Date: 2008-07-17
From: katahdin stream campground

To: katahdin stream campground
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

It stormed pretty good last night. TB had tried to cowboy camp on the picnic table but that obviously didn't work that well. He got into Stovie's tent and they slept cozily.We got up at 4 with our alarms in our attempt to be the first people up the mountain and beat the crowds. Hit the trail register and signed in at 5:15. First on the register, so far so good.The first bit of trail was pretty good, only a minor slope and it traveled along Katahdin Stream. Katahdin Stream is probably the most perfect water source we have ever seen. The water is absolutely crystal clear and is cold. You just have to see it. Some really sweet waterfalls before we parted ways and headed up.The trail still wasn't too bad. No steeper at this point than a normal climb. Some steps but mostly boulder hopping.After a bit the trail changed. Instead of gradually meandering up, it decided to go pretty much straight up huge boulders and rocky cliff faces. This is where the trail got fun and interesting. This is also where the wind picked up.We put away our trekking poles, it was one of those climbs. For the next three thousand feet or so the trail was very technical and probably the most demanding section of trail on the entire AT.At one point I had to pull a Tarzan by grabbing onto a tree and pushing off hard while hanging onto the tree to do a long swing over to another ledge. I made it. TB tried and didn't and fell and slid down the slab. Got a big battle scar on his arm.There were sections where we just spread ourselves out flat on steeply slanted slabs and inched our way over to another ledge. The climbing was extremely technical and intense. It was an absolute blast. There were only three or so places where I was scared to commit to a jump, though I made all of them once I grew a set.Pretty much impossible to describe, but it was quite a climb and incredible fun. Also scary when the wind was whipping and trying to blow us off the ledges. Our full packs didn't help but we didn't regret bringing them up.After a while of this amazing climbing, after we were well above the treeline we came to The Gateway. This is the biggest false summit on the trail. The whole time you are going up on this steep trail, you think you are getting to the summit, but instead you are just going to this gateway well below the summit.At The Gateway we came to the Tablelands. The Baxter Peak of Katahdin is sitting above the Tablelands, but it is sort of on a plateau. Some nice flat walking approaching the summit on the grassy rocky plain.Had to start our final ascent after a while but it was no big deal. We were steadily approaching that famous sign and the highest peak on Katahdin. Our excitement was growing, and we were definitely the first people there. As we neared the sign, we started whistling The Final Countdown. Got right next to the sign and all grabbed it at once. Our journey was over. We had walked 2176 miles from Georgia to this point in Maine. We had made it. We had conquered the trail.It had taken us 2:38:57 to summit. This is incredibly fast, exactly a 2mph pace up the entire mountain. Guess its those thru hiker legs. It helped that all the rocks were dry.We reveled in our victory and took many pictures in various poses with the sign. Called some of our trail friends to let them know we made it.We just chilled up there for a while for obvious reasons. I was giddy. The day was fantastic. Clear blue skies in every direction. The surrounding mountains were really rugged and looked incredible. It was quite amazing up there to say the least. Obviously I can't come close to describing today here, just something you have to experience.Some other hikers showed up after a bit and we got some group shots up top. Team Deutschmark together on the summit, at least part of us.After we were up there an hour or so we started to get anxious to really finish it up. You still have to hike back down to civilization, and it was a long steep climb. We made it down about as fast as we made it up. It was hard on our hands planting them and swinging down over most of the obstacles, but we made it without dying.The downhill went on forever even though we had come up it. Downhill sucks. Finally got to the trailhead and signed out. The campsite was a few feet further and we arrived victoriously, finally completely done with walking for a very long time.Snacked at camp, and headed into Millinocket to the Appalachian Trail Caf© for food. They had something called the Summit Sundae Challenge. I inquired as to what it was and it turns out it is fourteen scoops of ice cream {approximately a gallon}, fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, M and M's, whole cookies and chocolate chunks. Ding ding ding, we have a winner. I was the only one brave or stupid enough to attempt it.It came in an absolutely massive bowl, the size of a large mixing bowl, and it was full. Started in on it and hit it hard. Hit it full speed for a long time. I ate all the ice cream, but just couldn't finish the slurry in the bottom and about the last cookie. That was all that was left, but I didn't want to throw up. Took a half hour and I admitted defeat. You have to clean the bowl to get the bowl and a T-shirt. Oh well, I almost did it and I gave it a hell of a try. Only a few hikers have ever completed it, so I got a lot farther than most people.Went to the IGA for some camp food {yay cooler and real food}, and I parted ways with Stovie and ToddyBear. We have been together for a long long time, but it had to end, and we are all headed home. Showered and went back to the campsite.Officially we are numbers 36-39, but I noticed some sectioners and flip floppers on the list so we are really 29-31. If I hadn't taken my break to let TB and Stovie catch back up I would have ended up number ten or so, but that doesn't matter, so I don't regret it at all. Glad I decided to do that so we could summit together.At Katahdin Stream Campsite for the last night. Tomorrow we head out and are meandering home via a scenic route to hit some of the highlights in the north.I guess that's about it. This is my very last trail entry. I may post some tips and tricks if I get to it, and I may post an essay on the trail if I get to it. No promises.Thanks to all for reading, and if you enjoyed my journal, give me a shout out in my guestbook. I put a lot of time every night into it, so it would be awesome to hear if a lot of people appreciated it.Finally, thanks to TrailJournals for hosting this for free. There is that donate button up there...