Date: 2024-09-24
From: Not Available
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Miles today: 0.0

I got up at 4:30. I slept fairly well except, in my waking moments, all I could think about was the climb.. I packed my pack with just enough to get me up and down. The rest of my gear, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, food, clothes etc. I packed in the garbage bag I've had with me... I made sure I had the sea shell that Alex, my grandson gave me seven years ago when I started.... It has been a source of strength all along...It was one of those "look in the mirror" days... At various times in my life, when things were stressful, or there were defining moments, I've always looked in the mirror and thought: "What's it gonna be?" This was certainly one of those moments...Shep picked me up at the motel at a little after 5 for breakfast... She had decided she could make the climb with me today and that was great news. We got to the park at 7 and there, also were Tigger, Landslide and Styles along with Rowdy and Racewalker. And I was also happy to see Movin' On! SAYBAK too! Amazing to see we all showed up to summit on the same day!The weather was cool and absolutely clear! Calm! The trees had been turning color the past few days and there were red maples that shown brilliant in the sun!The first mile and a half was easy with good trail following Katahdin Stream... Then it became steeper with more rocks... At mile 3 it got serious. We were climbing boulders that had rebar in them for hand and footholds... It took time in some places to figure out how to get up and over them. Movin' On was very nervous as she doesn't like heights and I made a comment about "Well you know we have to come down this" and she stopped me and said she didn't want to even think about it! There was a really neat steep ridge to climb just above tree line. As we climbed the views were awesome! Maine! The trail leveled for a while in the Tableland where we passed a plaque on a rock dedicated to Walter Thoreau... Cool! Shep brook out a kite that we brought along. It was really cool as she let it fly!It was another 500 foot climb to the end and it seemed to go by in a flash. Shep did not let me know how far I had to go. She hung way back to let me to myself for the experience... When I got to the Plaque of the Northern Terminus, my emotions were neutral. I had Shep take my hero picture on top of it and another with Alex's seashell. There were about 20 people up there at the time. Everyone cheered as they did a number more times for all who had completed their journeys. As I sat in the sun on this most beautiful day and watched the others, I became very emotional. Most of the others had just completed a ThruHike... I had completed the trail in Sections but still felt a great sense of accomplishment. Life had gotten in the way of a Thru but did not deter the final goal. I had the support and encouragement of a ton of people along the way... Too many to mention here... Amazing...Just after I arrived, Rowdy and Racewalker came up. These guys are great, each very different, but together a great team.We stayed on the summit for a couple of hours basking in the sun and glory of it all... During that time there was a marriage proposal and an emptying of an urn (Racewalker).... A beginning and ending... Shep and I left the summit at 1:30... The hike down was beautiful and we stopped several times to take a break an enjoy the beauty of the day. Magical! My knees reminded me that they needed rest as we descended! We got down around 4:30 and headed back to Millinocket for dinner.. While at dinner I made a flight reservation for 6 AM the next morning out of Logan... Too cool! Then it was a 5 hour drive to Boston... Shep dropped me off at midnight at Logan... Quite a day I would say...Thanks Shep!!! You are the best!!!More thoughts to follow.....