Date: 2008-09-15
From: Katahdin 

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

At the trailhead I ran into Sunny, Share, Slightly, Stubbs, and Mr. Bones. The anticipation was paplpable. So was the thick mist that was hanging in the air. Katahdin is a tricky mountain, and a tricky climb. With an elevation >5000 ft and a history of flipant weather changes the park service "rates" the class of day that can be expected at the summit. I do not know the magic formula they use but having- been there done that, I dont put much salt in the system (but more on that later). The rating system should indicate the weather conditions, and inturn how safe the conditions will be. On a class four day I dont believe they even let anyone go up the mountain but on a class 1 day it should be as clear as clear can be, heck book a wedding even. But if one is beautiful and four is forbidden, I feel there remains a large grey area for 2 and three. Today was a 2. Not to give away an ending but I would not of sent any of my friends or enemys up that day. We hoped that the fog would mist and the sun would beem through as the morning progressed and we all talked about what we would do up top, what would happen next, how great it felt not to have any weight on our backs... and how a whole new world was waiting for us at the bottom. The first mile or so was like any trail, actually, it was exceptionally nice trail. I imagine it gets a lot of traffic and therefore it was very well maintained. We stopped and admired the waterfalls and talked some trash. "This is easy, where is the hard stuff, if this climb isnt all that we had expected we would be disappointed!" We were not dissapointed. Shortly there after we started the ascent portion of our morning. Up up up, initially gradually then more so, then not so subtly. Vertical gain was quick because it was the larger portion of the ratio to forward movement. Hand over hand, foot over foot, this is climbing! Bones quickly caught up to us and decided to hike with us. We all paced ourselves and helped one another over certain sections. Up UP UP UP Up, I felt no forward thrust at all. I could not get out of breath because it was all so technical. Picking and Plucking around rocks and up roots. Soon we were above tree line. So exciting!! This was it, this was the real thing. And so windy! The wind was licking at us from all angles. It was not raining but the mist was sooo thick we were quickly becoming rather damp. We huddled behind a rock outcroping and many of us desided to suit up. I was already a bit damp but wanted to keep my warm weather stuff dry so I chose to stick it out in my shorts and tank top. Time was going slowly, but no one was watching. Each horizon we saw we expected to be the last, and then it was.There was the sign. A rain soaked, weather whipped, delapitate sign. It was all we could of hoped for. It was all many of us had thought of for many many miles. We could see it, we would make it!!!The last bit was easy going and then we were there! And so was the wind, and the rain, and the cold!!! We all shuddered and struggled to take our photos, fingers not working, wind not cooperating, fog forming on all of our lenses. Appalachian trail hikers (some not all) think of what they want their summit photo to look like. None of us were striving for perfection today. Not to mention the view.No view. Nothing to see...If I had my druthers I would of had a clear day, a day to enjoy and savor, but ahh Maine, not up to me. It was up to Katahdin, and Katahdin had spoken. The rest of the crew said their goodbyes and headed back down. I curled up in a creavace and hunkered down, ready to wait for the boys.to be continued....