east sheer cliff with overhangs, 8 – take a break (normal trail), 9 – cold and stone prison, 14 15 – arches, 18 – take a break by the side, 19 – hopping from boulder to boulder, 22 – ice shawl, 24 – avoid the giant boulder
18:23 unexpectedly for myself I exited the Mahoosuc mile with my legs still intact. The exit marked with a sudden surprisingly flat section – maybe 30 yards, almost like a road with bright green Skunk cabbage decorating the “sidewalks”. Now I crosse the Mahoosuc mile 6 times in 2017, 3 times in 2022 and 2 times in 2026.
18:38 I arrive back at the camp for tonight. Hiked today 7.19 mi in almost 12H. I will remain here and will not move down to a more adventurous spot near the river that I discovered earlier. Again, I am completely alone in the forest.
The camping stop here is large flat and convenient with enough room for about 6-8 tents.
19:43 the hammock is set. The water is boiling. In the pot Good-to-go Mushroom Risotto with added olive oil, grape nuts and a nut mix.
19:54 I must use a mosquito net – the black flies are unrelenting. I am completely clothed, even gloves, but it is a warm evening.
20:08 boil the third helping of tea. I am wearing a mosquito net even when I am eating and drinking.
21:07 finally I am in my hammock. Sent a satellite message to Lira. It is warm and quiet in the forest tonight. No one around. Abd for the whole day I met only 7 people in 5 groups. There is at least one black fly inside the hammock. Ok. I’ve got them both with one finger.
21:31 I am in comfortable position to write with a big lump of clothes under my head.
21:44 ear plugs in, starting to cuddle into my bag – time to go to sleep. It was a long 16H day.
Navigate through the List
- 01 2026-06 Preparation for a third trip (2026/06/02)
- 02 2026-06-03 WE - Private Mile Notch Rd. to Grafton Loop Trail (2026/06/03)
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