Date: 2018-09-13
From: Baxter campground

To: SUMMIT of Mt KATAHDIN
Miles today: 5.5

Crazy BritOur day started as usual with Dave up at 4:30am. Today we are going to Summit Mt Katahdin, the hardest bad Ass Mountain on the Appalachian Trail. Our Good Friend Mud is next door, he¢s up ready to go to Breakfast, David and Mud walk on down to the Cafe, me I take my time cannot believe that this journey is ending today.We have a great breakfast, the cafe is owned by Paul the owner of the Hostel we are staying in, great food. We are almost ready for this venture to end, back to the Hostel to wait for Paul our driver today. We have our packs ready to go with just the bare essentials packed, it¢s an Arduous climb today, and we are ready, David, Mud and Myself.Weather forecast is for fog at lower levels but on Katahdin¢s Summit blue sky¢s, sunshine and a nominal 5-8 miles an hour wind, PERFECT!!!!!!We load up the van and head out, as we are approaching a small hill Paul reaches over and puts on a CD, it¢s the Rocky theme song, he doe¢s this for all Thru Hikers, as we round the next bend, we should have been able to see our Mountain, not to be today to much low level fog.We get dropped off at the Trail head, there is a strange feeling in the air, we have been dropped off at many Trail Heads on this adventure but none like this, we give each other a clenched fist shake and head out and up our last Mountain.There are some day hikers up ahead they say, hey guys stand aside Thru Hikes coming up, as we pass they clap their hands and congratulate us. This will happen whenever we come across day hikers all the way to the Summit.We pass some really cool waterfalls, photo opp, but we three have only one thing on our minds today, the Summit and that Iconic Sign. The Trail starts to get tougher, Roots and Rocks, rocks and roots, then we come out of the forest by the treeline.The views are astounding, the sky is crystal clear, our climb gets tougher, it¢s now time to pack away our Treking poles. It¢s hand to hand now, good job there are some steel hand holds to assist us. David is behind so we wait for him. He has been thinking of his brother¢s who both sadly died at an early age, this is a very tough mountain it makes you think about your family and friends, both present and past, we have both lost friends since our Adventure Started, makes you think.We are now approaching the Flatlands of the Mountain and can see little dots on one of the Summits. That¢s it, That¢s ours, we push on really not feeling the strain of hiking up this steep incline. We see Tangerine coming down, we ask her how it was, she starts crying, oh no that starts me off. Then we meet Navster and Wyle they are both full, big hugs and congratulations, they have been waiting for us.We carry on I stop and wait for David we started together we will finish together. Mud goes on ahead to video us, we are now really close all the people on the Summit start to clap as we approach the sign, it¢s Awesome, big fist pumps. We have done it, 2192 Miles, 6 months of Walking WOW.I get out my Flag that was given to me by John at Trailwalkers Gear in Bradenton, thanks John! I stand on the sign that so many thru hikers have stood on, I am in a daze hold up my flag, half USA, Half British, loads of photos then David and I hold the Flag what a team we are, We Have Done it! Still in a daze our Hiker Family is here, hand shaking fist pumping it is a very emotional place, day hikers are congratulating us , I am in tears. I feel a bit stupid but look around and all the Thru hikers have Red eyes, I take a walk out on to the knife edge. Wow that will soon bring you back to normality, on each side there are a couple of thousand foot drops !!!!!!Take it easy Colin you don¢t want to slip here, we have lunch, then continue to applaud our friends making it to the summit it¢s a Great Day, perfect weather, perfect friends.We start our descent down the Abol trail, it¢s supposed to be safer, they are joking, it¢s tough loose shale and boulders, then a detour a tough trail. You have to work hard to earn your, thru Hiker Status here then we are into the treeline and after a few miles we are back at Abol Bridge Campsite. We all meet up and get our ride back to town, time for a beer, every one meets at the pub for a few beers then dinner, then back to the pub.A Great Day, but What Now? We don¢t have to walk tomorrow, No White Blazes to follow, No filtering Water, it¢s Strange. This is going to be a challenge of its own. So will say Goodnight to you all it¢s been a blast thanks for following my Adventure, I hope it¢s inspired some of you to get out there, Thanks to you all.Anyone can walk on the flat, get out there take a chance you will change your life by living on the Edge.No more miles , what do I do now ??????????