Date: 2018-09-29
From:  The Birches Lean-tos

To: Katahdin, Baxter Peak
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

I will be posting a final conclusion article by October 23rd.It has been nearly six months since the adventure began back on April 6. I've chipped away at the over 2,000 miles one day at a time and finally, today was the day to summit Mount Katahdin. Red Bard used the last of his coffee to make a community pot for the tramily. Even without sugar and cream, it was great coffee. For breakfast I had a cinnamon roll and six Oreo cookies. Not the best of breakfasts but enough calories to get the job done. After breaking camp we headed to the ranger station where we left non-essentials that we wouldn't need today. Items like a sleeping bag, extra clothes, tent, etc., were left behind. It's not legal to spend the night on Mount Katahdin so we'd be hiking up the 5.2 miles, have our celebration, then hiking back down to the ranger station.The first couple of miles were relatively flat and we moved like the wind. We were filled with eagerness like kids on Christmas morning. We passed many hikers that were there just for the day. With all the miles we've done, we were conditioned well. When the climb began it was not easy, but not very difficult either. There were large rock fields to climb and at times we had to rid ourselves of trekking poles and literally climb upwards. The sky was clear at this point and the sun was shining providing spectacular views. Every so often we'd stop to admire the scenery behind us and take some photos. The higher we climbed the more the winds picked-up. Eventually, we reached a portion of the mountain called the tableland. Here, the terrain flattened out quite a bit and was a more gradual climb of 1.5 miles to the summit. The wind was also brisk, we were now in the clouds, and it was now much colder than it was at the ranger station. I'd started in shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt, but now I was in leggins, thicker shorts, a long sleeve shirt and wearing my rain jacket.When we reached the summit the sign was surrounded with about 30 hikers. One by one we made our way to the sign and had our moment with completing the 2,190.9 mile adventure. When I approached the sign I had with me my AT tag from Georgia and a coin from my father's coin collection. I touched these to the summit sign to signify carrying the AT tag the entire distance and to pay tribute to my late Father. We then found a spot off to the side to relax, take it all in, and have lunch. I only ate a protein bar and a snickers. After about 30 minutes we made our way back to the summit sign to take our photos. It was a feeling a can't really describe to finally be standing atop the sign on the summit of Mount Katahdin. The adventure was now complete! It began as a comment on a bus trip some years ago and now I had lived the adventure.For most of the downward climb I was alone. It was only fitting as I was still taking in the fact that all the hard work was over and I'd be returning home soon. It wasn't until I was less than a half mile from the ranger station that tears ran from my eyes. I was the first of the four of us to reach the ranger station. One by one my tramily arrived and after we were all there we made our final plans. We took a shuttle from the ranger station to the hostel in the small town of Millinocket, Maine. It was an hour ride and it felt really strange to be leaving the back country for the final time. That evening we all went for pizza. We ordered three large pizzas but quickly realized it was not enough and ordered two more larges. We could have easily downed a sixth large.Bugz and Robinhood left the following day and Red Bard the day after. I cried as they left not knowing if or when I'd ever see them again. Hopefully with social media we can stay in touch and perhaps one day our trails will cross paths again. I could not have asked for a better group of individuals to hike with to finish my adventure. I spent a few days in Millinocket then took a bus to Portland, Maine, and was met by my brother Robert and brother-in-law Ron. I thank them for coming to pick me up. We had a nice time in Portland before returning home. For book followers, mile 2,190.9 page 219.