Date: 2015-08-08
From: Abol Pines Campground

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Short night rest. Good enough for what trail is left. No other campers were stirring this early in the morning. The no-see-ums were the worst I ever experienced. It was nice to be in a campground with a privy and a picnic table to eat breakfast at. I have always eaten in my tent. After today's bug attack I would have continued to dine in my tent.I was on the road/trail at 6:00 am. The ten mile trail to Katahdin Stream Campground was more challenging than I remembered from last year. I was going uphill instead of downhill though. I figured four hours to make it to KSCG but mad it in three and a half. The only significant event was a slip on a slick rock followed by a fall in the ten inch deep water. Another comical event and one last washing of my muddy shoes before riding public transportation home. They needed washing.took off my foot ware and wrung my socks out. Squeezed as much water out of my shoes as I could. Hike on.Got to the CG at 9:30 and claimed a picnic table. I removed my socks and shoes again. I removed all my pack items onto the table to prepare my pack for the lightest load possible up Katahdin. A young flip- flop hiker comes to my table and makes herself at home. She chatted me up pretty good. Her and some others had summited the day prior. I shared my 41 mile day with her. She swore?? Kids?? Her friends showed up, we talked, the friends hiked on but potty mouth hung out to hike by herself. I ate my last trail tuna and packed my bag for the summit hike. The only thing left to do was go check in at the ranger station to get a NOBO thru hiker number. Ranger not there, out on her rounds. I got back on the trail to the summit at 10:00. There were pages of hikers that had signed in the summit register prior to me. The last one was at 0:900. It would be crowded at the top but it looked like I would have at least the lower trail to myself.It was still cool. The trail ran beside Katahdin Stream for a while providing great hiking motivation for me. I just hoped I would not run out of gas half way up. Far from it. I thought the ascent would take 4 hours but it was a quick but challenging 3 1/4 hours. I passed lots of hikers during the last hour. The summit was filthy with people. Not what I had hoped for but it was a beautiful August 8th in Maine.I was able to get some pictures by the summit sign and moved off to call Mom and Dad to wish them a happy anniversary. I was going to make some other calls but could not get a signal again.The wind was blowing pretty hard and clouds intermittently obscured the view. I started to get chilly so it was time to head back. My thru hike was complete but the adventure was not over. There were 5.2 miles of descent left to get back to the items removed from my pack and look for a ride to town. I was unjustifiably worried about getting stuck in the park. Since I hike faster than most other hikers I ran into a bottle neck every few minutes. This was my playground. I love the rapid rocking-hopping descents on mountains like this. Once I got back to the tree line the trail became narrower. Too slow??. I asked for permission to pass all hikers on the way. I picked up a shadow right after entering the tree line. He was a 36 year old that liked to hike fast like me and declined offers to let him by. I think he liked not having to ask to pass. We talked for the next 45 minutes to the bottom. I learned a lot about him in 45 min. It was a great finish to the hike.Near the bottom I saw two people that I met in Monson five days earlier. They were from Chile and Argentina. The girl tagged along at our hiking speed to see if she could. She did.??I ended up getting a ride to Millinocket from their friends they just met on the trail hours earlier. I also saw a hiker that looked familiar. I asked if we met before. He paused then said "Yea you are the guy that eats cold chili out of a peanut butter jar. We laughed and chatted. Amazing! That was way back at Walnut Mountain Shelter before Hot Springs, NC.The couple that gave me a ride to town are hikers. We had a great conversation. I told them about the peanut butter jar I used. They started doing dehydrated no-cook meals but were using leaky zip lick bags. They were elated to learn about the PB jar. It was such an amazing last few days on the trail. It continues off the trail. I am in Bangor waiting on a plane. I went to the grocery store with my pack on and a couple that thru hiked in 2012 approached me and we talked trail talk. It is time to walk across the street to the airport, check in and fly home to my wife.Thanks for hiking with me. Most of all thanks for your prayers?? It is what I did every day on the trail. It made for an excellent hike.