Date: 2003-09-15
From: Katahdin Stream Campground

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: few clouds

Everyone got up early, even Monkey. Excitedly, we bustled around stowing bags of unnecessary gear in the ranger station in order to lighten our loads. The crew met back up at the same picnic table we ate at last night, and we all started up the mountain at 7:30, except Bree. Sneaky Bree snuck out early to beat everyone up the mountain.        We hiked with Puff Puff & Snappy at the beginning, but then got ahead of them. The climbing became quite strenuous, but it was still all feet and no hands. Then Monkey passed us on some difficult rock climbing, and after that the climbing was pretty much all hand over hand. It was fun. I¢ve never enjoyed a climb more. We passed Butch, Monkey and Kiwi on the hard part ¢ we were so pumped and excited we just couldn¢t stop, except to quickly split a coke I¢d carried. Llama was sitting at the top of the difficult part, so after we passed him it was a cruise to the top, but still over a mile to go. The closer we got, the faster we went. Then we could see the sigh, and people on top. They were Bree, Stoker, and day hikers. I expected Bree to be smoking her cigar, but she wasn¢t. She started as soon as I reminder her. Monkey and Llama arrived shortly and we had a great time taking pictures, smoking cigars, and drinking our choice beverages. Bree and I had chose coke, while Monkey and Llama were having PBR. Puff & Snappy arrived next, Puff in tears of simultaneous joy and sorrow and there was much hugging. Snappy had a Budweiser. Trailfrog came next and completed the crew.        There were other thru hikers too: Skywalker, Cakalaki, Big Red, Strappy, Kiwi, and of course poor, sick Red. I can hardly believe he climbed that mountain as sick as he was, but he¢s so strong, I shouldn¢t be surprised. A day hiker agreed to take a group shot and ended up with 15 cameras, at least.        Next 2 more thru hikers came walking up. Ken and Marsha were finishing the triple crown! They had already done the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) and CDT (Continental Divide Trail). When the word spread we all go up and gave them a standing ovation. They were delighted. They said no one had ever been present at their previous finishes, so they were touched and happy to have so many people to celebrate their victory. They asked for a group shot, and since we¢d just done it once it was easy to do again ¢ one camera this time.        After that, we relaxed on top and tried to ignore the huge crowd that was there with us. 2 day hikers gave the crew 2 beers to share, but Bree spat all over one of them and made it her own.        Eventually, we decided to climb down. Puff, Snappy, Bree, Flanders, and I took one last break at a rock with a spectacular view. Bree and I sang ¢It must have been love, but it¢s over now,¢ bittersweet. Climbing down was not nearly as bad as I¢d expected ¢ it was just as fun as going up. After we¢d pretty much flattened out and were almost back, I heard a strange sound to my left and when I looked I saw a familiar face. It was Stevie, Flander¢s brother and I screamed as Flander¢s Dad jumped out too.        So there it was. We said goodbye, gave Monkey a ride to town and the thru hike was over. We were just Ned and Lydia going home.