1-The Unexpected. It's one thing to hit a rough stretch
that you knew was coming (Mahoosuc Notch). It's
another thing entirely to find yourself getting kicked
around when you thought the hard part would be over.
Just when you thought you knew the rules the Maine
AT imposes its own.
2-It's Relentless. From Mt Washington to the
Bigelows there's no break. It's one hard thing after
another. It doesn't just slow you down, it wears you
down mentally and physically.
3-No Switchbacks. Actually, there are some but the
soil is so thin that it doesn't permit very many. The joke
that New England trails only go in two directions,
straight up and straight down isn't too far from the mark.
4-Downslopes. These can be just as difficult and
demanding as the upslopes made worse by the
expectation that you were going to get a break.
5-Minor Summits. Nothing worse than finding
yourself fighting tooth and nail to get over a mountain
that you didn't pay any attention to beforehand. Don't
let those altitudes in the 1,000s and 2,000s fool you.