Date: 2006-09-07
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 10.4

Well, here it is, at about 5am of the final day, and the final chapter of the most wonderful experience of my life. The journey of a lifetime nearing it¢s end. So many thoughts racing through my mind. Seeing Navi laying here beside me and thinking how she played such a big part in this amazing journey. I can see the red sky over the trees when I lift the shade in the RV at about 5:30. Hopefully we¢ll have the class 1 day we need to summit today. The excitement is building with every minute that passes as we make our way to the park gate. The Professor was already 4th in line right in front of us. It felt like it took forever to get through the gate. Once we parked the Tracker we were on our way up the trail by 7:30am. The Professor had already found out that we had a class 1 day to summit Katahdin. I was relieved to hear that news because I wanted Navi to experience the awesome sights once we were at the top, and to do it safely.The three miles of rock climbing would be a memorable experience in itself. We have some clouds but plenty of sunshine. After the Professor gave us the report, he disappeared into the woods. I am so happy to have him summit on the same day as us. Slow Walker had already started his summit about an hour earlier than us. I hope we see him at the top also. The first mile was fairly simple and Navi did just fine with the steady incline. The view of Katahdin Stream Falls was just awesome, so you know I just had to get a few pictures. It wasn¢t long before we started to encounter some bigger rocks but at this point you could still use trekking poles. Navi was having a little trouble with her breathing but she kept pushing upward. The rocks got bigger as we got closer to the end of the treeline. At one point, there was a break in the treeline and we got a great view of Owl Mtn. to the west or northwest, and to the south were views of the many lakes and ponds in the wilderness area. Navi was awed by the breathtaking views. It brought back the memories of 02¢ when my friends Two Step, Moonchild, and myself made our summit on August 9, and there wasn¢t a cloud in the sky. Finally we were out of the treeline and looking up at the boulder field ahead of us. I had forgotten just how big the boulders were and that using trekking poles was a waste of time. It wasn¢t long before we reached the section where you had some bars to pull yourself up the granite rocks and then it was on to the next obstacle. Navi did really great and at times it was funny because when we finished a difficult section she would stop and say, ¢ Are we there yet? ¢ As we continued the climb I stopped to look for the Professor, but he was nowhere in site. The higher we got in elevation the more spectacular the views became and the rock scramble got kicked up a notch. At one point in the climb, the memories of 02¢ came rushing back. The excitement of the climb where Two Step and Moonchild were waiting for me to finish. It is such an emotional time that it is hard to really all the feelings that come into play. This time is even more exciting because I will have hiked the whole trail and I have Navi here with me. Well as the boulders get bigger and harder to navigate, Navi has slowed to a snails pace, but that¢s okay because she is still here doing it. Then we got to a short flat area and saw the 2 mile mark and the climb that ensues before we reach the table lands. Navi was a little intimidated but kept on moving towards our goal. A hiker that looked to be in his early 60¢s was coming down at a pretty good pace but stopped to have a chat with us. He is very talkative and asked if this was our first time to summit Katahdin and where we were from. Then he told us he is a local who summits Katahdin at least 30 to 40 times a year to keep in shape, and I have to say he is in great shape for his age. He is probably the only person to accomplish such a feat. Though he does look good, he told us he had recently been diagnosed with cancer. His spirits are great and in spite of he recent news he plans to keep up his trek to the summit till his body tells him it is time to quit. Once again, you can¢t judge a book by it¢s cover. I don¢t think anyone will come close to his record of at least 400 summits of Mt. Katahdin any time soon. It was very inspiring to talk to him. Finally, after climbing over the last boulder we reached the Table Lands and the summit was in our view. We have only 1.8 miles to go at this point and I could look to the summit and show Navi where the sign should be. We still couldn¢t see the Professor even though we could see hikers way out in front of us.You couldn¢t have asked for a better day to summit, the temp was about 70 degrees with a light winds and a few clouds. We stopped to look back and it was an awesome site to be able to see White Cap Mtn. off in the distance and the views kept getting better as we moved closer to the summit. About a 12 mile from the summit we recognized a hiker coming towards us as Slow Walker. He was so happy to see us and said it was an exciting end to his hike and couldn¢t believe it was over. As he was coming down he said he saw the Professor and that he was almost at the summit. We told him we were very happy for him and that we would see him in town tonight. Then it was on to the summit. When I got closer and could see the sign with a couple of hikers standing close by, but mind you at this distance they looked like ants still. At that moment it stuck me that the years of preperation, the pain, the change of seasons, the wet times, the hot times, and all the wonderful people along the way, it will all be over in a matter of 20 minutes. I don¢t want it to end, and I can¢t contain the tears that are overwhelming me with every step I take and one less blaze to pass. So much sorrow, but at the same time, the feelings of joy overcome the sadness. It¢s almost like hearing the music to a Rocky movie as he makes his way up the steps and overlooking the city in triumph, the heart pounding, the blood rushing through the veins like a raging fire when you claim your victory. ¢ What a rollercoaster ride!!!¢ And I haven¢t made it to the summit yet. As we got closer I had to tell Navi I have to get to the top quick because my feet are really bothering me so she said to go on ahead. I made it in five minutes and when I got to the summit, those feelings all came rushing back. This time, just to many emotions to explain. I felt so happy for Navi as she slowly took the final steps towards the sign. We hugged and congratulated each other on our accomplishment. ¢We did it !!!¢ Navi then took a picture of me kissing the sign, my moment of glory.The Professor was there also and after we congratulated him, he took a picture of Navi and I. I was so happy that we got to finish together. There was also a couple called the Romin Noodles and a hiker by the name of Pipe Smoke who has done a thru-hike before. The Nooldles brought a bottle of bubbly for the occasion to share with the everyone and I carried up a bottle beer for Navi and I because I¢m very picky about bubbly or wine. We all had a great time. The Noodles are both doctors, Cindy, and her husband Paul are finishing their hike they started in 04¢also. Since I had my cell-phone, I decided to call my friend Two Step but he didn¢t answer the call, so I called my other friend and mentor Greg Collins from Florida. He couldn¢t believe I was calling him from the top of Mt. Katahdin and was very happy for Navi and I. I told him about our class1 day and the awesome 360 views we could see. When he did his thru-hike in 90¢, he said he didn¢t get to see a thing because Katahdin was fogged in. I owe a lot to Greg for helping to prepare for this momentous occasion. I knew absolutely nothing about hiking or backpacking. I hadn¢t even walked a mile in twenty seven years because of my VietNam injury. He helped with the gear choices and the type of training to attempt a thru-hike.I had the desire and he had the knowledge. It took 8months of hard training with a 50lb pack before I was ready for the challenge. On March 24, of 02¢ I attempted my first thru-hike and it ended with a broken ankle on my first day in the Great Smoky Mountains, about 34 mile from the Spence Field Shelter on April 6. I learned some very important lessons from that hike. 1 lighten the load, 2 slow down, and 3 it¢s not about the miles, it¢s about the journey and the people, but of course, that¢s only my opinion. I have many people to thank for making this moment come true. I will do that at the end of this journal, but first I have to thank the one most important of all. That is my Lovely wife Jaime (Navi). Truly,Truly, without her support and encouragement, the many risk she took in 04, traveling the back road areas that most women wouldn¢t think of venturing on. Then here in Maine, in 06¢ on these logging roads that can be very dangerous because of the trucks that barrel down these remote roadways. I am the luckiest man in the world to have you as my sole mate. Thank You for Everything.As we rested and savored the moment we told the Professor, the Romin Noodles we would meet them in town to have dinner, and then we started our trek back down the mountain. They got a good head start on us and as we made our way down the Table Lands we saw a couple that we had seen in the parking lot this morning. It turned out that they travel and do an article for a magazine and was interested in maybe doing an article about our travels. At some point they would be in Florida and hopefully we could get together to talk more about it. That sure would be something, but I¢ve had that offer before and nothing ever came of it. Oh Well!!!. We had a good time talking to them anyway. We were making our way down and Navi was a little faster getting down, even though she was on her butt sliding down on the rocks. Her hands also took a beating. Sliding on this granite can really put a hurt on you, and even wear a hole in a pair of pants. I know a person who did just that. Guess who? And it¢s not me. We made it down in 4 12 hours, a half hour less than going up. Then it stuck me again that it was all over. It felt so strange, kind of numbing, and what will I do now. We made our way back to the parking lot and drove back to the lodge to get cleaned up and then meet everyone at the Scootic In restaurant. It was nice to see Professor,the Noodles, Slow Walker, and Pipe Smoke and his wife Jeannie. It certainly was a great way to end the day. We all had something to celebrate. To all who will follow us. ¢ Savour Every Wonderful Moment on the Trail.¢ You may never come this way again.