Date: 2015-09-28
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 2.6

I had the alarm set for 5 to give us time to get breakfast before the 6:15 shuttle to Baxter State Park. BB had hers set for 4:50, but it never went off - until 4:50 that afternoon! I woke her up and she got dressed in the dark and headed out to breakfast. I hadnt slept the night before. so I crawled back into bed for a few minutes. I was tossing and turning much of the night over whether to hike today or not.A Trail Angel had offered to pick us up and summit with us, but she wasn't feeling well the afternoon before, so we were on our own. The shuttle option would give us less time to make it up and down again, adding to worry about my decision. On the weeked the park would be crowded and it would be easy to get a ride to town; less so on a Monday.I was lazy for about 5 minutes and then got out of bed and made tea. I always think better with my morning "cuppa." I wanted to be in the park for BB and my knee and feet felt better after a day's rest, so I ate my fave breakfast (chocolate BelVita) and got my rear in gear to get ready. By the time BB was back, I was dresed and had my water and pack all set.We registered at the Ranger Station and the park Ranger really wanted to give me a thru hiker Number, but I told him that there was no way I would hike the rest of the AT this year, so a section hiker I am.We started hiking up and an incredible easy trail. We passed Miss Janet and some hikers at a campsite. Soon the trail evloved into a bit more of the rocks and roots we were used to, and before we knew it we had crossed the Katahdin Stream Bridge. We had moved very quickly and had covered a bit over a mile in about 20 minutes. After the bridge, the trail turned into a staircase made of rocks. BB called it the "Stairway to Heaven." The view of the falls was breathtaking. After this point, it was the beginning of a boulder scramble and we had fun climbing up and over the boulders. This went on for another mile until we reached just before treeline. At this point, I had BB go on. I was concerned with how hard the descent would be. I love climbin UP boulders, but am not so big on the downs and many of the hikers who had previously summitted were compaining of sore knees. Albert Mountain, way back in NC, was perfect for me. A rocky scramble for a mile or do on the up and a kind and gentle descent. With Katahdin, I knew that what I hiked up, I would have to go down - unless I took a more risky or longer trail.After BB left, I had a snack and then did another .4 to treeline. At that point I called it a day. BB told me later that the trail got harder after that, but that she thinks I could do it. I think so too and may try it some time in the future.I took my time hiking down and was still at the stream within an hour. I found a nice log and waited for BonBon to come on down. I made a great video of her (modestly speaking) and then we hurried down the rest of the trail to get our return shuttle with time to spare. We saw Miss Janet again and made donations to her gas fund. Back in Millinocket we had pizza and beer and wine and celebrated. Congratulations to BobBon for completing such a difficult journey. For those familiar with the trail, you know how difficult it is. For those that don't, to drive from Springer to Katahdin is about 1384 miles. This means that the elevation changes account for about 805 miles. To put this into perspective, the elevation gain/loss of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 16 times. I posted a short video of BonBon "coming down the mountain" if you would like to share her success!!!!!She is part of a small number of hikers who complete the length of the trail within one calendar year. I am in awe of her accomplishment. We met via the AT on this site. While it is a bit like speed dating, I think this is a friendship for life."It always seems impossible until it is done." Nelson Mandela