Date: 2014-09-28
From: Mt. Katahdin - SOBO

To: Katahdin Stream Campground - The Birches
Miles today: 5.4

I started my day by running the four blocks to the AT Cafe for a quick breakfast. The waitress saw my excitement and recognized I only had a few minutes and expedited my order in time for me to finish along with two cups of coffee. I was almost not to even try it because the diner opened at 5am and the shuttle was leaving at 5:30am.Mt. Katahdin was a tough climb but all the mystique surrounding it energized me for the climb. There was a lot of climbing over ledges and boulders and for a long distance. I looked ahead at the steep bluff comprised of rocks and boulders and thought surely I will not have to go that way. But that was the way the trail went.Sometimes the way required pulling up on the ledge by finding handholds and lifting one foot up nearly chest high and pulling with all ones might. My borrowed daypack and contents weighted only five pounds but once I tried pulling up with it on and couldn't make it. I took it off, laid it above me and pulled right up.One young woman was about ready to turn around and go back down the mountain. She said, "This is beyond my comfort zone." She had expressed my very thoughts but I didn't say anything. She stepped aside and let me go ahead. After I got up the ledge, I heard her tell the man trying to coax her up "But my legs aren't that long." I had often wondered how shorter people made it up or down sometimes, so I understood her sentiment. (I learned from a short lady how to sit down and scoot over ledges.)As I continued up the mountain I wondered, if I had started my hike at Katahdin and gone south, would I have quit before I even made it up the first mountain? Fortunately, the NOBO route prepared me with the strength, the skills, and the confidence to get up and back down Katahdin today.It was such a beautiful day with some haze, I was so glad to have decided to do the flipflop at Marcia's suggestion. The memory of Iris and Wilma also added to the experience today. I shared the malted milk balls with three ladies from Michigan who had stayed at the lodge last night. I felt the tears well up as I explained my choice of snacks.After having my picture taken at the sign on top, I remembered to punch the button on my watch to stop the timer (3.75 hrs) and at that instant tears welled up for the first time. It was as if pushing the button signaled I was officially there and had done it!Along with the memorial thoughts, I also prayed and reflected with a worshipful attitude while keeping in mind the St. Athanasius Church service was going on in Nicholasville, simultaneous with my climb. The Cathedral I was in was an awesome sight as it towered four thousand feet above the valley floor carpeted with the green of evergreens and the gold of scarlet of the hardwood trees. I snapped a lot of pictures but it is hard to recognize the true perspective from these pictures.The climbers who were only out for a day hike got the extra benefit of sharing in the excitement of the AT finishers reaching the summit and celebrating. They all cheered whenever another thru-hiker arrived.I'm spending the night in a lean-to on the banks of Katahdin Stream with its relaxing ambiance. I'm only a few feet from the trail-head to the mountain. I've eaten, fetched and treated water and had a nap before writing my journal entry.Today was quite a challenge and I am happy with the results. Tomorrow I face the last great challenge of my hike--the Hundred Mile Wilderness which I fondly refer to as the Hundred Acre Wood. (Note for today: Miles for the day really 10.8 at least for ascent and descent of Mt. Katahdin)