Date: 2008-07-10
From: THE BIRCHES

To: AHHH!! Baxter Peak, Mt Katahdin...The sign!
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: few clouds

This journal entry is the one I feel will be the hardest to write because there is no way I can fully convey this day. There are things I will forever keep to myself...there are moments along this day's hike that I won't be able to explain with words...there are the thoughts that ran through my mind that no one would be able to truly get because each day on this trail that I experienced helped to explain why and how I could come to those thoughts....and I am the only one who lived each day with me on this trail... Goodness... what a day!We woke up at 5- packed up our slack packs and threw everything else in garbage bags to drop off in the cars. We met at the trailhead- Strides, Elizabeth, Hurricane, Waterbear, Stormennorm, Lisa (his mom), and me... At 6:30AM we hit the trail. I led the first mile and then asked Hurricane, Strides, and Elizabeth to pass me. Norm, Waterbear, and Lisa were doing their own thing behind us... This allowed me to walk at my own desired pace...to talk outloud to myself and pray to God...to cry (can't deny it- it hit me twice as I climbed).. I was not sure how difficult this climb of 4100' in elevation gain in 5.2 miles would be. I did not want to feel rushed or feel competition to keep up with the faster hikers.. Being by myself also opened up the opportunity for me to not worry about anything petty, but to hike my strongest, have fun by myself, and to truly take it all in. The wind was blowing from the west pretty hard. The air was moist from the clouds. There was not much visibility to work with as we climbed. IT DID NOT MATTER! I was having FUN...and I was sincerely rejoicing; praising God. As I climbed, the sun tried to peek through a few times. I prayed fervently to have the blue sky appear...but the sun would try to shine through and then be gone 30 seconds later- wind and fog hitting me. I still just smiled.. This weather would typically hit me in the wrong way, but today was different.. I had to pull myself up these rocks, had to hug the rocks a few times because it felt like the wind was going to take me off of the rocks, I had to use the holds they fixed to the rocks. There was some rock climbing involved in this final stretch...and I loved it! As I hit the tablelands, the ground leveled out a good bit and then the last little bit had some elevation gain..rocks to jump around on... the sun trying to burn off the fog... And then I saw it... the silouttes of Strides, Hurricane, and Elizabeth...then I heard hoots and hollers from the three...then I saw the sign to the left of them...and the the SKY OPENED UP! BLUE SKY!!!! I started to jog...couldn't get there fast enough.. As soon as I hit the summit, I stood there- looking at my fellow thru-hiking pals...said, "SHUT UP!" because I couldn't believe this was real...and the tears streamed down my face.. Strides came over and hugged me..Hurricane said, "Touch the sign or it doesn't count."...haha..so I went over there and touched it..and kissed it...and stood there silently for a moment. The summit then became socked in, again...wind going crazy and chilling us to our bones.. We took pictures...and then sat on the side of a rock. We drank some champagne, ate some rum cake and wheat thins, and smiled a lot!! The blue sky would show for a few and then hide away...it was cool to me because although the weather was crummy, the blue sky was a treat to see (even just for 5 seconds at a time)...We eventually heard Waterbear, Stormennorm, and Lisa...so we stood up and hollered for them.. Cheering them on...The hike down was not as bad as I thought it would be...as we got about a third of the way down, the fog disappeared- revealing the mountains to our right. The sight was incredible...WOW! The sun came out...and our descent was quite pleasant.We got to the bottom, hugged goodbye to Norm, WAterbear, and Lisa..then the four others of us headed to BAngor...windows down, music blasting, and a satisfaction from the day's events..Perhaps I will put up one more journal entry tonight- more of what this journey has meant to me..and how the trip home went for me. I am in GReenville, SC right now. I will be headed to NC in a couple of days..headed back to camp. I have to get ready for a cookout right now...and I want to leave a focused journal entry as my final thoughts.... It will come later tonight or tomorrow..ANYWAY- thank you, ALL, for your incredible words of encouragement and prayers...for your support. I am in awe of how many of you have followed my journey and have rooted for me the entire way. It honestly humbles me that you would interested enough to keep following me... I appreciate your comments..and I will be getting back to each one of you on an individual basis if you've left email addresses.I know this journey is not truly over...and there is so much I have to even realize I have gained from this.. WOW!!!!