Leaving Maine

We got a late start this morning because I wanted to let Forest rest as long as he wanted to; he was such a champ yesterday. I had a short 5.8-mile day planned, so he wouldn't overdo it. We would be hiking through wet clouds all day. 

Today's hike began with a short climb the rest of the way up Fulling Mill Mountain (we had stopped last night just a couple of miles short of the summit), and then about a half-mile descent to Full Goose Shelter (Mile Marker 276.9). Just past the shelter, we had to navigate down a wooden ladder to continue on the Trail, which immediately began climbing again up the North and East Peaks of Goose Eye Mountain and past the side trail to the main summit. For about 3 miles, we climbed more wooden ladders, traversed a nerve-racking steep ledge, and crossed in and out of the treeline before stopping to take a break.

After our break we descended about 800 feet, and then the Trail climbed to the summit of Mt. Carlo. The path over the summit (3,565 feet) included boardwalks through alpine bogs, which meant lots of bugs. After making a quick stop to collect water, we kept moving just past the Carlo Col Shelter (Mile Marker 281.3) to the Maine/New Hampshire state line where we stopped for the night.

It felt so good to say goodbye to another state today!

1. Georgia: ✓
2. North Carolina: ✓
3. Tennessee: ✓
4. Virginia: half-✓
5. Maine: Freakin' ✓, Man!