Date: 2006-08-17
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Baxter Peak
Miles today: 5.2

Hi gang: Well, I'm still hanging in there. Just had an opportunity to go to Maine with my partner "Root" and Mr. Root to pick up "Zama" and "Lug" who were completing their thru-hike. Zama is Root's daughter. We arrived in Maine on Wednesday Aug. 2nd at Katahdin Stream Campground at 11am and began setting up our camp for the night. Approx. 30min later in walked Zama, Lug, and Cedar Moe who had hiked the 10mi from Abol Bridge that morning. Timing could not have been better. It was agreed that all would spend the night with us and that the assault on Baxter Peak would be started in the early AM. Friday morning we who were hiking, yep I said we, they allowed me to hike up the mountain with them, a real honor. We were up around 4am for a 5:15 departure. After sign in at the trail register I was soon hiking alone, being slightly out of shape and somewhat slower. Several other thru-hikers some of whom I knew passed by me on the way up the mountain. It was great to see them, there were 6 or 8 that I had met at various times along the trail. Approx. 20 thru-hikers made the climb this day along with several other day hikers and weekenders. The ranger said it was one of the largest groups of thru hikers he had seen this early to go up the mountain. Most of the thru-hikers made it to the top 30 to 45min ahead of me and were all in a party mode when I arrived. All I could do was sit down and rest a spell before photos and hi-jinks. Soon enough it was time to make the return trip back down the mountain. The looks on most of the faces of the thru-hikers were priceless, it was over, all the hardships, friendships, and good times as well as the bad times were being replayed through all of their minds. The trip up had taken me 5-1/2 hrs up and 4-1/2 to come down. The trip on the whole just about killed this old man. I remained so sore the next 3 days that I could hardly walk. Upon arrival at the trail register I was met by Root, and upon exiting the woods I was greeted by applause and well dones from the group. Kind of bitter sweet knowing I still had a lot of trail ahead of me to walk. The gesture however was greatly appreciated coming from a group that had been through and endured so much. All were loaded into my truck and we returned to the state campground across from Abol-Bridge Campground. Zama and Lug had set camp their the night before when they arrived at Abol Bridge. We stayed there along the West Branch of the Penobscot River for the next 2 nights, resting and taking in the beauty of the Maine wilderness. Seeing a Moose come out into the river on Friday evening seemed to seal the day and forever bond us to the area. All of us agreed that it would be a place we would like to return to in the future. Hopefully, me next year upon completing the 100mi wilderness and the remainder of the trail. On Sunday the 6th we broke camp and were off early. We traveled to Bar Harbor Maine and took in the sights of Acadia National Park and the surrounding areas. Some photos will be coming. Once again a job well done to all the Class of 2006 who have completed and those yet to complete.Stay tuned the year of hiking is still not over......