Date: 2014-08-25
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 5.3

Day 177, August 25, 2014I like my life. I especially like it now that everyone is back on level ground safe and sound!!!I had hoped to be on the trail to Katahdin by 6 a.m. But no mas. We were hiking just after eight. With the understanding you walk what you want. Ms. Bell opted out just before the rocks and roots starting invading us (smart move it turns out). We took a detour to Katahdin Falls. And man oh man was it beautiful. Arguably one of the most memorable falls I have ever seen. A short bit after the Mom decides to bolder hop and attempts a 3 foot wide 2 foot up stride. She misses and falls hard!!! It scared the crap out of me. She on the other hand is awkwardly unperplexed. More worried about her glasses then her pains (so unlike me when Maine takes me down). It ended up that she had a scrapped and bruised leg and a sprained wrist. A sprained wrist on this type of trail is NOT good!! We are talking class 3/4 scrambles. Well, do you know what she did? She kept walking for two more miles. She is one tuff inspiring woman let me tell you and I am so glad and proud that she is my MomJust before the last big scramble we decided we had a time issue on our hands. So Mom and Manju decided to head back down the mountain. Woody and I headed up to the summit. Somewhere during the walk down Mom and Manju decided that Kim and Uncle Sparky were the smartest people in our little group. I got up there a few minutes before Woody. You can see the sign from a good way back. And as I got closer I could feel the emotion boiling in my system. About ten feet from the sign it boiled over. I started to cry like a little baby. There was a small line of people getting pictures at the sign so I went and sat on a rock, Opened a BL and shed a few more tears of joy. There were two other thru hikers, Dog and Hemlock, sumitting and we sat together taking it in. So, when I was in high school I had a Teacher who wore black leather pants. I thought that was just the coolest thing. I always wanted leather pants. Current style be damned!! I just never got around to ever really buying a pair. From the last few years I have always contended that if I really walked the whole Appalachian Trail I would buy and wear those black leather pants on Katahdin. Haha!! And so I did!!!! Two bucket list items in one day. One thing to always remember is when you walk up a mountain you have to walk down. Poor Woody was so tired on that walk down the mountain. Going down is also just as hard as going up. We spent lots of time on our butts. At one point Woody says, "De I am spent! The only thing getting me down this Mountain is gravity! !!: But we did make it down and before dark. I am darn proud of him. He really dug deep to make it up there with me and I will always remember sharing that moment on Katahdin with him. Pot-of-Gold and Lucky Charms sent me a cardboard Cooper so I did get a pic with Coop summiting. Charlotte and Les also sent me a congratulations card with some spirits. Thanks Gals!!!!!!We didn't get back to the cabins until 9PM. Uncle Spark, Kim, U-Haul and Dozer were all there to give us hugs and congratulations. And they had all prepared and cook us steaks and baled potatoes for dinner. Thanks everyone!!! What a day. What an adventurous awesome incredible day!! The End!! Cowgirl and CooperHiked today: 5.3 Completed: 2185.3 Remaining: 0.0 Start Point: Katahdin Springs Campground End point: Mount Katahdin States Completed: 14 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9), VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4) States Remaining: 0