Date: 2021-09-21
From: Kathadin Stream Campground

To: Mt. Kathadin
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: moderate rain

Disclaimer: Some of this was written on trail in present tense. Other sections were added after in past-tense.I woke up at dawn, guessing it was 6:15, because my watch battery was dead and my cell phone was turned off to save the remaining battery for the hike up Mount Katahdin. I asked another hiker the time and confirmed I was all packed up by 7:15. By 7:30 we had trimmed our packs down at the ranger station by putting un-wanted items into another bag with our name on it. Two other hikers and I began our trek on this final stretch to the norther terminus of the Appalachian Trail. I turned my phone on and began taking pictures. The wind was calm and the temperature was around 60 degress. It was nearly calm, with colder windy conditions forecast at the summit. Sun was forecast all day.This will possibly be the most if not one of them most exciting summits of my life! I am really looking forward to it. Would it meet or exceed my expectations? Would it be the icing on the 1200 mile AT journey that I embarked on five years ago? Would the weather hold out? Would my aching body hold out? Time will tell. May God watch over us as we climb this most sacred mountain and complete our northbound hike. Just 5+ miles left with over 4,000 feet of elevation to the summit! Time to get hiking!8:30 report: The first 1.5 miles was almost flat. Some of it was along Kathadin Stream, which was flowing well. It was an hour into the hike and had completed the first thousand feet of elevation. Just under 3,000 ft of elevation left with 3 miles to go. I'm feeling confident that I will summit by 11:00. The wind started picking up and the temperature remained around 60 degrees. About 20% phone battery left.9:30 report: I'm about 2 miles from the summit with about 1600 ft elevation left I recently broke broke above tree line and have been climbing very steep boulders for the last quarter mile. There are several day hikers ahead of me which gives me some comfort. I'm giving them space so that I can have as much peace and solitude along this final two mile stretch as possible. I'm feeling pretty good physically, although my legs and ankles are getting more tired or by the minute. About 15% phone battery left.10:30 report: I just hiked up a steep 700 feet of exposed ridgeline with odd shaped rocks. It was the most difficult part of the 1200 miles I had hiked thus far. I'm glad my legs and ankles held up. I'm about 7/10 of a mile and 500 ft elevation away from the summit of Mount Katahdin. The nearly flat plane up here is absolutely beautiful. Its in the alpine zone. There is a spring trail-side named Thoreau Spring. I can see the trail widing along this plateau to a steeper 500' section. I'm told the summit lies just above. I'm hiking a hundred yards between a few day hikers. All these section hikers and thru hikers I started with were ahead of me. They had lighter packs and were younger and more physically fit than I am. The wind has picked up to 10-20 mph and the temperature was around 60 degrees.By 10:50 I had made it to the summit. Yay! Just 4% phone battery left! About two dozen hikers are here celebrating their sucesss. It is a bit windy and a little cold but not too bad with my wind breaker on. The views from all sides arespectacular. I really can't describe the feeling of elation that I'm feeling at this moment. My food, water and phone are almost drained but my spirit is sky high. I asked a lady to take my picture next to the summit sign. I took some pictures and video in all directions, including a 4K video clip. I look forward to the leisurely walk downhill back to the car to make it to the shuttle by 3:00 p.m. What a fantastic morning and end to an epic northbound hike! I left the summit around 11:20. 1% phone battery left. Phew!1:00 Report: I made it down past the steep exposed ridge without falling. I'm was really glad my body was holding up. I took it slow and easy as the climb down is more difficult and dangerous than the climb up. The sun was out and I was able to get more water at a spring along the way. The winds were around 10mph. The temperature was around 60 degrees. Life was wonderful!2:30 Report: I made it back to campsite, got the rest of my gear and waited in the picknic area for my shuttle to arrive. It was sunny with a light breeze with temperature around 70 degrees. It was a great feeling to have completed my hike with no injury and near excellent weather. While waiting for our rides, we were treated to some snacks and a home-made cake, provided by the parents of one of the hikers. What a nice treat to top off our celebration! 4:30 Report: After a 2 hour wait, there was no sign of my shuttle. Everyone else's shuttles had come and taken them to other destinations. I was wondering if they forgot about me. There was no phone service and I was getting worried. Some hikers noticed my dilema and offered to share their campsite with me. There was no time to hike out so I agreed. 5:00 Report: My shuttle finally arrived. The driver appologized for the delay and assured me he got here as fast as he could. Fortunately, there was another hiker in the shuttle, allowing me to split the $150 cost back to Shaw's Hiker Hostel in Monson, nearly 2 hours away.7:00 Report: We arrive back at the hostel in time to grab a sandwich and celebratory six pack of beer at the general store down the street. After a quick dinner, we celebrated in the Music Room with about 20 other hikers. Some had just completed their journey. Most were celebrating the start of the 100 Mile Wilderness the next day. The forecase was for a rainy week, but they did not seem to care. We took turns playing various musical instruments, sang songs, told stores and shared beers until the fridge was dry.10:00 Report: The music finally stopped and most hikers had retired. I could not believe how much energy I had after such a long week/day/summit hike. This was truly the finish I was hoping for, but feared not to expect. I looked forward to a good night's sleep in my private room and a fabulous breakfast served in the kitchen. It made all the conditioning, dieting and planning worth it! Will I ever do it again? I don't think so. My local hiking club comes up here every couple of years. Perhaps I will join them when they do.