Bruce,

I have enjoyed the e-mails about the Gonzos and I read them all.

Surprise. I hiked through Mahoosuc Notch yesterday, September 2, with a hiking friend of mine who also hiked with me to Davis Pond this summer in late July. We hiked to Davis Pond from Russell Pond Campground as a day hike. We had backpacked into Russell Pond to use Russell Pond as a base camp for day hiking. We also went to spectacular Wassataquoik Lake and canoed its length and went to Greene Falls. We also hiked to Grand Falls of the Wassataquoik. My hiking partner had never been to these places. I had hiked into all of these places at about age 21 the first time and I have repeated that trek many a time since.

My mother passed away at age 91 and a memorial service will be held on September 8 in Bangor. She died in Connecticut and her remains will be cremated tomorrow. I do not weep for her passing as she was deaf, had macular degeneration that had greatly progressed, had some speech difficulty from a stroke five or more years ago and her mind faded in and out. Mother was a terrific mother, highly ethical and a super human being. I will miss her, but her time had come and she died without pain.

Enjoy your trip into Baxter State Park. I think of it as heaven on earth. I hiked to Baxter Peak for the 53rd consecutive year on August 2. It was hot and Tom Higgins and I hiked the Abol Trail--by far my least favorite.

Milt