Date: 2012-09-06
From: The Birches

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Started the day at 5:00 am... packed up my tent for the last time, had breakfast, and once the group was ready, we set out for the Trail. I spent the evening with Diesel, Big Sky, Hill Hiker, Domino, Froth, and Bucket. Diesel, Big Sky, Hill Hiker, and I were going to be hiking a bit slower, so we started the Trail at 6:10 am and the other guys started at 7:00 am.The day started with clouds around the summit, so we were hiking up through the fog and the clouds. I was not sure what the view would be like when we reached the top. When I was at McAfee Knob, I had NO view at all, and I was told that a bad McAfee Knob photo meant I would get a wonderful Katahdin pic.After a challenging climb, we summit-ed at 9:55 am. Once I arrived, I let out the obligatory "whoop", but I did not have an overwhelming sense of joy or sadness. I did, however, have a great sense of gratitude and satisfaction. While I was officially done with the Trail, I was only halfway done for the day, and knew I needed to get back down that hill before I was actually "done".We passed around cameras and cell phones, taking as many photos as possible of each hiker with the Katahdin sign. Many people spend hours at the top, contemplating the past five or six months. I was ready to go once I arrived, again, because I was not truly finished.I opened a small bottle of pink champagne (real French champagne, which was fabulous) and passed it around, though others declined, as they brought beer. So much for injecting some class. After about 30 minutes, I went to each of the six hikers and thanked them for the honor of summit-ing with them. I wanted them to know how much I appreciated each of them, because (while they had hiked as groups of two or three the entire time) I had hiked alone, and I am not sure if couples or teams understand how lonely and isolating that experience can be.Once I was about a mile and a half down the hill, Domino caught up with me, and then Bucket and Froth, and the four of us finished the Trail together, signing out at the register at 1:30 pm.Unfortunately, the free shuttle to town would not arrive for another few hours. We were all tired and impatient, because there were no cellphone signals in the valley and we could not reach out to friends or family while we waited in a small semicircle.Finally the shuttle arrived... actually, two large SUVs to take our group to Millinocket. On the way, I learned my parents' plans had changed, so once I got in touch with them, I learned they were staying across town in another hotel. We met up when I arrived in town and after I said my goodbyes, we checked in at the hotel and I was able to strip down and take a lovely shower.As it was my 45th birthday, Mom & Dad took me to the "Scootic In" (not Inn, according to the sign on the door) for dinner and told me to get whatever I wanted. I ordered the surf and turf, which included a nice Maine lobster. The lobsters were swimming in a tank near our table and I saw the chef fish one out of the water. Later, when the meal was presented, more than one waitress stopped by to check out the lobster. Apparently, it was 3.5 lbs... one of the largest they have ever served (and they did not realize they had one so large on hand!). I did not realize this, but I have never eaten a full lobster before, with the clarified butter and small plastic bib. It. Was. Amazing.Again, talking about food and not about my thoughts and feelings.On Friday, I will take the day just to relax and enjoy Millinocket. On Saturday, we will drive to Boston, where I will spend the week "decompressing" and hiding out. The following Monday, I will go to New York City, then Pennsylvania to pick up Oscar and return home on Thursday the 20th.So... thank you for reading my Trail Journal. I am sure I will follow up with more thoughts after today. Once I am home in San Francisco, I will be posting the final half of the photos, so please return to see those!