What's the toughest mile?

[terrapin_too]

Votes for the toughest mile on the AT? I'm thinking the climb (nobo) up to the ridge at South Kinsman. Though possibly it was just my state of exhaustion and mule-like pack load at the time.

[SalParadise]

you mean besides Mahoosuc?

if it's for most exhausting, I'm definitely for Sweetwater Gap, those first few hills after the Robbinsville road just south of the NOC.

[Jan LiteShoe]

Well, folks will say Mahousuuc Notch, but I loved that, had a ball there.

On the other hand, I HATED the last couple of hours approaching Dragon's Tooth - steady slight incline, sweltering and humid day in the blazing sun, dehydrated with no water on a dry ridge, rushing to catch the shuttle to the HomePlace, thunder grumbling and threatening to lash out at a lonely hiker at any second, feet ground to hamburger and hurting like fire, last one out on the ridge. I hated life, LOL.
Not technically difficult but I think that's the only day I said I hated the trail.

[SalParadise]

it's an interesting question because I think everyone's answers are going to vary not so much on difficult topography but on just how bad we were already feeling that day.

[bfitz]

The last one. I didn't want it to end. Still don't. Ever see a kid with a bunch of bruises and fear-snot dribbling from his nose grinning and crying screamin' "let's do it again!"?

[Jan LiteShoe]

it's an interesting question because I think everyone's answers are going to vary not so much on difficult topography but on just how bad we were already feeling that day.

Exactly correct.

That said, the Wlidcats are pretty tough. The day before Carter Hunt was a killer.

[TREE-HUGGER]

For me it is any where along the Barren and Chairback Range.

[MOWGLI]

Mahoosuc Arm was tough for me. But I was sick at the time.

[Kerosene]

I'll second the vote for the NOBO climb up South Kinsman (and I was fresh!), but I haven't got past Pinkham Notch yet, so the Wildcats, Mahoosuc Notch, Mahoosuc Arm, and Katahdin are still in play.

[KG4FAM]

Sawyers Notch near Andover. I was just finishing a 14 hour day to get to the Hall Mtn. lean to.

[the_iceman]

For me it is the first mile of my thru hike. I have sectioned the northern third, some in the winter, and I am sure there were times I whined. But the memories are all fond.

However that elusive first mile of my thru hike is 40 years in the making and now, after a 30-day delay, just 65 days and 23 hours away.

BTW the Mahoosuc's were a blast.

[icemanat95]

My hardest mile was the mile over the summits of Baldpate. I was at my psychological low point having spent too many days alone in cold, rainy conditions. I was in the final stretch and I was depressed and lonely. Struggling over Baldpate in the wind and rain wore me down to nothing and I decided to go home when I reached the road to Andover. Fortunately the sun came out and sense prevailed while I was sitting at the roadside eating a snack. Someone came by and asked if I wanted a ride into town. I thanked them and told them I was moving on. I got up a few minutes later and walked on. Never had second thoughts again.

Mahoosuc Arm was a hard slog, but there were a few hard slogs.

The Wildcats were a lot of hard scrambling, but that was fun. I left Pinkham Notch around 11:00 am and made it to Carter Notch Hut before dark....not much before dark, but before dark. The descent into the Notch was interesting. Looking down several hundred feet at the roof of the hut, essentially right below your feet puts an interesting feeling at the base of your spine.

[PJ 2005]

several - the first mile after i woke up and saw that it was raining.

the three miles of mosquito hell in massachussetts were all up there as well.

[Jan LiteShoe]

The Wildcats were a lot of hard scrambling, but that was fun. I left Pinkham Notch around 11:00 am and made it to Carter Notch Hut before dark....not much before dark, but before dark. The descent into the Notch was interesting. Looking down several hundred feet at the roof of the hut, essentially right below your feet puts an interesting feeling at the base of your spine.

No kidding! One of my Top Three Views on the AT. Looking down into that jumbled, epic narrow slice of a valley - "notch" is accurate - was very "Lord of the Rings-ish." It's a place I still dream of.

Steep climb out too. I plan to go back there.

[Footslogger]

My toughest mile was the climb up to Liberty Ridge (Franconia). Had a kidney stone attack and dropped into hypothermia. Dang near bought the ranch that day. If it wasn't for Firefeet and Chickflick there might be a little "RIP Footslogger" sign at the base of that hill.

Aside from that day/mile it's really hard to pick out just a single "mile" as being the toughest, especially in retrospect. Time has a funny way of softening even the steepest trail in your mind.

'Slogger

[Skyline]

Katahdin, at least there's a mile-plus in there that wiped me out. Definitely also the climb with the best rewards tho.

[Tipi Walter]

It's not a mile but north of Stecoah Gap there's a mean, short, satanic climb right before Brown Fork Gap shelter. Is this right after Sweetwater Gap going north?

[soulrebel]

Any stretch where water and food supplies are low or perhaps a ridgeline walk in a lightning storm.

Everything else was cake!

[terrapin_too]

It's not a mile but north of Stecoah Gap there's a mean, short, satanic climb right before Brown Fork Gap shelter. Is this right after Sweetwater Gap going north?

Ayup. The climb out of Sweetwater Gap. And there's no water in "Sweetwater Gap." None that I could find, anyway.

[neo]

for me it is the last mile of every section hike,because i miss the trail till i am back on it again neo