Date: 2018-08-03
From: Gentian Pond shelter (mile 1904.4)

To: Carlo Col trailhead / Bridgton ME (mile 1909.6)
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

The view from the shelter this morning as the sun rose was beautiful, so I definitely made a good choice to stay there. Though today has been the planned stop date for a while, I couldn't help but notice that it felt surreal telling people that today was my last day. I still packed up like usual, filtered water like usual, and started hiking like usual.The trail is definitely a place where you never stop learning tips and tricks. Before leaving the shelter, an older SOBO couple tought me how to tie an Italian knot, which is quicker than a double knot but less likely to come undone.Soon after leaving the shelter I caught up to Bird, a 2013 thruhiker I've gotten to know over the past few days, and the crew from the brook crossing day (Sameyes, Vermont, Dirtbag Dave, Playboy, and Pegasus), who I leapfrogged the rest of the day. After a bit of climbing we reached the last peak of my section, which is awesomely called Mount Success. The views from the glacier-smoothed open rock near the top were fantastic to take in, from the Whites behind us to the rest of the Mahoosucs in Maine ahead of us. I tried to find a supposed side trail to a plane crash and couldn't find it, but at least got to bring up the story about peeing off the wing of a bomber at 10,000 feet at Philmont because of it (which is technically completely true). During the descent we were all excited for the Maine border. Upon reaching it we all dropped packs and celebrated in our own way. I took my time there, as I had waited 614.4 miles to get to that sign! For me the celebration included returning a piece of Maine Birch bark from Mr. Fanelli's Appalachian Trail hike that I've been carrying with me, in addition to writing my own message on another piece of Birch bark. It felt fantastic to finally reach what has seemed like such a far away goal, and the rest of the NOBO thruhikers were pumped to be in their last state. I wished them luck with the rest of their journey as they headed out and they wished me luck in college.After finally getting all the pictures I wanted and letting out another celebratory yell, I hiked the last 0.5 miles of the trail and laid my Birch bark marker at the base of a Maine birch tree - returned as promised, which felt amazingly rewarding and cathartic. While doing so Bear Bait showed up at the side trail junction. We took more pictures and left a surprise to help out hikers at the Carlo Col shelter before heading down Carlo Col trail to the car. I got my reward ice cream for finishing there, and we drove out on the very rocky ATV access roads. A stop at Burger King was my first meal back before heading to the hotel. I enjoyed the scenery on the drive - many people rave about the scenery and lakes in Maine along the trail.Once back at the hotel room, I took the opportunity to clean up and decompress a little bit. We headed out to grab breakfast for the next morning and were planning to eat dinner at a popular local restaurant, but it was too long of a wait so we ate near our hotel at a sports bar with a live band. It seems like everything is booked up this weekend because there's a big ATV festival nearby that a lot of out of towners are visiting. After returning, I sorted my gear for the flight back home and caught up on news that I've missed. It's a strange thought that the backpack which has essentially carried my life for the past two months will no longer be needed again for a while.I don't feel super tired yet even though I hiked fast and did lots during my last few days on the trail, but that's normal during the end of a trip for me - I feel like Superman knowing that I'll soon have a place to completely rest up regardless of how much I push myself through.