Date: 2003-09-05
To: End of the Trail - Mt Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: scattered clouds

We were up and packing early getting ready for the last climb of the trail. Fish, 2 Paw, and Dead Man joined us last night at "The Birches" making it 6 of us that would make the climb to the summit in the morning. Dead Man has been Section Hiking the trail since 1976 and is on his final leg with us today. Fish, 2 Paw, and Dead Man left first around 6:45am, then Big Paw, who was meeting his mother at the Rangers Station to climb with him, then Beekpr and me around 7:15. We went to the Rangers Station first to leave our backpacks and to borrow some of their daypacks they keep for Thru Hikers going up Mt. Katahdin. It certainly makes a big difference only carrying about 10 lbs in a day pack verses the 35-40 lbs I usually carry on a climb in my backpack. We left the Rangers Station at about 7:45 and started up the trail. After signing the register a few hundred yards from the Station, we continued to proceed on a nicely graded trail. After passing a beautiful waterfall on our left the trail began to get serious and steepened abruptly until Beekpr and I were starting to haul ourselves over some of the boulders with foot and hand holds. We ran into our trail angel from the day before, Dave, who decided to climb the mountain today too, so the three of us moved up Katahdin together. The boulder scramble gets a bit hairy, to say the least, as we enter the Hunts Spur section making our trekking poles all but useless. I ended up scraping my left shin as I was pulling myself over one section of rock, but what else is new. Climbing in the White Mtns. and in Western Maine, I left plenty of DNA on those rocks too. Once over the Spur the Tablelands begin which is a pleasant, almost flat, walk for about 3/4 mile then climbs up through rock to the peak and the sign all Thru Hikers seek to see on this long, long walk from Georgia. Putting my feelings into words is very hard when my hands finally held the Northern Terminus Sign. So many memories seemed to sweep over me. The feeling was relief that I made it and a bit of regret that it was over. After a moment or two the only thing I felt was joy and proceeded to celebrate with the other Thru Hikers that summited, Beekpr, Fish, and 2 Paw, with photos and whatever each of us brought to the top to toast our success with, in my case the airline sized bottle of Peppermint Schnaps. Since it was rather chilly on the summit the schnaps warmed me up very nicely. The weather cooperated completely giving us a beautiful day with great views. About 30 minutes after summiting, Dead Man made it to the top too where we were all very happy for him after section hiking for so many years. We stayed on the summit for about an hour and then started our climb down Katahdin. On the way back through the "Tablelands" we passed Big Paw and his mother on the way up and congratulated him for reaching the end. Dave was still with us when we emerged at the Rangers Station and was nice enough to give Beekpr and myself a ride into Millinocket and to the Best Western where we'll wait for our wives to arrive tomorrow. So many people have asked me if this hike was everything I expected. My anwser will always be the same...It was more than I expected and it taught me a lot about myself and other people. This was a trip of a lifetime and I'm so glad I had the opportunity. The support I had from my family made it all possible for which I'll always be thankful. Thanks to all who have sent me such encouraging messages on this web site and thanks to the many, many kind and generous people I've met from Springer to Katahdin. If you have any questions about the trail or this journal please email. I'll never forget you and I'll never forget my experiences on the Appalachain Trail.