Date: 2004-08-02
From: Baxter State Park, Maine

To: Abol Pines Tenting Area, Abol Bridge, Maine
Miles today: 5.2

5.2 milesAbol Pines Tenting AreaAbol Bridge, Maine12:30am; I've been trying to get Hippie up for a half an hour. We are going to night hike up Mount Katahdin and be up there to watch the sunrise.It's tough getting a cranky 34 year old female up, but I'm going to keep trying.I was finally able to bug her enough to get her up and we started climbing Katahdin at 2am.I took the lead and Hippie followed. I had barrowed Coughdrops headlamp since I only use photon lights now.I needed the light while we were in the tree cover.We passed by the first water source. I remembered water about 2 miles up the mountain, so we got water there. The moon was just 2 days past full, so it was bright out once we got above tree line. It took us about 2 hours to get above the tree line. There were 2 long rock scrambles on the way up to the summit and it is much different scrambling up the side of a mountain by moonlight. Hippie was extra tired, but she was climbing on legs that are used to Pa. hills. That's where she flipped from.I was surprised at how much easier this climb was this year for me. The first time I climbed it, I was finishing a nobo thru hike, so I was in great shape and Katahdin just seemed like another bump.. Last year when I climbed it to start my sobo thru hike, I worked my butt off. This year, I've hiked Maine already and that got my legs ready for the climb. We got up to the summit at about 5:30am and we got some nice pictures of the sun coming up. There was a cloud covering the summit earlier, but it blew off by the time we got up here. I said hello to Pamela.The temperature was in the upper 40s with a 20mph wind, so it felt pretty cool. Hippie just wanted to get into her sleeping bag and get some sleep and warm up. I was ready to play, so I left her there and I went and hiked the Knifes Edge. I went over some really steep ridges and it took over an hour to get to the other side. I took some pictures and then hiked on back.I've finally hiked Knifes Edge!!! I've wanted to do it for a long time, but it never worked out the other times that I climbed Katahdin. The Knife Edge is alot of fun, but you can't be afraid of heights. It was nice getting to see Katahdin from a different angle.I hiked back and Hippie was still sleeping. I think I'm going to have to find me a younger friend that would rather play than sleep.Other hikers started arriving at the summit. I found a rock that fit my back comfortably and am waiting on John Galt and Coughdrop to get up here. It's 10:10am and they may still be sleeping, but I'm in no hurry to go anywhere. Redbeard showed up with his parents and had three Yeunling Lagers. He gave me one, Hippie one and he drank one...trail magic on Katahdin!!! His mom and dad were really happy to have made it up here.Congratulations Redbeard on completing your thru hike. There were quite a few people up here today. Must be summer vacation time for alot of people.John Galt and Coughdrop got up here about noon.We all hung out until 1:30pm. We talked to Stick, who is also flipping.After taking some pictures, we started hiking back down the mountain. It took 3 hours to get down.Hippie and I spent 14 hours on that mountain today.When we got back to Katahdin Stream Campground, we headed for Abol Bridge and found out they were full. Abol Pines is across the road from them and that's where we ended up. I played hard today. I had a hard time staying awake on the way over here in the car. We saw a cow moose run across the road just before we got here. That makes 9 moose I've seen up here this year.I only got to log 5.2 official miles today, but I hiked the 5.2 up and 2.2on Knifes Edge and 5.2 back down. They are some of the tougher miles on the trail, but they are fun rock scrambling miles. I really enjoyed finally getting to hike Knifes Edge.Trek summited while I was hiking the Knifes Edge, so I didn't get to see him finish his hike.I should be able to get a bunch of pictures posted after I finish the wilderness.It seemed warm after I got in my tent to go to sleep, so I went down to the river and got in to cool off.I wish every day could seem this long. Living life to the fullest.Another great day on the A.T.