Date: 2012-09-02
From: Long Pond Stream Shelter

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: moderate rain

I MADE IT! I summited Katahdin yesterday, becoming a true thruhiker and came home with my parents today. Apologies for the long lapse in entries but there is no cell service in the hundred mile wilderness or in Baxter State Park so i could not send updates. It's weird posting from my computer and not my cell phone. I guess I should start with Friday so I don't leave anything out. I woke up knowing I would reach the base of Katahdin and see Christine that evening so I packed quickly and cruised for the first 11 miles to Abol Bridge. There I got a burger and a chocolate milk before continuing on. I got into Baxter soon after and from there the trail was super nice. It was mostly flat and rather smooth and followed rivers and streams for another 10 or so miles to Katahdin Stream Campground where I was planning on meeting Christine. I hung out for a while after checking in at the ranger station. I was NOBO number 317 to reach KSC this year. At about 7 I saw Christine's car pull around the corner and heard much yelling from inside and realized my parents had come a day earlier than I was expecting. After hugs and some catching up we drove to our leanto for dinner and sleep. We got up a little after 5 yesterday and drove to the trailhead for 7. Shortly after, Wildflower's husband dropped off Golden, Crush and Crush's mom and told us that Wildflower had started a little while ago. After some more hugs and catching up (I hadn't seen Golden since Crawford Notch and she was as always excited to see friends) we started my last day on the trail. (It was Crush's last day too and Golden's last day for a week before hiking south from Wood's Hole to finish) It was easy for the first mile and moderate for the second but after that it was a lot of rock scrambles and a bit of rebar until the Gateway. The Hunt Trail which is the trail the AT follows up is a total of about 5 miles but has 4000 feet of elevation gain, is rather technical and quite exposed making it one of the hardest climbs of the AT. We had perfect weather though so all we had to worry about was the rocks. Christine made silly fleece hats and we all wore them for the hike. We took a break on Hunt Spur then went up to the Gateway to the Tablelands, a large almost flat area above treeline of small alpine vegetation. That's when I got my first view of the summit and from there it felt like I was hiking in a dream. About 30 yards from the summit Christine made me stop to wait for my parents and organize a trekking pole arch. I almost lost it then. I was so close and it took everything I had not to completely break down into tears. When there was a break in the groups taking summit pictures I went up carefully, eyes blurred with tears. No words will ever be able to describe what I felt. The sheer joy and elation and excitement were overwhelming. I walked up, kissed the sign then climbed up the back for the picture, all the while struggling not to break down completely. There were some other thruhikers already at the summit including Chef, Anchor and Snotrocket who I haven't seen since Damascus. They all congratulated me and I returned the congrats. Shortly after, Golden Crush and his mom summited and we all got more pictures and congrats and cheers. We all hung out on the summit in the great weather for over an hour eating and talking and taking in what I would consider (with more than a little emotional bias) the best view on the trail. We started down a little after 2 and had an easier than expected descent and finished at 6. We returned to our leanto for dinner and a nice cold night. We slept in this morning and took our time packing up before heading into Millinocket to the AT Cafe where I got to sign a ceiling tile. We then drove home where I got to trim my beard (something I've wanted to do for quite a while but wouldn't for the sake of tradition) and take a shower. So for now I'm clean tired and happy and ready to leave the reflection, introspection and everything else for another entry.