Climbing to the Big M (Mahoosuc Notch)

The Fat Man’s bucket list includes climbing Mahoosuc Notch in Maine, which many declare is the “toughest mile” on the Appalachian Trail. 

Getting there is half the battle because it is tricky to find.  We took 16 North from Conway to the 16 Truck at Berlin.  You cross over the Androscoggin River and veer right onto Success Pond Road.

Success Pond Road

This is a logging road that is very bumpy and isolated so make sure that your tires and car are in good shape because there was no cell phone service.  

Logs on Success Pond Road

Zero your odometer at the start and drive approximately 11 miles.  You will pass numerous brooks and several other trailheads.  Early on the road we saw a moose, but by the time I got my camera out, it was gone. 

The Fat Man was concerned about the stability of the two wooden bridges so we opted to park by the big stones and walk across them.

One of two old bridges

We parked here

We entered the Notch Trail, which is a 2.2-mile woods trail (2.5 miles one way from Success Pond Road). 

Notch Trailhead

Start of the trail

You will see an occasional blue blaze, but the trail is not well marked.  

We had to cross the stream back and forth several times, which I would have missed.  

Streams on the Notch trail

Fortunately the Fat Man is excellent at staying on the right path.

The trail also includes multiple “balance beam” bog boards, but at times you cannot avoid the “pudding” (wet mud). 

Look for interesting fungi along the way.

The fall colors were beautiful.  The leaves looked like road poppies.

It is really a “Lucky Charms” trail because with all the green moss you expect to see gnomes or elves.

We also saw moose dung and moose prints, but unfortunately no moose.  But we did hear some angry red squirrels.

Watch out for moose poop!

Moose footprint

The trail gently ascended, but the Fat Man warned me that we would have a significant ascent at some point (elevation is around 2,460 feet).  When we reached the intersection with the Appalachian Trail, we were surprised that we actually had to hike down to Mahoosuc Notch.

Trail intersection

As expected, there were giant boulders, caverns, and caves. 

Mahoosuc Notch

We climbed a little bit to a flat place to have lunch.  The rocks were cold and damp and the air was about 10 degrees colder than on the trail.

Lunch spot

The Fat Man was ecstatic just to see the Notch.  He will come back again with his hiking buddies to climb it completely.

I don’t like heights and there is little margin for error on the Notch, especially across boulders that are moss-covered and slippery.  They look small in pictures, but are quite massive with large spaces in between. 

The night before our hike I started listening to a self-hypnosis tape to overcome my acrophobia, but I will need about 6 months of listening to it before I attempt Mahoosuc Notch.

Heidi’s rating: ★★★★ Loved listening to the stream on most of the trail and the beautiful green moss

The Fat Man’s rating: 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Postscript: A little less than a year later, the Fat Man and 5 friends attempted the Notch after some rain.  Three never made it at all (one had angina and his sister kept him company; the other was too exhausted just getting there).  The skinniest and most athletic couple abandoned the trail midway.  The Fat Man got about 100 feet, but slipped and fell about 4 feet (I warned him that the Notch must be bone dry)!  His head wounds were deep enough that it required a trip to the hospital and glue stitching.  Undaunted, he vows to return (with new grippy shoes) to reclaim his soul.  

Ouch! One of the Fat Man's two gaping holes.