Date: 2015-09-28
To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I went to the breakfast restaurant at 5am. I ate a breakfast by myself and looked at the names of thru-hikers on the ceiling tile reserved for us. I signed with a marker. I put D.No and C.Shell's names on it too. They are going up with me, on my shirt. I have their names on the front of my shirt and Katwalk's on the back. Those 3 are my trail family, and I'm not sure I would have made it this far without them.I went back to the lodge to catch the shuttle and found Katwalk waiting. She planned to hike with me, as far as she could, and be there when I came down. How did I get so lucky, to have these wonderful people in my life?We got to the campground, signed in, and headed out. We passed Miss Janet's van, and a large group of folks we have leapfrogged with since Georgia were sitting around a fire. Fiddlehead, Rainbow, and Young Guns among them. The trail started very easy. Gentle graded trail, easy and fun. We got to the falls and took a picture or two, enjoying the beautiful crisp air and scenery. The trail gradually became steeper and rocks started to dominate the trail. Soon we were climbing. The trail became a rock climb, very steep, and Katwalk decided to stop. She could have definitely climbed, but she is protecting her foot from further injury. She wished me well and off I went. I climbed those boulders, they were relentless. Large-huge-and going up at a very steep grade. I got to a part where my poles were just useless anymore, so I stashed them behind a rock and climbed without them. Much better! I used rebar that was implanted in the rocks to pull my body up. I heaved myself up and over gigantic boulders, and this went on for a couple of miles. I was using my whole body to climb, it was definitely a lot of fun and pretty challenging, Meanwhile, the higher I went, what I could see gave way to incredible views. This is easily the best climb of the entire trail. I could see mountains and lakes and billowy clouds. The harsh rocks against the distant trees and lakes painted a picture of contrasts- all of the earth before me was magnificent, and I have never witnessed more sheer power or beauty. It is quite simply- perfection. I walked and climbed in a respectful and awed silence. I was greedy with my eyes- I could not stop staring and absorbing. I took very few pictures going up- I just wanted to take it in.Finally, when I was wondering if the boulder climb would ever end, I got to what is called the tablelands. This section starts out somewhat flat, and you have to walk on a strictly defined path. The path goes up though, up what looks very long and hard, up to the summit. After a while, I could see the sign, tiny in the distance. I kept walking and the grade was not as bad as it looked, but it was another mile or so. It seemed very long and never-ending.Finally, I made it to the top. The group of kids I knew were there and they clapped and called my name. That felt good. I approached the sign, walking slowly to it. When I reached it, I put my head on the cold wood, the weather battered letters. I walked form Georgia to Maine. The tears I expected didn't come though. Instead, I experienced a profound feeling of accomplishment. In that moment, I so wanted my husband to be there with me. I wanted to share this with him, to revel in the moment and celebrate OUR accomplishment. He is my partner, my best friend, the person who understood what it meant to me and made the space for me to do it. I wanted to share it with him. it is pretty freakin' hard. And I did it. Woot-woot!I took my summit picture then took off my long-sleeved shirt to reveal my tank top with the names of my hiking family. Hikers cheered for D.No and C.Shell. They were only 200 miles short of the finish and nobody could believe it when they went home, especially after the incredible injurys they hiked through for so long.I am traveling to Vietnam in the 11th of October to visit the kids I hiked for. I will write a final thoughts sort of thing and a gear review during the 30 hour journey. I should have myself together by then.If you have been entertained, inspired, or in any other way touched by my journal- a labor of love- please consider giving to the charity I walked for. You can follow my regular blog about the trips to Vietnam at www.bonniewanderlust.blogspot.com. You will meet some real mountain climbers there- tough as nails and all heart!You can make a donation to us at www.bigbigworld.org. I thank you for your kind words, your encouragement, and your support. Reading your messages has cheered me up and helped me hike on. I look forward to following hikers in 2016 and living vicariously through the journals here.Happy Trails!-BonBon AT THRU-HIKER!!!!!!