Date: 2013-09-14
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite

To: Baxter Peak
Miles today: 10.2

9.14.13 Saturday - day 167Katahdin Stream Campsite - Baxter Peak Katahdin5.1 miles - 3.5 hoursMint chocolate whoopie pie for breakfast. 5:30am departure from Millenocket to Baxter State Park, dropped off just prior to gate entrance. Walked past gate, got hitch to trail head from Sarah, NH native doing day hike today. Signed in at ranger station, i am thru hiker #406 this year, then onto trail where we log in on clip board station on the left. Opening in trees gives us glance of Katahdin. In parking lot we see Doc & Nory, father & son will be hiking with rest of family today. Off we go, first mile is very flat, we parallel brook 25 yards to right until we arrive at bridge, to the left are small falls, start going uphill, we reach a sign stating this privy is the last one to the summit. Uphill is moderate, rocks boulders to climb up or go around. Katahdin Stream falls just to our left. Sky is overcast, temperature here feels good, around 65. Next mile or so water cascades down center of the trail most of the time. start to climb up larger boulders & rock faces with aid of roots & tree trunks. I put away my trekking poles in this section. Once out of the forest & into open air, climbs are hand over hand, pretty steep, large obstacles to climb, bigger than anything we've seen on the trail. First one is 9 foot near vertical rock wall, i needed to grab horizontal rebar above me, do a chin-up, kick right foot up to shoulder level to plant it on broken rebar nub, then push up on right leg to reach further with hands to pull whole body up. Not too bad for me, shorter partner had to do a little more gymnastics to get up. Wind picks up here, sky is gray, a cloudy haze all around. Another tall climb, this time more on an angle, a square metal hook protrudes out of rock above, used hook to pull up then put my foot on it to stand on, then lunge up and forward. Next climb stand on rock pull hips onto higher ledge, narrow landing so have to belly down army crawl to the left before you can stand up. All shapes & sizes of rocks to climb. Above tree line, open air to sides & below however no views, only all white. Alot of zig zaging to find path least resistance, go any way i choose as long as it leads up. Some purists say they want to see every white blaze, well in this section there can be white blaze to left around rock, another white blaze different way to right, joins up after the obstacle. Up at all angles next mile n a half, slow & careful as cloud leaves its wetness everywhere. Open air to left & right. Tall pile of dark gray rocks several stories high to ascend. After some time, reach flat part, sign warns alpine vegetation stay on trail. red green brown ground cover left & right, looks to be several inches deep. Further along signs say to stay within narrow roped path to preserve plants important to endangered animals living there, the path in this section is a stream of water down the center. Path intersects another, sign says 1 mile to summit. Flat for a bit more, then turns to rock field, some spots have steps going up. Grazzele, Moose, Brohawk head down, giving hugs hi fives happiness on their faces. Then Muffins & Mr. Dallas run down past us happy, singing songs but also feeling the cold rain & wind, hurrying to get down since wearing only shorts tshirt. great to see them so happy, saw them in Monson, didn't seem to be so enthusiastic back then, now no more weariness, all smiles. Rocks then go gradual uphill, can hear voices of a group getting louder. At the top white all around, ask oncoming group how much further to summit? They point, its right there, thru the fog can barely make out people hundred yards away. As i approach can see a guy posing another guy taking his photo. There is the summit sign!! I walk to the front of the sign, KATAHDIN in large white letters across the top. A couple takes turns posing above the sign.   I read the rest of the sign while i wait. As they walk away i walk up to the sign, place my palms on the KATAHDIN & bow my head. I just thru hiked the Appalachian Trail?? I just thru hiked the Appalachian trail!! Very surreal feeling, seen pics & videos of others up here, this time it is me, I really made it here, I am at the summit of Mt. Katahdin!! My turn to get picture taken with the sign, climb up behind, stand tall & proud, click goes the shutter. Been picturing this moment all along the trail, finally it is here! Deep breath in, look around, i see Tribe giving high fives, older lady just arriving moved to tears@ sight of the summit sign, line forming for picture taking with sign, light mist, wind blowing at me making wet hair & face feel cold, smell of celebration cigars being puffed, deep breath out, take the moment in before slowly climbing down with a big smile on my face. Hard to describe everything i was thinking feeling, most of all felt happiness. Happy knowing i was able to successfully complete what i set out to do some 5 months ago. Happy to have seen all the wonderful sights and met all the terrific people. Happy to have rode the highs and survived the lows. What a great journey, well worth all of the sacrifices to make it here, such a deep rich experience. I DID IT!!On the way down, i ran into Slow & Steady, retired principal admin who i met at the Atlanta train station the day before doing the approach trail and hiked with on off beginning of trail and last saw back at Trail Days. She's on Trail journals also, i followed her progress along the way, her journal is very well done. She had some health issues in the north & was off trail a while before returning. We hugged, took a photo, exchanged well wishes then i continued down, her up. Later learned she did that climb and descent in 13 hours moving slow and steady while battling illness, what a tough trooper, what an inspiration, so glad we could start Springer & summit Katahdin same time. So special to see her on this day. Checkout her journal, very inspiring, leave her well deserved message of congrats too. Finished descent with Hancock & Gypsy. Weather is clear halfway down, great views. Sign out on same clipboard we checked in on 7 hours ago.   On way to parking lot, I hear my name called out, to the left at the picnic shelter is Funky Town! Rise n Shine, Fire Hazard, Bootsy, Dayman, Buttons, Beast, whole crew even Flavor Savor who we last saw in NJ joined up with them. Having bbq & beers, will summit tomorrow. I tell them we just came down from summit, congrats & hugs all around, offers of beer & food i gladly accept. We met them June 21st, i remember this clearly as it was summer solstice day aka hike naked day on the trail. Since then leaped frogged with them rest of the way. Fun loving genuinely good spirited group, always happy to cross paths with them, had excellent party at halfway point, again at Sunfish Pond, Duncannon, & finally here and now on my summit day. How fitting we cross paths again our final day on the trail. Weather appropriately warm and sunny here. Eat hot dogs & whoopie pie, drink an Ithaca & Sarnac beer, take photos then to parking lot. Day hiker Sarah who drove us in was there & drives us out to park gate where our ride awaits. Back to AT Cafe where we will be immortalized on the ceiling tile, I find a spot near center below Barbarosa and sign in blue. Goodbyes to owner who is super nice, then off to Boston, MA. What a spectacular, epic, memorable day!! So much happiness in my heart. I set out to make memories and experience a Thru Hike of the Appalachian Trail and I was blessed and fortunate enough to do that. What a special accomplishment I will never forget. I am so happy. I DID IT!!!