Date: 2017-07-28
From: AT Lodge, Millinocket Maine

To: Mt. Katahdin 
Miles today: 5.2

7/28/17 Day 62 - 5.2 miles (10.4 actual)Mt Katahdin to Katahdin Stream Campground1st day back on the trail and the climb up Katahdin is here!! This climb has been on my mind the entire time I was off trail. I had a hard time sleeping last night, the anxiety was a surprise. That and I finally relented and started watching the last season of House of Cards. I got through 5 or 6 episodes on my 0 Day at the lodge but now I'm stuck- I have 4 more episodes stored on my phone but I have to be very careful with my battery until I get through the 100 mile wilderness.  Ole Man shuttled me, Sunset, Plant, Cloudview, Oh Lordie, and Swamp Fox to the ranger station at the campground so we could register for our hike. On the drive, he gave us a mile by mile description of what to expect on our climb, it was all very helpful info.  Overall, it was 4200' of ascent over 5.2 miles. Definitely the single biggest climb I've ever done. I was AT hiker 1025 to climb Katahdin this season and the major northbound bubbles haven't even arrived yet. There has been talk that the rangers are only going to allow 1500 or 2000 AT hikers to Summit this year which has a lot of people worried that they could be turned back if they don't get here on time. That thought was in the back of my mind as well but not anymore. I'm in no rush at all. I set off on the Hunt Trail at 8:10. It was nice and sunny and cool. The trail wound through the pines and crossed a couple streams before the climbing started. It was a gentle climb up to Katahdin Stream Falls and then the trail turned upwards. First it was just rock slide, then it turned into hand over hand rock climbing. There were ledges and cliffs and was surprisingly more dangerous than I was expecting. This is where we went above treeline. As soon as the trees were gone, the winds picked up and were gusting pretty heavily.  Overall, it was 2 miles of rock climbing. The clouds had come in and limited the views for the 2nd half of the climb. When I got to the tablelands at 3.6 miles, visibility was only about 50 feet. I stayed on the trail and put my head down. Another 1.6 miles and I could see a group of people around the Katahdin sign.   It was a nice feeling to be at the top but a little different from what I had imagined when I thought my hike would end here. I did get to see some thru-hikers finish their journeys and I must admit I was a little bit jealous. I waited my turn to get my picture taken on the sign then had some lunch of leftover pizza. The clouds and fog had cleared completely while I was eating and the views became incredible!! I could see the trail along the tablelands where I had walked up and there were huge lakes in every direction in the valley. I had another picture taken with the nice weather and started heading down. I was dreading the downhill a little bit. People had mentioned that this is an "asskicker". There was even a southbounder at the AT Lodge who ended his hike after doing just Katahdin. He said his knees were shot and I can remember how that feels.  I ask met Tipperary on the way down. He's a NOBO that just finished his hike and we ended up walking down together. He's from Ireland but living in Bermuda for a while now and you could tell he was anxious to get home to the nice weather- you could even say he was rubbing it in a little to the other hikers he knew. He would say he was going home to go scuba diving and tell everyone "have a nice rest of your life". He was a good guy and it was a quick hike down with the company. Before I knew it, I was at the ranger station swapping out my gear from the day pack I used. The campground has a bin full of loaner day packs so you don't have to carry all your stuff to the top. I should've taken my extra stuff and put it in the daypack, left that at the ranger station, and carried my own pack up there. I didn't realize this till I was already a mile up the trail. Anyway, I signed back in and Tipperary headed off to the Birches Campsite, but not before I got a quick "have a nice rest of your life" in. (He has a journal online as well).Luckily, as I was on my way down, I ran into Sherlock(a different one) and Darwin. They were able to reserve a campsite and had space for 4 more hikers. They offered me a spot which I gratefully accepted. My only other option was to hike another 10 miles to the next shelter- that was not happening. I got back to the campground around 3:30 and started a fire to get rid of the bugs. I had time to set up and eat dinner as the others began to return. Plant and Cloudview decided to spend the night so we had room for 1 more. Sunset had us all a little worried when she wasn't back at dark but the ranger said not to worry.  She came rolling in at 10:00PM- that's 14 hours round trip!!! She set up without waking anyone. I have a whole new respect for her. I saw so many people that had turned around before it got too tough and she powered on to get her picture at the sign. I will post it as soon as I get it from her. It was a great 1st day back on the trail and I'm looking forward to the 100 mile wilderness!