Date: 2013-09-07
From: End of Golden Road

To: Katahdin Stream Camp Ground
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Start End of Golden Rd (Abol Campsite), mile 2171.2Stop Katahdin Stream Campground, mile 2180.8Sleep bed in hostelCell at campground noneCell at hostel excellent Hiked 9.6 miles Northbound 5.1 miles remaining228.4 miles hiked 2013 ATOld Goat's notes:We are now in Baxter State Park home of Mount Katahdin. We're 5.1 miles from the northern most white blaze on the Appalachian Trail. Technically we have hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in the last 5 years. The weather prediction for tomorrow calls for rain so we are taking a zero tomorrow and we'll summit Katahdin Monday. The hike today was a Walk in the Park, we entered Baxter right away and ended in the park. The hike started by hiking alongside the Penobscot River for 3 miles, that section was relatively easy, it was mostly flat and on a bed of pine needles. Then the trail started to climb a little but that too wasn't too bad. The big challenge today was fording a river. We took off our boots put on our crocks and crossed the river. This river was a bit deeper than any other we crossed; we both got the bottom of our shorts wet. The current in one spot was pretty swift and it was a little difficult in that spot. I crossed with my pack first then returned to help Check 6 cross. I then crossed back over for her pack and carried it across. By the time I got done my feet were very cold from the water. We put our shoes back on and my feet warmed up as I hiked. The book mentioned another crossing and another possible ford of the same river. We were fortunate>that we were able to cross it with our boots on, time saved. There was a section that had a short walk from a tourist campsite to the Little and Big Niagara Falls with a lot of casual sightseers it is so funny to see them on the trail. We passed a lady with a SLR camera and a big lens before we reached the Big Niagara overlook, when we got there some people asked us if we saw her and then was shocked we were hiking north and she had gone too far. We took a shuttle to Millinocket and we are staying in The Appalachian Trail Lodge tonight. Warm shower, warm bed, and a warm meal. Oh yea the rain predicted is now falling outside. What a good decision to wait a day. Check 6's notes:As of this moment we have finished the entire Appalachian Trail. It's supposed to rain later today and tomorrow, so we are waiting for a shuttle to take us to The Appalachian Trail Lodge Hostel in Millinocket, Maine. We'll stay there tonight. We hope they will be able to take us to Monson to get our car tomorrow. Then we have a lean-to reserved for tomorrow night at Katahdin Stream Campground. The weather is supposed to be clear Monday, so we will summit Katahdin Monday if all goes well. After we summit we will head home (probably taking a few days to get home). I'm in awe that we have hiked the entire AT (we have because we went up Katahdin in 2009 to celebrate with a lot of our AT thru-hiking 2009 friends on 09/02/09). There were many times I didn't think we would ever finish hiking the whole AT. I'm happy we have! WOW!Today's hike included a pretty dicey river ford. I got wet up to my hips and was scared I might go downstream. Old Goat was very supportive, however. He went over first and found the best path, then he helped me over, and then he went back and carried my pack over!! What a guy!I'm looking forward to a shower, clean clothes, and a delicious celebratory dinner this evening. If we can't make it to the sign at the top of Katahdin it will be disappointing, but ok because AS OF RIGHT NOW we have hiked the whole AT!!It's later now. We're clean, have had a delicious dinner, and are in comfortable beds. We need to wash our clothes in the morning, but that's not a big deal. Life is good!!