Date: 2023-08-03
To: Baxter Peak - The Sign
Miles today: 5.3

Last night in the Hammock I slept well.  Can't say the same for Recon!  Possible Mouse issues over an exploded bag of Potato Chips!  Did t really matter, we both were, "Ready to Climb!".  Dropped our unnecessary pack items in the Small Thru hikers lean to, but on our much lighter packs, got water and grabbed our poles. In my case, just one pole. I knew what to expect today!  It starts out uphill but easy.  Soon you hit more root and rock. The noise of Katahdin Falls starts to build and soon you cross a bridge over the stream that marks the end of a pleasant walk.  You climb up to the upper falls and the climb never stops. It is like NH and the beginning of Maine with stepping from stone to roots to grabbing trees rub smoothed by som many hand pulls. The noise of the falls quickly fades as you keeping climbing up through the narrow space between trees that get smaller as you climb higher.  A few long strides on granite rock and then back into a narrow path with only 6 foot trees, then four and suddenly you step up above tree-line and see the bouldering ahead.  It is best to follow the white blaze as it is usually the safest path chosen.  Even with that, you hit a steel hand spike that becomes a foot spike along with bolt to use anyway your body sees fit or needs to.  You breath a second until you come to the next metal rung that is again used by multiple body parts to get leverage up and to the next set of boulders. Finally you see the summit and slide over it to get to a standing position and maybe 50 yards before the second set of boulders blocks your view of the next false summit.  It was at this point Recon had signal and called Kathy after days without be able to check in. My Verizon wasn't as good , plus I needed to keep moving because Recons pace is so much faster than mine.  So I gave Recon some Privacy and continued to work laterally, up, over around and back laterally the opposite direction to keep gaining altitude.  Finally after hours, not minutes, you reach your next false summit.  But this time you are on the tablelands and can look up and see the top and barely make out a sign post over a mile away.  The pay off is that all along the way you keep getting better and better views. This time looking back from Katahdin in the direction already travelled versus the days spent looking for Katahdin.  Your mind is filled with so many personal and private thoughts, you fight to make sense and order from your brain, and you continue to climb at a more controllable rate. Suddenly, the sign is there as if the rocks are parting for you. I started videoing as Recon took his long awaited final steps and touched the sign!  I was overjoyed for him!  To overcome so many obstacles and stay committed to this completion. It was an honor to take summit photos.  It is such a personal journey that cannot be put into words!  Next came the chance to hand our phones off to other hikers and get both us both touching the sign!  Having travelled so many miles and the attempts shared to complete this journey, it was moving to be in this moment.  Recon then let me climb the sign and took some summit pics of myself as well!  It is so cool for me to be doing this a second time and on the 5th Anniversary of our 2018 Hike.  Soon we gave way to Jeff and Miya, as well as Blitz to have there time at the sign.  Fortunately, we ended it all with a group pic for the Birches last night and Summit today before slowly giving way to other hikers. We had a celebratory Snickers that Recon carted up, that we devoured while Recon messaged all of his family that had supported him through the thick and thin of things.  Soon enough we needed to retrace our steps back down the mountain to catch a shuttle out of BSP.  The journey down isn't much easier than the journey up.  One time I was following another hiker and Recon stated that we had lost the white blazes.  That hiker continues on while we backtracked and moved laterally. Before following blazes back down.  Recon played Marco / Polo or actually called out "gbolt" to get me headed back down in The correct direction. We prayed that the hiker made it out as well because we never saw him again. Recon twice saved me from having to pull out my Xbox bag and filter water by just grabbing my bottle and filling it with his.  I needed to stay hydrated and keep the Vitamin I flowing.  My knees, both now, were aching!  But prayers were answered.  Neither of us got stretchered out and the weather was picture perfect!  They are back calling for rain for the next three days!  Matter of fact, while finishing the last mile and then organizing packs while waiting on a shuttle, it constantly sprinkled raindrops here and there.  Yet, we never got caught in it. Either sitting in the shuttle or restaurant later!  God is Good!  Prayers are Answered. So tired and ready to sleep that I will have to gather my thoughts post summit day.