Date: 2016-08-21
From: Katahdin Stream Lean-to (Millinocket)

To: Katahdin Summit
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: moderate rain

It was a short night...we (Janet(sister)/David(brother in law)/me)were up at 4:15. We had a 30 minute drive to Baxter State Park and got there early to be in the front of the line into the park. Not Chris rode along with us so his parents wouldnt have to drive all that way just to come back to the motel. The gate opened at 6:00 and we made it to the parking lot around 5:30. I stopped by the rangers station and privy. I seen a few thru hikers(Slug, Old Fox, Stitch and Secret Agent). We started up at 7:00 after we signed the register. We had a 4100 foot climb to make in 5.2 miles. It started out pretty easy trail and steadily got a little steeper with more rocks. The first couple of miles went pretty quick. I figured we would come out of treeline but we kept going up and so did the trees. After a mile and a half we saw the Ball Girls (cousins Sweat Ball and Hair Ball) coming down. We asked what time they went up, they left at 4:00 AM so they could see the sunrise. Clouds moved in and they didn't get to see it. The trail continued to get steeper for the fist two miles and then we come out of treeline. At that point we turned around for a spectacular view. Also the boulder scramble started and the climbing over rockes. The first area wasn't so bad but it got pretty tough quick. Janet (who has short legs, she says) was having a little difficulty getting her leg high enough and then the strength to pull herself up at some places. This area was tougher than I expected and slow going. One spot had rebar in the rocks for foot and hand holds. Even with that Janet had a tough time getting up it. After a little time we got her over it. After that, the boulder scramble just kept on going....looking up and seeing all the boulders ahead was a little disheartening. We kept on plugging away and the wind was getting stronger and stronger. I'm not sure how long it took but it was a while. We finally got over the boulder scramble and got to the area called the table top. The trail leveled off and we had two miles to go to hit the summit. Janet was tired from the boulder scramble but kept on pushing forward. It was pretty foggy and the elevation got a little steeper as we got closer to the top. I pushed forward as Janet and David took a break. The people coming down kept telling us we had 20 more minutes. I hit some rock scrambles going up and stopped and waited in the fog. Eventually Davids image appeared and we continued to the summit. There were some Asian ladies at the sign taking some pictures. After a few minutes they stepped aside so David could take my picture standing behind and up on the brace of the sign. David took a few pictures and then asks one of the ladies to take it because his hands were shaky. The temperatures were in the upper 50s with a 40 mile an hour wind hitting us. She took my picture and then each none of them wanted to stand on the signs brace as I did and get there picture taken. David told them that I just completed the whole trail and they were amazed. They wanted me and David to stand in the picture with them. We didn't stay long and headed down. I was worried about Janet and a little about David spending their energy on the way yp and we had 4000 feet to go down yet. We left without a picture of David and now feel bad about it. The Asian ladies do have his picture though. I hiked about 10 minutes and couldn't find Janet. I waited to see Davids image appear in the fog and went on to find Janet. I finally caught her ansd her hair was all wet. I asked how she was and she said, OK. Her hair waa wet from the fog/mist. We waited for David and went back to a trail junction. We could go back down the way we came up or take the Abol campground trail down. The Abol trail was suppose to have switch backs and we elected to take that one. When we got down we were going to have to walk 2 miles back to the car. We got to the edge of the area called the table top and where the boulder scramble began. It was close to 3:00 and we had a long way to go down. The decent was sharp and Janet and David were on their butts a lot scooting to the next boulder below them. The boulder field went down down down and it was a very long process moving down. We were below and had magnificent views. But seeing how small the trees were below reminded us of how far we had to go. Janet made the comment several times that she should not be up here but she is a trooper and continued to push down. We would get a little further down and figure out the least difficult path to continue. There were blue blazes all the way down but you still had to choose the path with the least amount of drop off to the next boulder. It took us a couple of hours to get down this area and finally make it below treeline. The top of the treeline was a little rough but it got easier as we went. At one point I got the car key and went ahead of them. As the terrain leveled out I started a jog and was making good time. My foot caught a rock at one point and down I went. I got up, dusted myself off and headed on. I got to the road around 6:30 and had a 20 minute jog/walk back to the car. Just before the car I stopped by to see who was at the campsite and planned to summit tomorrow. Squirrel, Lucky Dogg and a few others were there. We were suppose to get rain overnight and it was suppose to clear up between 10 and noon and they were hoping to head up then. I gave them some trail magic of snacks Janet and David had in the car. I wished them luck and headed back to pick up Janet and David. They had made it down and they too had each tripped and taken a tumble but were all right. We went back to town and grabbed a pizza and some beer and took back to the hotel. We didn't get back until 9:00. David and I ate the pizza and Janet was too tired to eat...lol. We all were in bed soon after...what an exhausting day. I enjoyed the climb, you will have to ask Janet and David their opinions... Lol. WOW!!!!! I have completed the 2189.1 miles they call the Appalachian Trail. It was a challenge, an adventure, a learning experience, amazing journey. I couldn't have done it without the support of family, friends, strangers and trail angels. And most importantly The Spirit of God living in me and knowing Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I am soo blessed!!!!! I hope you enjoyed the journey...I loved it