This is the most difficult section of the Appalachian Trail, but also the most fun!
Per SummitPost: "The Notch is a fine and grueling day hike in the Mahoosuc Range, or an obstacle course encountered by people hiking the length of the range. "
If you have ever been to the Polar Caves or Lost River, you may know what it's like to squeeze between and climb around boulders. [This is NOT for overweight guys.] This is on every serious hiker's 'to do" list. The hike includes climbing up Mahoosuc Arm and visiting Speck Pond.
Please leave your trekking poles behind for this hike. They will get in the way when crawling through the boulders and slowing the group down.
Distance: We'll follow the Notch Trail for 2.0 miles at easy grades to the southwest end of Mahooscuc Notch, providing the easiest access to that wild and beautiful place. We then follow the Mahooscuc Notch Trail for 3.6 miles hiking through the narrow notch along a rough footway, passing through a number of boulder caverns, some with narrow openings where progress will be slow and where ice remains into summer. We return back to the spotted cars for 3.6 miles on the Speck Pond Trail. This loop is 9.2 miles.
Time: 9 hours
Elevation Gain: 2,300 feet
This is NOT a dog-friendly hike.
Hike description and other info available at Summt Post.
Carpooling: We can carpool from Moose Brook State Park Campground.
Cell Phone #: Will be provided to participants in an email.
After The Hike: Everybody is on their own for dinner but we can meetup at our campsite for campfires and fellowship.
Weekend Camping Option: Join us for weekend camping with us at Moose Brook State Park Campground for both Friday and Saturday night at $25 each night. We will be at # P6. >>Click Here To Reserve Your Campsite
Event Coordinators: Mike Boisvert and Jon Normand
We are meeting at the Speck Pond Trail to spot cars. Take Route 16 North from Gorham, NH. Take a right onto Route 16 Truck Route (Unity Street). This will become Coos Street, then Hutchins Street. Take a right onto a road with a brown OHRV sign (Success Pond Road). Head up this dirt road for around 11.4 miles. Take right fork of the road [marked by "Speck Mt. Trail, Rt. 26" painted on a boulder], and continue 0.8 mile to the trailhead [sign]. There is parking on the left just beyond the trailhead, opposite the entrance to Speck Pond Road. We are driving a blue FJ Cruiser.
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Driving directions to the location and spot to meet at:
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