Date: 2013-09-30
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin 
Miles today: 5.3
Weather: few clouds

My brother Jim has agreed to summit with us! We are so excited for him to join us. I just wish other friends, families and readers could join us on this spectacular journey too. This day is also special because Jon and I have been married for 35 years. So Bluegrass, Twix, Jim and I wanted to leave early enough to get to the Hunt trail, which is the trailhead to Katahdin by 6am. Our daypacks were packed and ready from the night before. We got a text this morning from RV (Red Velvet) asking if we could take him to the road that turns off to ABol Bridge so he can go pick up his car (his wife, Predator and he summit yesterday). We decided to take him all the way to Abol Bridge so he wouldn¢t have to hitch in the early morning darkness.We came to the entrance gate to Baxter State Park around 7am. The rangers asked Jim if he had any pets or firewood. Well that question just about set him off again as well as us too. Anyway, he managed to contain himself and answered the questions correctly in order to get us into the park. We finally get to the trailhead around 7:30am and registered at the trailhead. There were at least a dozen hikers registered in front of us and apparently quite a few started at least two hours before us. The trail to the top was 5 12 miles with the elevation of 5,270 ft. The trail was so clean and manicured at least for the first 12 mile but I knew before long we would be hurdling ourselves over boulders. We couldn¢t wait. We were fortunate because a few days ago, the weather was estimating rain today but most recent reports were beautiful, dry and lots of sunshine (may even make it into the 70¢s). We were so lucky. In the last few days, I was trying to imagine what it would be like to make it to the top. The last 3-4 days has just been an emotional roller coaster for me and I am not even an emotional person. It has been so bad lately; I imagined it being a cry fest. Oh well, for now, I was so excited and couldn¢t wait for the challenge that was in front of us.The Hunt trail followed a river with tiny falls along the way. It wasn¢t long when you started to the boulders. There was sturdy tress off to the side where you could grab and pull. Then came the big boulders and it was difficult at times to see the white blaze. We learned fairly quickly that you really wanted to stay close to the white blaze, as that was the most recommended path up. There were rebar in a couple of boulders but even then you had to figure out on how to hoist yourself a few feet to get to the rebar. I liked the times when you had to lean or wedge yourself with your back against the boulder and then using your hands and feet walk up the crevice. Ever since Mahoosuc Notch, I love climbing over boulders. I was thinking that everything that we experienced up to this point was in preparation for this hike to Katahdin. Before today and at times, I thought the trail was trying to kill us but today, in all its glory, it was trying to celebrate with us. Once you got up the first section of boulders, you would walk on ridge full of rocks. It reminded me of Franconia Ridge except there still wasn¢t really a trail but a trail with more jagged rocks to walk on. Then it swooped up the mountain with more big rocks that you had to pull yourself over. Once we got through that section, the trail then resembled a walking path that ascended for another mile. As we walked, at one point Bluegrass pointed out to us the peak just to the left of us. You could see it about a mile away and you could barely see a bunch of hikers standing. It was exhilarating and all I wanted to do is run and so I did but I finally came to my senses and started walking. Before long, you come to a spring where we filled up our water bottles. We started to see thru-hikers returning down the trail. I was hoping that we would be able to get a picture of all the thru-hikers that summit today but since we got a late start, we would miss that opportunity. This last mile seemed like it took forever.As we ascended the last climb up to the peak you could begin to see the Katahdin sign¢¦THE famous Katahdin sign. Hikers were sitting all around on rocks, probably about 30 them. Twix and Bluegrass got there first and then Jim and I walked up. I could tell that Bluegrass and Twix were waiting to see my reaction. It was so quiet there. All I could hear was the crunch below my feet as I walked. The sun was shining and warm. The sky was cloudless and so blue. There was not any wind but stillness all around us. I walked right up to the sign and touched it, smiled and thought to myself, ¢my daughter and I made it.¢ First Bluegrass gave us high fives and hugs and then Jim. We made it! We all made it! 2,185.9 miles! It wasn¢t before long when several other hikers came up and congratulated us. There were no tears today, only joy.We sat there for about an hour, sitting on the rocks, basking in the sun and talking to others. It took us about 4 hours to get up there and we knew that getting down was not going to be an easy feat. So around 1:00pm, we thought we should get going. Now there are four trails that intersect at the peak. One trail that continues north is called the Knife¢s Edge. It looks exactly how it is named. Bluegrass and Twix have been talking about hiking this trail for quite some time now. Bluegrass wanted to hike the Knife¢s Edge when he summit the first time a few days ago but unfortunately he did not. When they were thinking about going down the same way we went up, I told them that they should hike it because this may be your last chance to hike the Knife¢s Edge. I guess they were concern that it would take us at least 90 minutes to go pick them up at that trailhead once we were down. So another hiker, who hiked up that trail, offered to hike down with them and drive them to our park¢s entrance where we could pick them up on our way out of the park. It took Jim and I about 4.5 hours to get down. On the other side of the mountain, Twix and Bluegrass were making their way down Knife¢s Edge. I will let Twix account her experience with you.As Mom had said, Bluegrass and I were thinking of hiking Knife Edge. I almost talked myself out of it when I saw the jagged edges on each rock. However, another former thru hiker told us that we should do it once in our lifetime and since we have the opportunity now it would be the best time. We start walking and within the first 20 steps I terribly regretted going with Bluegrass and the other hiker. I had to balance on each pointy rock. I couldn¢t use my hiker poles because they would get stuck in between the rocks. I was afraid that I would fall and I would bust open my chin. I thought to myself, ¢If I can only get through this I will feel blessed¢. Bluegrass kept asking me how I was feeling. I told him I was terrified and repeated that word the whole way. He asked me if I would like him to take the backpack but I figured if I fell backwards I would stop a sharp rock from going through my back.The jagged rocks only lasted 1.1 miles, it felt like it took us hours. Was this the dumbest decision I¢ve made in my life? Possibly. The trail never became easier. We had to grab on to the side of the mountain and shuffle our feet across the ledge. I never looked down but I am told that below us was at least a thousand foot drop. There were times when we only had a rock about the size of my foot to stand on. This was called the ¢no fall zone¢ because if you fall, you will die (I posted a picture of me in a no fall zone). At times I felt like I should be wearing a harness. We had to rock climb down and at times just to drop down to the next ledge. Climbing up hill was fun and that was the very last part. We get to the sign and I had a huge sigh of relief. The former thru hiker had some beers and gave us each one. After feeling like I was close to death for the last 112 hour, 1.1 miles I decided to drink a beer as well. We had completed the Knife¢s Edge section, which I felt was almost as great of an accomplishment as hiking the AT. Now we had three miles downhill to the car, which had large boulders, but I was able to use my hiking poles and catch myself when I was off balance. It took us four hours to complete. I was happy to have gone down the Knife Edge Trail and now I can say I¢ve done it. Another adventure accomplished. TwixAfter we all reunited at the park¢s entrance, we drove back to Millinocket. We envisioned that we would go out and celebrate but then changed our minds to celebrate privately with a pizza back at the motel watching Monday night football. Our AT journey has ended.The following morning, we had breakfast and then took Bluegrass and Bella back to Abol Bridge so he could hike south the 150 miles to Rangely, ME (where he left to go to his best friend¢s wedding). It was a very sad saying our goodbye to him, Bella and the woods. We then drove to Boston, Mass where Twix flew to San Diego and I flew back with Jim to Michigan where I stayed for ten days before returning to Phoenix. Today, we are both in Phoenix.This was the most incredible experience that we will ever have. It was exhilarating, fun, rewarding, challenging, frustrating, relaxing, simple and definitely the hardest thing we have ever done in our whole life. We recognize that this is not for everyone, but how do you know unless you try? I learned a lot while on the trail. I need to work on being more patient; i.e. take time out to enjoy what is going around me, relax. Life should be simple. Simplicity is a value. I learned that there are some really incredible young adults. I enjoyed spending time with them listening to their ideas and opinions. We met some really fabulous people that I wish could be in our everyday lives. I loved the hiker community and its simplistic lifestyle. Of course, we learned a lot about long distance hiking. As the hike progressed, you could tell that we all were experiencing aches and pains. Unfortunately, some had to end their hikes prematurely and those that could, would trudge on in silence. We were fortunate to stay relatively healthy and overcome when we weren¢t. I have to laugh a little of how we were at the beginning of our hike. We were such rookies¢¦we all were rookies. The anxiety that you feel just before you make that first step is normal. I found that most all the hikers, all ages, felt that way. We learned a lot from ourselves and adjusted to what worked for us and we learned so much from others. I believe the two things that we did that contributed to our success were to go slow and to go light. And lastly, I am so lucky to have had the chance to hike with my daughter. It was definitely an adventure and one that I will always treasure. At times, she was my rock when I needed it. I am so proud of her.Everyone asks us about our transition to the real world. Well, it has been going ok. I so miss the woods and it¢s lifestyle and probably always will. After three weeks of being home, I have not been able to sleep well. My legs are still sore but are improving. The good thing is I have not gained weight and I still have fingernails! It is great to see family and friends. Twix is doing very well and has begun to submit her resume and lists ¢AT Thru-Hiker¢ as one of her most recent jobs. Within a few hours of submission, she received several calls for interviews.We want to thank all our family, friends, hostel owners, trail angels and readers for your support. We could not have done this without you. Thank you Jon for holding down the fort at home and keeping all the animals alive! Thank you Bluegrass and Bella for your friendship for more than 1900 miles and more!