Date: 2006-08-04
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Mt. Baxter, Katahdin
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: broken clouds

Finally the day has arrived and it feels good. Today we will conclude this portion of our journey. Of course it is raining...but just a little as I crawl of of bed, hopefully for the last time, before the sunrise. Lug is the early bird while I like to hike late into early evening. Today we have another hiker and friend joining us, Peacemaker. Also there are about 20 other long distance hikers that we know of which are summiting today...it should be a great party. The first couple of miles are pretty tame and I am wondering if it will actually get harder. I have learned over the past couple of months that nothing on this trail is as hard as other people make it out to be. Like Lug says,"Step by Step" and it will bring you to your destination.The next couple of miles begin to challenge a bit more and now I actually feel as if I am earning my summit. We pass by boulder fields and scree climbs. There are places where rebar has been pounded into the rock to make the climb at least easier. Some places I think it is actually neccessary.The view is amazing and there is weather blowing in. They are calling for afternoon thunderstorms...my favorite. I enjoy the view from the top of a mountain much more if there are some clouds and an angry sky but being on the top when the storm reaches you just isn't my idea of fun so I am a little nervous now and hoping we have enough time to not only summit but take the 100 photos that we want.We take our time going up crawling over boulders, squeezing through tight spots and of course taking tons of photos! Finally we reach Katahdin's tableland and the going promises to ease from here. We can see the summit and the first group of Thru-hikers celebrating.The tableland is beautiful covered in fragile alpine vegetation and with great views all around. From here it is not very far to the top 1/2 mile maybe.Just as we are getting close the hikers from the summit are starting to filter down and congrats are offered all the way around...it is exciting to know we will be standing where they were just moments before and it is the place we have all been trying to reach.Then all of a sudden there it is...the sign. Cedar, Lug and I all take our turns giving it a big hug...and then it's done. We have walked over two thousand miles to get here and now it's done. Lug and I thought we were going to cry like babies but somehow that emotion just wasn't there...it was definitely a joyous rapture though to be standing at the top of that rock pile.Eventually more of our friends started to filter in...first Hermes then Buree and Roo, their family. Tins and Trooper the father/son combo and the son at only 14 years of age! Furious, 007 and his lady, Seour Hawk waddling up the hill in a blow-up sumo wrestler suit...one of the funniest moments on the trail. Norm and his family and last but not least Peacemaker. I think Lug and I were more emotional for Peacemaker than for ourselves, we were really proud of him. The best part of sharing the summit with so many was being able to applaud and congratulate as each person arrived and hugged, jumped atop and kissed the Katahdin sign. Even the weather co-operated as we spent hours on the summit and the clouds kept blowing on by giving us spectacular views of Knife's Edge and the surrounding land. The sun even came back out.The best part was definitely sharing this moment with Lug. We have been together now for over 5 years but I think we grew more and more in love in the past five months than the rest of the years combined. He also suprised me with a beautiful present, a diamond ring, and a beautiful declaration of his love. I don't know if we'll ever get engaged like normal people but I know we love each other and I want to spend my life climbing mountains with him. I hear that there are some good ones in Mexico and I can even take Lug to the beach too! That way I don't have to spend 5 months listening about waves and sand...we can play in it together! We'll see you all there!