Date: 2003-10-09
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: clear sky

      There was condensation inside the tent again this morning. I wiped down the inside with a small piece of camp towel that I keep just for that purpose before packing up. The store across the street was the first stop to see if there was any news about conditions at Katahdin. I had a breakfast sandwich, then headed up the road since they thought the trails would be opened.       At the informatio kiosk, I met up with Dave, the ridgerunner. He was in the mood to gab, and I was in the mood to push to the campground. At Katahdin Stream only twelve spaces are reserved for thru hikers and I anticipated it would be a race to get there for the first come, first served area. I even considered taking a new trail that would cut the distance in half, rather than following the AT in. He assured me that the first to sign in at the kiosk there were guaranteed the spaces, so I could relax and take my time. So I took the longer, regular route.       Following the Pensbscot River on this clear, sunny day was a treat. The calendar picture scenery was terrific. I put in some quality waterfall time along the way, taking in the colors and sounds while sitting next next to the cascading water. I still had difficulty grasping the idea that this was the end of the trail. I skirted several lakes, stopping to take a couple of pictures.       I have taken very few pictures, less than forty, throughout the trip. In fact, I'm still carrying the disposable camera I set out with in March in my pack. I know that pictures I would take would never do justice to what I was actually seeing. Besides, I figured I could always get pictures off the computer that were taken by others with better cameras and ability than I possess. A little square image can't begin to display the sights, sounds, and smells of where I have been. They will be with me always.      I ambled into Katahdin Stream Campground in mid-afternoon. I was amazed to find that I was the first one there, and no one had passed me on the trail. The first person I saw was Miss Janet from Erwin, who was there to pick up Baltimore Jack before heading to the Gathering in Hanover. I couldn't find any rangers, so I set up my tent to wait for the people to come down off the mountain. I kept looking up at the peak, realizing just how big it really was. I was nervous, to say the least.      At least fifty thru hikers had gone up today, the first day the trail had been open all week due to snow and ice. Seneca Lou was there waiting for Tom For Short and Footslogger, and I hung out with her and others, waiting for friends and family to appear. A hiker came running down looking for the rangers, saying a lady had been injured and needed rescue. This definitely heightened the anxiety level of everyone.       Slowly the summiters began filtering in, and I was fortunate that so many had gotten logjammed there, for it gave me a chance to see a lot of people I had met on the trail one last time, that I never would have otherwise. They had had quite a party at the top, and everybody was jubilant to have made it to the end. It was like a big reunion. Pictures were taken, hugs given, addresses exchanged. As darkness fell, they all drifted away, heading back to the "real" world they had not been a part of for a long time.       I went back to my tent to try to sleep, because tomorrow would be my day to finish what I had started back in March. I got back up when I heard the rescue helicopter, and watched the search light hovering way up on that mountain, as they some how got that woman to safety two hours after dark. The ranger had said this had to be done "all too often" that afternoon. I felt uneasy abd restless as I laid in my sleeping bag.