Date: 2013-07-18
From: Abol Bridge Family Campground

To: Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

Up at 3am. Tent is wet from dripping trees, but sky is clear, as I can see stars. Walking 4:15am with headlamp. Really only use headlamp for about 1/2 hour as it's already getting light. Anticipate arriving at Katahdin Stream Campground ranger station, 10 miles later, at 8:15am, at my hoped for 2 mph pace. Shortly after turning off road at Abol Bridge, enter Baxter Park. Trail in park is fantastic, flat, with few roots and rocks, so is faster to walk. Come to park kiosk and sign up for thru-hiker shelter called The Birches which is at Katahdin Stream Campground. I am the first on to sign up for tonight. Mosquitoes viciously bad, biting the dickens out of me, as bad as ever. They help hurry me along, though I'm not breathing hard at all. Trail parallels West Branch of Penobscot River upstream for 3 miles. Then trail turns up Nesowadnehunk Stream at it's confluence with the Penobscot and follows upstream along the Nesowadnehunk for another 3 miles. There are two side streams to cross. The first is running high and fast with no obvious way across the rocks. I follow upstream for a bit and decide on a set of rocks to try, get most of the way across and the right foot slips off a big boulder and goes in. Manage to get across with left foot dry. Remove right shoe and wring out socks to eliminate squishy feeling in shoe. Second side stream crossing is easy. Trail veers away from the Nesowadnehunk at cataract called Little Niagara Falls. It is 6:45am. So I have covered 6.8 miles, so I'm significantly ahead of a 2 mph pace, and I'm not really pushing. Arrive at Katahdin Stream Campground ranger station at 8am. I have walked 10.0 miles in 3 hrs 45 min. Check in with ranger, empty tent, sleeping bag and other camping gear out of pack which can stay at ranger station while I climb Katahdin, hit the restroom and I am on my way again by 8:30am. Climb 4200 feet in 5 miles to the summit of Katahdin. The final 2-1/2 miles and 1700 feet of elevation gain are above tree line. It is a gorgeous sunny day. Hot but with a cooling breeze up high. Reach the summit at noon. There are many many people on top, including three other thru-hikers finishing: Old School, Tucker and Day Pack. I get my pic with the famous summit sign board. Take many pics of dramatic surrounding peaks. Begin to descend within 1/2 hour of reaching top. I slow down on the descent, as I'm getting tired. Meet a father, Ray, and son, Jeff, and strike up a conversation. Ask them for a ride to town of Millinocket, and graciously they say "Yes". Arrive back at trail head parking at 4pm. Collect my camping gear at ranger station and we are off for 32 mile ride to Millinocket. Arrive at town at 5pm and manage to get room at same hotel where they are located, Katahdin Inn and Suites. Cindy arrives about 6pm! Walked 15.1 trail miles and the additional 5.1 to return from the summit back down to Katahdin Stream. Thank you for joining me on my trek. So many places. So many people. So many memories. Ten weeks ago Katahdin seemed so far away. But the days have passed quickly and now it's hard to believe that it's over. It has really has been an adventure of a lifetime. In the next day or so, I'll upload pictures and add some concluding remarks.Day 72. Total AT Miles: 2185.90