Date: 2012-07-10
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

Katahdin Stream camp site to the top of Mt Katahdin 5.2 milesWe were again up early and filled with anticipation. We waited at one of the tent sites for Anne to arrive. The park gate opened at 6Am and she arrived at about 7. She had a bit of trouble with the roads and the GPS sent her the wrong way once, but she overcame all of those obstacles. As we waited a nobo hiker walked in, his trail name was Grand Dad, he ws 65 years old and had started his thru hike in March. We packed and set off up the Hunt trail, signing in at the trail head at a bit after 7. The trail for the first mile is just like the last 25 or so. Crunch went on ahead as he has longer, stronger trail legs than Anne.   Soon the rock changes to steeper with bigger boulders to go over and around. Most of the climb near and above tree line is very much hands on the rocks, metal anchors and assists were in place in 3 different spots. Good rock climbers have no problems, but it had it's moments for Anne and I. As we were getting to the last bit of climb Grand Dad was coming down, just had to shake his hand and congratulate him on a fine journey. Grand Dad really motors, is what one of the other younger hikers said that had hike with him. After the steep climb up to the Table lands it was a beautiful walk past Thoreau spring up to the summit. We arrived on the top at 12:30. We had taken our time and took quite a few stops to enjoy the views and take photos. It was windy and cold on top but we enjoyed the sun and the views when we were out of the wind. We took a bunch of photos and were able to e-mail one to our kids from the top. After an hour we headed down in a light, but stinging, wind blown rain. The rain stopped before we got to the steep scramble down the big rocks. There must have been about 50 people on the top, about 40 were from different youth groups. There was a bit of a line up in spots waiting for people to get through the tough spots. Anne is faster on the big rocks going down than I want to be. Many times I went through a section and turned around to see if she needed any help and she was already standing behind me. As we got back into the tree line we took some breaks and came down pretty slow. Anne was having some muscle problems and wobbly legs. We still passed quite a few on the way down but took regular breaks for rest, food, and water. We were back to the truck by 6Pm. Crunch had unloaded his pack into the cab of the truck. If I would have sent the keys with him he could have been on his way at least an hour sooner, but I did not think of it. He got his gear re packed and was going to hitch to Millinocket to the AT Cafe. Anne and I were staying in a lean to for the night and she had brought food enough for all of us. With only 2 of us we did not put a very big dent in the finish feast. Around 9Pm a family came into the camp that had gone up Abol trail, and down Hunt, they had the ranger radio to Abol camp for a pickup from their group but after 40 minutes they had not arrived so I gave 6 a ride in the back of the truck. We got almost to Abol Camp site when their ride came towards us. They swapped vehicles and tried to give me something for the lift but I told them to just do a good deed for someone else in need. I just paid it forward. They said thanks, and were glad not to have to walk the extra 2 miles. I was back to camp soon and we hit the bed. Anne on the planks and me one last night in the hammock.