Date: 2008-09-11
From: Abol Pine Campground

To: MT. KATAHDIN!!!
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 182 -- Peanut climbed to the top of Mt. Katahdin on Sept. 11 after 182 days and over 2175 miles!!! More details to follow!!!Our alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. but it was so cold out that we didn't want to get out of our bags...so we didn't leave until after 7 a.m. The three of us hiked together all the way to Katahdin Stream Campground. We registered and started the 5 mile hike to the end of our thruhike. On the way I stopped to get water and ended up doing a very graceful turn and fall into the stream -- my shoes and socks getting soaked with cold water. Great. On the way up we ran into the ranger who warned us that we were starting up a little late. We decided we would be okay, but stepped up the pace anyway. The terrain started out a pretty slight uphill and quickly got steeper and steeper, rockier and rockier. One could tell we were approaching treeline because the trees were getting shorter and shorter as I climbed. Eventually I broke treeline and started much steeper climbing of huge boulders. There were a few places where rebar was inserted to give a handhold or foothold for hikers (more like climbers at this point). At this point I struggled some because I was carrying my full pack. Even though the ranger's station provides daypacks to make it easier, I opted not to. This is because my full pack was with me the whole time since Springer. I didn't slackpack once (my choice; not doggin' on slackpackers mind you) and I heard it was possible to go up with it. Well, at this point in the hike I decided to ditch the pack, with Wrongway's help and at his suggestion. He, the wonderful partner that he is, after helping me up one tough climb, took my extra clothes that I might need at the top, and put them in his pack. I left my pack and poles on the side of the trail and hiked on. This was very tough for me -- I almost felt like I had failed or something. I feel I could've summited with my full pack, but with a small amount of daylight left and so needing to keep the pace up, not to mention my recent clumsiness (I was unsteady on awkward climbs and had been falling a lot lately...not a good combination.)   Ditching my pack was the right decision though, I know. I might be stubborn and also like to do things hardcore, but I know my limitations. I tried.    Anyway, the hike was a lot easier after that, as you can imagine. We ran into a lot of thru hikers on our way up. We apparently missed a big party at the summit. We saw Site, Jackaroo, Mary Poppins, Professor Long Johns, Gumby, Sherlock, and Blues Traveler. We also saw Ameoba, Memeir (sp?), and Pipe Smoke, and lots of other hikers. Lake (who I met yesterday at the store) and I leap-frogged a bunch. When I first reached the tablelands, a more "flat" rocky area on top, I rested with Wrongway, Stamper (sectioner), Tinker and his son, Dave. It was great to finally catch up with Tinker and chat with him for a bit. We rushed on towards the summit, myself arriving last, around 3 p.m.. I was a little emotional, but not to the extent that I was expecting. I think I felt rushed all day and mentally I was focused on making good time and not on the fact that this was it--the last of it. Even the fact that we were summiting today felt rushed. We took tons of photos, some with Lake's help.    Wrongway went ahead down to try to get us a ride to Millinocket and Uphill and I hiked the tablelands back together. Once we started going down steeper he got further and further ahead of me, but Lake came up behind me pretty quickly. He slowed down and hike with me, which was great. We talked a lot and the time went by quickly -- pleasant conversation...nice guy. We got to where Uphill was waiting for me, near where I left my pack (I had asked him to wait in case I needed help getting down with my full pack on). I realized, though, that my pack was no longer there. I searched around, asked a nearby dayhiker, Tony, and started freaking out a little. For one, all my gear was gone, my license, credit card, etc... For two, what if someone just moved it and I hike down the mountain and have to climb it again tomorrow to fetch it? Uphill said he would run ahead to see if it was further down the trail and I would start down slowly in case he needed to run back up to tell me where it is. Soon I hear him yelling to me that he had it. Apparently Wrongway had carried it down to treeline for me, past the scary areas and had asked Ameoba, Memeir, and Pipesmoke to tell me when I saw them. The did tell me, but I didn't see them until after we found the pack. Anyway, how awesome of Wrongway to help me out like that! On the way down I chatted a bunch with Pipesmoke, but felt I had to keep moving in case the guys had secured a ride and were waiting for me...good thing, too. When I got down to the campground they were at Tinker's site and the ride was due to arrive in 5 minutes. On our way over to the ranger's station, we saw Pod, Rhody, Pond Scum, Fred, Jeremy, and Icarus, all planning to summit tomorrow. At the ranger's station we got a 2,000 miler application and our number--I was the #232 NOBO to summit this year. We hung out there with everyone, waiting for the ride. Paul and Jaime from an AT hostel in Millinocket, picked us up and took us to Econolodge since their place was full...bummer since most of the others were staying there. We (Uphill, Wrongway, Stamper, and I) showered,ate a lot (surpised?), and tried to go to bed. "Beyond talent lie all the usual words: discipline, love, luck -- but most of all, endurance."         --James Arthur Baldwin