Date: 2014-08-24
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite - Millinocket, ME

To: Mt. Katahdin, ME - AT Northern Terminus
Miles today: 5.2

Today was the day. The culmination of this amazing five month journey. I stayed in town so we were up very early in the morning, grabbing breakfast at McD's when it opened at 5:00 am and then headed to the Baxter Park entrance 20+ miles away. We arrived at the gate around 5:45 am about car number 10 in line to enter the park. The gates opened right at 6 am and we proceeded up to the check-in point. We had purchased a day parking pass online a week prior so we were all set. I noticed the first car in line had to turn around probably because they did not have a parking pass. The passes are limited to only about 50+ given out each day. We passed the check-in and off we went to the Katahdin Stream Campground where I pulled off the trail two days prior. When we arrived we ran into Murphy and Johawk who were also finishing their journey today. They were waiting for a friend who was also driving in to join them. Erik and I hit the trail just before 7:00 am, signing into the trail register and then up the trail we went. Looking up toward the mountain I could see gray clouds lingering around the peak. I hoped it would clear up later this morning. I desperately wanted to see the views of the lands I had covered in the 100 mile wilderness.   I was pumped up as Erik and I continued up the steepening trail. The first mile was very easy with only a light slope and then the next mile the trail was steeper with some small rock and root hops.   At about mile three we reached the tree line and now the real climbing began. Our pace slowed literally to a crawl as we had to navigate over large boulders. On either side of the rocky climb was a steep drop off providing us with gorgeous unobstructed views, but making the climb a bit exciting as there was no room for error.   Erik did well through it all. He did mention as we scrambled up the boulder he had some fear of heights.... I told him this is probably not the best time to figure that out but he pushed on regardless. :-).   He is a tall kid about 4-5 inches taller than me. Height is an advantage on these climbs as he could better reach some of the handholds and footings. As we worked up the ridge I could see he was taken by the beauty of the scenery below. I told him it only gets better as we go up. After about an hour of rock climbing we made it to Tablelands. This is actually the easiest section of the mountain. The trail flattens out and the peak comes into view. As we approached, the lingering clouds began to push off, providing us with deep blue skies overhead. This was perfect just the way I had dreamed it would be as we picked up our pace toward the peak. And then there it was the Katahdin Peak sign...... I moved to it and touch it.   It is real... I am really here.... I made it. There were a few other thru hikers who had come up earlier and hollered out, "Congrats!" It was just too much. All that time, all that hiking, all the thoughts of what it would be like to make it and here I was.....I hopped up on the sign and yelled out, "Yeah!!!" I got all of the poses I could on the sign; beside the sign, with my walking stick and pack, without the stick and pack, with champagne bottles in hand, etc., etc. (See photos). Hey I am a ham....Oh by the way I had come up the mountain with my full pack. I had hiked the entire AT with all this gear (with no slack packing) so being a purist I had to lug the entire pack (tent and all) up to the top. The champagne I brought was simply a facsimile of my normal food weight. :-)A few more thru hikers came in shortly after me and we cheered them on as they approached the peak sign. In total there were 12 of us thru hikers sitting beside the sign, drinking, eating, visiting and just taking in the moment. The group included Johawk, Murphy, Adrian, Shivers, Puma, Space Blanket, Somon, Kalpaca, Sharp Knife, Hiccup, Bagheera and yours truly, Shortcut. For about a half hour, it was only thru hikers atop the mountain. Then I could see the first day hikers approaching and I said we need to get the group photo and the champagne celebration now before the peak fills up with day trippers. So up we went surrounding the sign with smiles and excitement. We took a few still photos and then I said it is time. I said ready, GO and those that brought champagne (including yours truly) let loose! Erik took still photos of the pandemonium. It was magical as we all screamed out our joy at once (see photo). It was done! We all settled back down laughing as we passed the champagne around finishing off what was left in the bottles. Over the next hour we all sat quietly watching the peak area fill up with day hikers. At noon Erik and I said our goodbyes and salutes to the fellow thru hikers and headed back down the mountain (a 3.5 hour endeavor). Others also got up and started the similar trek back down to the base and our reintroduction to lives we left before the AT journey. Erik and I took it slow down the mountain, soaking up the last views of the vast expanse of Maine's mountains and valleys I had cross the previous days on the AT (see photos). It was a sad goodbye as we made it down to the tree line and the views disappeared from sight.... The remainder of the descent was generally quite as we reached the base around 3:30 pm. We packed up and headed into town and a chance to celebrate. However when we arrived in town most of the restaurants were closed because of a town-wide power outage. The word was our best bet for a beer was the Blue Ox Saloon so we headed over there. What a great little gem this place was and most importantly they were serving cold beer! I let other thru hikers know via text where cold beer could be had in town and those who summited the mountain today trickled in to the saloon. We ordered pizza from one of the only places serving food that night, drank beer and told trail stories late into the night (well late for hikers....it was after 10 pm at least). It was truly a memorable day in my life.