Date: 2016-09-21
From: Katahdin Stream Campground then to Millinocket.

To: Katahdin Peak. Northern Terminus of the AT
Miles today: 5.17
Weather: overcast clouds

Today is the day I finish my thru hike. I woke up at 3:39 am and said oh this is ridiculous. I went back to sleep finally getting up and showering at 5:30. Jeff and I went down to the lobby to meet Hazel and Stephen for breakfast. When I got to the lobby Trooper was standing there waiting for me. She drove all the way from Massachusetts (5 hour drive) to wish me well and to see me on my summit day. I was in tears. It meant so much to me that she drove all that way for a half hour visit. She joined us for coffee at the motel free breakfast. We left at 7 and drove to Baxter State Park. My stomach was full of butterflies as was Hazels. I went in the car with Stephen and Hazel and Jeffs dad peter, Doug and Jeff went in the other car. Jeff, Stephen and Doug were going to climb up Katahdin with Hazel and I. This would be Stephens first time climbing a mountain. We arrived at the park at around 8 and when we got out of the car I saw several familiar faces about to head up. Cake, Haiku, Gaia, Lt. Dan, Feather and bear bait were all in the parking area. We all started up together and reached the sign in booth where Kirk was waiting. It was a moment as we hugged and he showed me the stick his dad made for him. He had a tiny camera and was going to film as we climbed the mountain and interview me about my hike. As some of you remember Kirks dad loved the AT and wanted to Thru hike. He passed from cancer before he got a chance to and I walked his walking stick from Georgia to Maine. Kirk wanted to do a story on my hike and his dad's stick for his work at News 6 in Portland. The interview took about a mile to do while we walked. When we reached tree line the hike got technical. The five of us Hazel, Stephen,Doug, Jeff and I had to help each other get up the boulder climbs. It was hard and kinda scary at times. As for AT climbs this was up there as one of the hardest. I was filled with all sorts of emotions that are too hard to explain. Once we passed the boulder climbs and almost reached the table lands we started seeing familiar faces descending. Old timer, cheeks, outlaw, beast, cake, haiku, Lt. Dan one by one passed Hazel and I. We congratulated them and hugged them not sure if we would see each other again. These people were my trail family. Even though we may not have hiked everyday with them they were out there in it heading north with me. We shared moments that were specific to a shelter, town or part of the trail. I fought back more tears as each one passed finally giving up as the tears rolled down my face. Hazel and I reached the table lands and we could see the last mile to go and the people on the top by the sign. Kirk went ahead to summit so he could film me coming up. We pushed on. The wind was howling even though it was a perfect blue bird sky day. I looked up to the summit and saw a raven circling. This has been a symbol all along the trail that Al Cratty was there and I couldn't believe here at 5000 feet there was a raven. I had seen them all along the trail and even on my drive south to Georgia. I climbed up the last rise and saw the Katahdin sign   and was afraid to walk to it. I pushed the strength and climbed up the that little hill reaching the sign I reached for it and put my head on it and wept. I had done it. I had just walked 2189.10 miles from Georgia to Maine. I looked and saw Hazel at the same spot I was and she said I can't do it. I said get up here and she walked reaching for the sign hugging it and weeping. I hugged here and yelled we did it. We did it. We took pictures. I helped her up on the sign to get her picture. Then I got up to get my picture with Smitty and the Raven came back and circled me landing behind me on a rock. It then took off flying around our heads and I yelled it's AL. We had a truly epic summit and moment at the top. We spent about 30 minutes and headed down as it got cold. We split up at Abol trail down to the campground. Stephen, Hazel, Kirk and I headed down that way while Doug and Jeff headed down the AT. We were worried about getting Stephen down the AT as it was steep and tough going up it was going to be harder going down. Doug and Jeff went down that way as to meet Peter as that was where all the cars were. They would come pick us up at the other trail head. We got out of the woods at 6:30. It took us 10.5 hours to do 10 miles. We met Hazels sister and nephew and some friends from home and all went to dinner in Millinocket. It hasn't sunk in yet that this is really over. Tomorrow will be another tough day when I have to say goodbye to Hazel. For now I'm enjoying this moment.