Date: 2003-08-11
From: Rainbow Lake

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 24.2
Weather: light rain

Luke woke up around 6:00AM and told Shovel "this is it, I am going to finish the AT today. I am tired of hiking in the rain and it is time to finish."Luke started his last day of hiking at 6:30AM. There was a light rain starting out and then the skies cleared up and it was a beautiful morning. Luke arrived at Katahdin Stream Campground at 12:30PM where Laura and I were waiting for him. It was great...Luke was coming down the trail (dirt road into Katahdin Stream Campground) where he saw us and yelled out to us. So wonderful to see him!!! Hugs, congratulations and a food break (homemade cookies as well as some other snacks). Luke ate and took about a 45-minute break with us in Katahdin Stream Campground and then said he needed to complete his journey TODAY. He began his summit of Mt. Katahdin at 1:30PM under clear skies. The forecast called for rain in the afternoon, so Luke was hoping to summit Mt. Katahdin before the rains came. It ended up being a Class 1.5 day¢¦how unusual, no rain (and good visibility).   Luke told us he thought it would take him about 6 hours to go up and back, so Laura and I went over to Daicey Pond and rented a canoe for an hour or so...saw a moose who was cooling off in the pond and was in no hurry to leave. (Luke had seen a moose and her calf early that day, was about 15 yards from him on the trail). While at Daicey Pond we meet Shovel and his parents as well as Brother Ron. Had a great time talking on the porch of the library at Daicey Pond (with a great view of Mt. Katahdin) until around 5:00. Shovel and Brother Ron then hiked the 2.4 miles to Katahdin Stream Campground and met back up with Laura and I in the campground. Around 6:15, King Harvest finished his descent of Mt. Katahdin (his brother and uncle had joined him on the climb and his parents were also in the campground). It was great to cheer for King Harvest on his accomplishment. King Harvest said he had seen Shifty and Shifty was moving fast. Laura and I thought we would see him around 7:30. We looked up and Shifty was coming down the trail at 6:30...he did Mt. Katahdin in 5 hours. We all cheered and had a champagne celebration. Shifty accomplished his goal.. a thru-hike of the AT...2,171 miles.A NOTE FROM SHIFTY¢S TRANSCRIBERS (Mom and Dad)....Shifty¢s journal was maintained, based upon our telephone conversations, in order to keep family and friends updated on Shifty's whereabouts, record his journey and to post pictures along the way. We could never begin to know or express the emotions Shifty experienced throughout his journey especially today; however, we can express our feelings as Luke's parents¢¦.It was so great to be in Katahdin Stream Campground and be able to greet Luke as he walked into the campground¢¦the completion of a long journey was near. Luke had come to us at the age of 17 (September 2001) and asked if he could defer college in order to hike the Appalachian Trail. There was little resistance from us, we agreed to Luke¢s idea and began helping him with his plans. A friend from church, Joe Goode (Cotton Patch ¢92), had done a thru-hike in 1992 and was extremely helpful and so supportive to all three of us. The one key advice Joe gave Luke was to set a start date and stick with it. That is when Luke set his start date¢¦March 1, 2003. Joe, thank you for everything you did, your advice, your enthusiasm, and your support were unparalleled!Luke was 18 years old when he began his thru-hike of the AT on Saturday, March 1, 2003. He celebrated his 19th birthday on the AT and had an experience of a lifetime. We are so proud of Luke and what he accomplished. He set a goal, endured many challenges along the way but never falter from keeping his focus on his goal. When asked if he ever felt like quitting his reply was ¢NEVER.¢We have enjoyed every step of Luke¢s journey and have enjoyed being able to live vicariously through our son these past five months. To see Shifty come down the trail from Mt. Katahdin was an emotional high for us¢¦the completion of an awesome journey.Luke, we are so proud of you and what you have accomplished.Love, Mom and Dad