Date: 2016-09-21
From: Katahdin Stream campground

To: Katadin 
Miles today: 5.2

We had breakfast at the hotel. Storm brought down some chocolate chips the add to our waffles. That was just what was needed. When we got to the Katahdin stream campground we saw hikers we knew and haven't seen for awhile. It was all very emotional. My husband Stephen was determined to summit with us. This would be his first hike. The trail starts off gentle then as usual it changes. Then it becomes a boulder climb. Stephen said in his wildest nightmares he never thought it was going to be this hard. He gained a new appreciation for what it took to complete this trail. I told him I was mountain climbing in the Whites. He didn't understand what I meant until today. Storm's husband Jeff and his brother Doug where a tremendous help. We really all worked together to get up that mountain. I would not have wanted to do it alone. Kirk was also with us. It is his Dad's walking stick that Storm carried for him all the way from Springer mountain. Kirk's Dad died from cancer before he could hike the trail. Kirk and Storm knew each other in University. Kirk works for the news out of Portland I think. He interviewed Storm. He was filming us. When we got to the sing at the top I couldn't stop crying. I made it. I do not like to cry in front of people. I did not like my picture taken while crying. It made me very uncomfortable. This was the moment I had worked for and dreamed about for so long. I did it. I asked for help at the sign . It was very windy and I wanted to stand on it, victorious, like I had seen others do. There is a huge drop off about five feet behind the sign. Really, they don't make anything easy Storm and Jeff steadied me as I stood there for my picture. This is a picture I really wanted. Getting down was going to be another challenge. I was concerned about the time. Kirk suggested we take the Abole campground trail. It's shorter by a mile. It didn't have the boulders to climb over and down, tricky. It was very steep with loose gravel and dirt. I had trouble with it. My shoes were done for . The sides were split so my feet turned in them when I steeped on an angel. My knees were not dependable any more at this point. My ankles were turning more easily. I was worn out. The good news was that Stephen liked this trail much better. He was in a lot of pain from his knees as well but his confidence on the trail was great. This was the most challenging first hike he could ever have picked. Because we took a different trail back down we had to get a ride back to our cars and to the people who were waiting for us. Amazingly Julie and Bill Haas who came from Nova Scotia to see me, where waiting at the "wrong" place. They were right there waiting for us as we came out. They congratulated us then drove us around to our cars as we explained to them what had happened. It was so great. After lots of smiles and hugs and tears we headed to Millinocket for dinner all together. While there we met up again with other hikers. There is such a bond with these people. Only another hiker knows really what you just went through. Storm and I sat together at supper. I was dreading saying goodbye to him.