Date: 2008-09-20
From: Birches

To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Last day on the trail, hard to believe. It was another early wake up and it was super cold, had to put on gloves and beanie. Made my way to the rangers station, dropped half my gear here to lighten the load, it was my first time at doing a slack pack. Started to make my way towards Katahdin summit, there was a huge crowd gathered in the car park area, so many day hikers all with the same idea of getting an early start. The first mile was dead flat and a real breeze, then the climb began, very gradual at first. It was single file and lots of people in front of me, some pulled off to the side to let me pass, and others simply would not yield. I would get right up behind them, give a few timely coughs hoping they would get the idea, but these were competitive Americans, not going to give up easily for an Australian. Some were determined to stay ahead of me; I took the moment to pull off ot the side and take off a few layers of clothing, and then started the climb again. It started to get steeper and steeper and before long red sweaty faces had to pull aside coughing up a lung and let me pass. I got into a great rhythm, but was soon passed by Rookie, who was really flying. Eventually, the tree line was passed and the serious climb began, passing all of the day hikers below made me realize just how extremely fit this trail had made me, compared to the time I hiked Wilsons Prom with my good friend Mick back home in Australia. The climbing got steeper and steeper and it was exactly as promised, rocky steep and scary. This was one of the toughest climbs of the whole trail, rebar was in place to help with your footing, grabbed onto it for dear life on a few occasions and grunted and groaned. Soon I was on a needle like ridge, with stunning views all around, but it was scary. I had some issue with vertigo, but just kept pushing on climbing upwards. On a few occasions I had to take some deep breathes and steady my nerves. It was tough, but I was determined, finally made it up to the Gateway and took the moment to take some pictures. The views of the 100-mile wilderness and the mountains to the south were some of the best on trail. The walk across the tablelands was dead easy, and after a mile or so the famous Katahdin sign was insight. It was just as I imagined perched up on top of this mighty mountain. I began to run towards it, my other fellow thru hikers were already up there, they gave out a few yells of triumph in my honour, I shed a tear or two, told everyone to get the hell away from that sign, and claimed the top of Katahdin and all that surrounds it for the Commonwealth of Australia. Duck got down on one knee and proposed to Buttercup who said yes, suppose she had to as they had already set the date for the wedding. Took the summit pictures, and then went over the back of the mountain on the north side out of the wind and sat there for some time and enjoyed the moment with my fellow thru hikers. Beyond was the daunting knife¢s edge, which is perfectly named; the north side of Katahdin is carved out like a big bowl, like it was blown away in a huge volcanic eruption. I looked out to the North and imagined my new adventures of the land beyond, Canada. This journey was over and another was to begin. Three months across Canada before my journey back home via the US.People were congratulating us on our achievement, and this continued all the way down on the descent, for some reason the descent did not seem that hard, towards the bottom the knees gave out a few yells, but I told them to be quiet. Was given a beer at the bottom by one of the day hikers, and got a lift back with Big Browns dad, who was kind enough to drop me off in Millinocket. Had a meal at the Millinocket caf© and pulled into the local hostel for the night.