Date: 2016-09-29
From: ME, Katahdin stream ranger station, 2183.9

To: ME, Mt. Katahdin summit, 2189.1
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: light rain

We did it! We summitted Katadhin and took a cool picture together.   Said goodbye to lots of fellow hiker friends.   Today was not the end for us, both figuratively and literally. Literally, because we had to skip the 100 mile wilderness. Sherpa came down with a High fever the night we checked into Shaws, was bedridden for a week, and is still weak 10 days later. Hikers can always muster the strength to summit Katadhin though. The 100 miles will still be there for us some other time. Figuratively, because while our honeymoon may be drawing to a close (after a few weeks in New Zealand), our lives together our just beginning. We will surely miss the simplicity of waking up to the sun, wearing a single set of clothes, and undistracted time together. There are some luxuries we are really looking forward to though, like having separate deodorant sticks again (saved a few ounces by chucking one). We are also looking forward to using our wedding gifts. The fondue pot. Oh, the pasta maker. And boy are we ever looking forward to our home and our own bed, (not that we've ever really slept in it together yet- we waited for marriage to enjoy our bed, but went straight to Costa Rica and then started this hike a couple weeks later lol).One of our Houston friends came out and did the hike with us. Sure helped us appreciate how well conditioned we are watching him struggle up and back down the mountain! It's a nice analogy for life really. The hike isn't easy, and neither is life, but making it through is rewarding! And just as the hike itself prepares you for the more difficult parts, life experiences prepare you for the difficult places you'll go through. It's a picture of marriage as well. We had 4 big trials while on the trail including Porter twisting her ankle which changed our hike to a slackpack, Sherpa getting sick which prevented us from doing the 100 mile wilderness, and a couple other things we didn't share on ther blog.   But we have grown closer together and closer to the Lord while spending this time together. The bible says, "many are the afflictions of the righteous" in Psalm 37. God never promises a smooth journey, but He is there the whole time. We felt His love so many times, and saw his hand provide in incredible ways. Like praying for a ride after dark when hitch hiking was hopeless and having a pastor pull into the driveway in Rangeley, like calling for a room in Monson just before getting sick and having a place to recover even though it was fully booked, and so many other answered prayers that we have shared on the blog. God has been faithful to us. We have tried to share a little bit about what is like to follow the Lord through our blog. If you know the Lord, hopefully it resounded with you, and if you don't know the Lord, he wants a relationship with you. Not just church attendance , not just memorizing a set of beliefs that you can repeat as needed. He desires that you know him. The apostle Paul said, "I know the one in whom I have believed." If you do not know Jesus, you do not have that relationship. Isaiah says "your sins have separated you from God". Jesus came to this world out of obedience, sent by God to pay for your sins with his death. When you put your faith in that, you begin a journey far more exciting than the Appalachian Trail! Everyday you get the privilege of fellowshipping with your creator. You get peace. You get cleansed of your filth. You experience forgiveness. You are filled with joy. And you have the hope of eternity. Happy trails!To keep up with us, check out our blog:  http://www.hitchedhikers.net