Date: 2007-07-17
From: Mount Katahdin!

To: Home!
Miles today: 74.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The journey has finally come to an end. As I write this update, I sit comfortably in my home back in Chantilly, Virginia. I reached the Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail high atop Mount Katahdin in Maine around noon on Saturday, July 14th. It's so wonderful to be back home after months in the woods. After a few days of recovery around the house, including numerous showers, a shave, clean clothes, and real food, I am beginning to feel human again.    Since my last post, the three of us (Turbo, Hatchet Jack, and myself) hiked through the hundred miles wilderness to Katahdin. The 100 mile stretch was one of the hardest of the entire trip. It did not seem to help that we were close enough to the end of our journey that we could actually see Katahdin. Everyday leading up to the 14th seemed more difficult to get through. The 100 mile wilderness is a long flat stretch where you encounter many lakes, ponds, and swamps. Mostly unfit for swimming, the land breeds mosquitoes and no seeums by the millions. At night, there was no respite from the bugs. You had to sleep inside your sleeping bag even if the night time low was 80 degrees to find sanctuary from the bugs. If you were lucky enough to have a bug net to at least cover your face, although you could breathe better than someone with their head inside their sleeping bag (Hatchet Jack) you still had to put up with the incessant buzzing all night long. It was enough to drive anyone crazy.    As the three of us made our way to Katahdin, we were all very excited to be at the end of our journey. We were all ready to be back in the comforts of home with our friends and family. As we got closer to Katahdin, the views just kept getting better and better. On the evening of July 13th, we arrived at Katahdin Stream Campground at the base of the mountain. We checked in at the ranger station and found out that we were the 23rd, 24th, and 25th hikers to finish a through hike there this year. I was the 100th hiker to leave Springer Mountain, Georgia, the 25th to reach Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, and the 24th to reach Mount Katahdin, Maine. In the ranger station, I found a note from Sean O, saying that he had stopped by earlier in the day but missed us, and had returned to Millinocket to meet up with my Dad. It really sunk in that the trail was over after reading that my Dad and good friend Sean were in the area. After 4 months and 10 days, I was getting ready to spend my final night on the trail. After our last hiker meal of subs carried from a campground store and pop tarts dipped in cake frosting, we got ready for bed. Around 9 pm as we were drifting off to sleep, we were joined by fellow North bounders El Train and Ansel! They walked into the shelter singing the tune from Rocky! They had walked the hundred mile wilderness in just three days in an effort to catch the three of us so that we could all summit together on the 14th! Seeing them again was a great way to end our last night on the trail.   I rose early on the 14th, and walked to the parking lot with Turbo and Hatchet to await the arrival of Sean and my Dad. When they arrived, I got the biggest surprise of the trail! Nita jumped out of the car with them and ran over to give me a big hug! She had joined them for the trip and was going to climb Katahdin with us! I had no idea she was coming. After downing some breakfast trail magic, we all began our final climb of the trip.    I couldn't have asked for a better day. It had rained the night before, and storms were forecasted for Sunday, but Saturday was a perfect weather day. Blue skies and temperatures in the 70's made for a great day. The climb up Katahdin was the most fun 5 miles of the entire trip. After a steady uphill hike for the first two miles from the parking lot, the hike became a climb. You literally had to climb over, between, and around car sized boulders for about two miles. It was like the Mahoosuc Notch, only twice as long and vertical! It was a blast! After completing the hardest part of the climb, we reached the table land. The land flattens out a bit and you can once again hike normally. From a mile away, I could make out Baxter Peak and the end of the trail. After stopping for a drink from Thoreau Spring, the last water source on the trail, it was time to head for the famous terminus sign. As we got closer, we could see groups of people at the peak standing around the sign marking Baxter Peak. El Train, Ansel, Hatchet Jack were already at the top awaiting the arrival of Turbo and myself. As I took my last steps and approached the Katahdin sign, it seemed unreal that the journey was over. I reached out and slapped the sign, following my last white blaze and taking my last thru hike step. For a moment, the five of us just stood and stared at the sign and took in the views, and let the moment sink in.   THEN THE CELEBRATION WAS ON! We yelled and screamed and popped corks on champagne bottles and posed for more pictures that you could think possible! At first, the crowd of day hikers and even a few hopeful South bounders thought we were only happy to have climbed Katahdin. As our celebration became more enthusiastic, the onlookers realized that the 5 of us had just completed a 2,174 mile journey. Cheers and applause from the onlookers made the moment even better. Some French students claimed we were their, "inspiration and heroes!" We celebrated for two hours atop Katahdin, which more than lived up to it's name. Katahdin means "greatest mountain".   Standing at the top with the journey completed, taking in the final views, and enjoying the moment with my friends and family, it was impossible not to think back on all that had happened in the last 4 months. The worst days were easy to remember, but they were overshadowed by thoughts of my best days. The best times on the trail weren't spent hiking, but were times spent with friends made along the way. Hopeful hikers starting from Springer, Martini and Rossi, Traildust, Micky One Sock, Dre and Sam, and South bounders Little Engine and Jaybird. Hikers I met only briefly, but made my trip special nonetheless, Paw Paw, Jeb and Mark, Butch and Sundance, Caribou, Gavel, Terry and his son Todd, Hike, Caterpillar, Sgt. Chaco, Happy Hiker, Toe Socks, Daniel and Steve, Boy, Diablo, Orange Blaze, Snake Bite, Big Dog, Professor, Bobsled, Tito, Sticker, Clem, Dice, Hawk, Alley Cat, Slick The Traveler, Guthook, Fed Ex, and even Ted and Coffee. El Train and Ansel were good friends that I was lucky to have spent more time with and celebrated with at the end. Some of the best memories were from times spent with people who weren't thru hikers, but were trail angels. Without the hospitality and kindness of these people, I have no doubt that I would have quit hiking long before reaching Maine. Fal and Hercules, Betsy and Bill, Ruth, Mac N Cheese, and even the anonymous person who left a note on a tree that read simply, "For Thru Hikers only... Getting closer to Katahdin!" Underneath the note, a cold six pack of beer. I found that note on my worst day on the trail, the day I came closest to quitting. Were it not for Turbo and that note, which I carried 800 miles to Katahdin, I would not have made it. From the largest act of generosity, to the smallest act of a kind passing word, the trail magic and trail angels were the best part of the trip and will never be forgotten.   Hatchet Jack kept me going early on. I hiked several hundred miles with him in the first half of the trail and then spent the next month after Harpers Ferry trying to catch up with him again. One of the youngest guys to finish the trail this year, he acted (most of the time anyway) older than his 17 (now 18) years. I could always count on Hatchet for a funny story or a movie quote when the miles got long. When I needed someone to complain to, Hatchet was always there to listen and occasionally join in.   I met Turbo in the first two weeks of my hike, but never hiked with him until 1000 miles later. Turbo should be credited with two thru hikes this year, as he is responsible for keeping me going more than anyone else. I hiked with Turbo for 1000 miles, and he knew just what I thought about everyone of those miles. Turbo weathered the worst of my moods on the trail and somehow remained with me. Turbo helped pass the time with everything from awful jokes, to singing Paul Simon songs.   Standing at the sign on Katahdin with Hatchet and Turbo, I got a little choked up and had to fight back tears as I realized that my time with them was over. After spending nearly every moment of the last 2 months with them, it was sad, not that the hike was ended, but that our trio was splitting up. Although we won't meet on the AT again, we will no doubt be seeing each other again... and we won't be wearing packs! I can't wait to see them at the wedding!   After it's all said and done, 2,174 miles, 4 1/2 months spent in the woods, a thousand spectacular views, a billion mosquitoes, 3 pairs of shoes, snow, heat, a Vermonster, moose, bears, and enough experiences and memories to last a lifetime... I learned the true meaning of the trail... ...and it wasn't about the miles.