Date: 2016-07-20
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Mt. Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2

Just to make it clear. The Appalachian Trail ends at the summit of Mt. Katahdin. I could not stay there so my total miles for today was 10.4. I did hike down!All of us were up early today and ready to hit the trail a little before 6. Raymond's Prius would not start because his key battery was dead. He had to move his car from the campsite to day parking. After a great deal of consternation, Debbie and I realized that my lithium battery in a head light might work. It turns out that was the case and we were able to move the car and get started. We started at the trailhead at about 6:25.The first mile up was fairly gradual with the usual ME trail tread. Passed the Katahdn Stream Falls at mile 1.3 - very beautiful but I have to admit I was focused on what was to come. I was hiking ahead of Debbie and Raymond. It was nice to not feel like I would be abandoning Debbie. My head was full of contemplation and memories. I have been hiking on the trail since 2002. I never thought at that time that I would hike the entire trail. I have hiked the trail with different hiking buddies....so much to think about and so much to remember.The trail got quite rough requiring scrambling up steep steps and increasingly steep. I felt like I made steady progress towards tree line. I was having fun in a rough sort of way. Have to look ahead and figure out how I can make it up. The wind was really picking up and in spite of the work of climbing I started getting cold. I put on my puffy. Just before tree line I sat down to wait for Raymond and Debbie. While there I met a NoBo thru hiker that I knew and he talked about how hard the climb was ahead. Debbie and Raymond were not very far behind. The next bit of the trail was a major challenge. One of the places had a piece of rebar to help and I made it but Debbie is a bit shorter.....don't know how a really short person or someone climbing alone would have made it (see the photos). Speaking of photos, I took very few. I had little time or energy for pictures. I felt very focused on the trail and being safe and moving forward. At last we climbed up a steep rock fall - pretty long and required a lot of concentration. When I reached that, I could see that we had a stretch of more level trail. Raymond went on ahead and I waited for Debbie while trying to hide behind rocks to protect from the howling wind. Luckily the sun was shining but the wind had to be 30 - 40 mph. Hiked with Debbie across the tableland. This was a welcome break because way in the distance could see the climb to the summit with lots of people on it. From climbing other mountains I knew that it would take longer and be farther than it looked.Started the climb with the goal in sight but as I thought it took awhile. Again I was hiking alone with my thoughts. At the last cairn I again waited for Debbie and Raymond. I definitely wanted to summit with the best hiking buddy ever! It was very exciting to take pictures at the iconic summit sign. Everyone was so excited and complementary of the success of others. It had taken about 6 hours to get to the top (5.2 miles). After enjoying the round of pictures, it was time to find a rock to hunker down and eat lunch.We had decided to descend by the Abol Trail which we took while we were on the table lands. As soon as we left the table lands we were on the side of the mountain that had the wind blocked. It was a great relief to be free of the wind pushing and tugging and affecting my balance. HOWEVER, we were looking at a very steep descent on a long, long rock fall. Started the tedious and caution-requiring descent. It went on and on! About 2/3 of the way down the rock slide I fell. I'm pretty sure I did a flip but it was so fast I'm not sure. I really bruised my right deltoid and scraped my leg but I'm OK. I just sat for a bit to collect myself and assess the situation then soldiered on. I really don't know what happened. Finally came to the new trail that the ranger had told us about but it continued it's steep descent for another 45 minutes. Fell again on pea sized gravel and scraped skin from back of my right hand and my nose. Less violent fall, though. After steep, steep descent finally reached trail that was more reasonable and was able to hike more normally. It seemed forever to get to the Abol Campground. We were all exhausted. Total of 11 hours hiking.I started hiking to the Katahdin Stream Campground to get our car and was lucky enough to get a hitch. About the time I got there, Raymond and Debbie had also found a ride so we were all there and ready to head out - the 3 - 4 hours drive to Raymond's home in Lewiston.I feel proud. I feel exhausted! I feel beat up! It's done. I think maybe I'll celebrate more when I recover and when it really sinks in.footnote: I don't plan to hike in ME anytime soon. It is very beautiful but it is also very difficult. Sure glad I did wait until I was 75!!!