Date: 2010-09-13
From: Katahdin Stream Campsite

To: Mount Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

How quickly a trail comes to an end. I am writing in Bar Harbor ME after eating in town, freshly showered, wearing cotton loaner clothes.So not terribly early this morning, I awoke to stirring. Ladybird, Voyageur, and Stilts all seemed to be moving so I raised my head. We packed our bags, putting leftover breakfast snacks in the car. Ladybird and I took our full packs, shelter, quilts and all. We started up the trail toward the mountain we have been climbing since Georgia.The first mile or so is relatively tame, climbing gently along Katahdin Stream. The it parts and climbs more persistently up the slightly more sloping ridgeline toward the exposed rock we could see from a view yesterday. With clouds moving in our direction, we moved onward and upward, climbing the slabby rough granite, scaling boulders, pulling ourselves up the few metal staples and hand holds. From the now rather steep section of trail we could see south through the dramatic clouds that washed over the distant mountains like very slowly moving sea foam. From atop the tablelands, our pace quickened. Ladybird and I went ahead to stand atop the mountain we had been climbing since Georgia.Clouds, mist, and fog had now moved in to cover the peak in an icy blanket. Tiny ice particles and cold water droplets formed, falling lightly. After Voyageur and Stilts arrived, Ladybird took from her pack a gold colored cardboard crow from Burger King, the traditional on trail reward for completing the AT, PCT, and CDT. Voyageur also took out a crown, decorated with the three trail signs for me, and one to commemorate the two trails that Ladybird had completed. The CDT will be next for her! Then we celebrated in the cold behind a giant cairn, drinking our blueberry soda, eating brownies, chocolate, fruit...I didn't mind the climb, I didn't mind the decent. The cold was tolerable. I didn't care that there were no views to be seen... I did mind the day hikers that wouldn't give us a minute with the sign. It is a tough thing to climb a mountain, overcome by emotion, only to stand at the peak, trying to be polite, answering questions that I have answered a hundred times before about camping, eating, trail conditions... I wanted to stand there and bask in the glory for at least 10 seconds, but instead I had to listen to some smart @%% hiker tell me I didn't actually summit, pointing to several large boulders. I normally don't mind talking to other hikers, actually I rather enjoy it, but in this case, I wanted a minute with the sign, with the goofy triple crown ceremony, and with Ladybird.That being said, the feeling of accomplishment was tremendous. Finishing on Katahdin was an appropriate end to my last three hikes. I was overjoyed to the point of tears. I am sad that it is over, but happy to be done. I know that there are more journeys in my future. This is only the end of a chapter, the first chapter. I am forever ruined. I won't be able to hold a normal job. I destined to a life to traveling; walking, paddling, pedaling...Thanks to Stilts and Voyageur for meeting us at Katahdin. I have seen both of them on all three hikes. Thanks to my parent's for not forcing me to get a real job. Thank you very much to my mom for mailing and preparing food! She thinks like a thru-hiker. I would be an unhealthy gaunt wreck without her expertise!To the Long Trail I go! I'm goin' leaf-peepin'!