Date: 2009-09-01
To: Our final ascent
Miles today: 0.0

Dear readers,May this entry continue where my last left off - camping at Abol Bridge, a mere 15 miles from our ultimate destination, the summit of Mt. Katahdin. That Tuesday, August 25, we woke up at our campsite that had a fabulous view of the Big K and had a leisurely morning (for the first time in weeks!). No Nails, Gangsta, and I all loaded our unnecessary gear for the 10 miles into Baxter into James' car and took off slackpacking while James headed out for some fishing.The first 2 miles north of Abol Bridge campground followed a river and it was the WORST mosquitoes I had ever seen. It topped our campsite the prior evening, which up until then took the cake for worst mosqitoes. We were hiking through what felt like a cloud of them. In 70 degree weather, I was covered in DEET and had on my raingear and headnet, to hike in! Ick- it grosses me out just thinking about it. Luckily, we gained some elevation and they soon dissipated.The hiking was easy and pleasant - a very quick ten miles, with the exception of two very sketchy stream crossings. I swear, Katahdin was challenging me, right up til the very end. I spent the final mile or two hiking a few minutes behind the Three Amigas and Gangsta, aware it was the last piece of AT I'd be hiking solo. I got sad and spent a good part of that mile in tears. Looking back, I'd say I probably hiked 1/5 of the trail solo - most of those miles in the first half. Ironically, when associated with a larger group, the Goonies, I'd usually hike at least half of every day alone (by choice). I guess our personal needs change depending on our surroundings. With so much socialization around camp, I enjoyed the solo time hiking alone during the day. When it was just Gangsta and I the second half, we more often than not hiked together. I guess I didn't feel as overwhelmed with people or the need to do my own thing when it was just us. Anyway, point being, I treasured the miles spent hiking solo. I can recall the days on the trail that I spent hiking entirely alone- my longest solo day was 21. It was enjoyable, yet challenging, and a day I will always remember for some odd reason. It was the day I didn't have enough quarters for a Mountain Dew at Pen-Mar Park. I loved hiking in the company of others- it certainly helped pass the time or helped when you aren't in a hiking mood but I was just as happy hiking solo as I was with somebody. I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to experience both on my thru-hike.Shortly after our arrival at Baxter my family and G's family showed up! I greeted my parents with the biggest hugs ever and was pleasantly surprised that my mom didn't say a word about my 8 day hiker stench I had going on. It was the longest stretch I'd gone on the AT without shower or laundry. That evening, we had a big BBQ for all thru-hikers planning on summiting the next day. Besides us and the Three Amigas, there was also Hoosier Ben, Smiley, and the Ruin. They are three men who have all been just days ahead of us for much of the trail and we finally caught up to them at the end of the 100 Mile Wilderness. We had a great time eating, drinking, and socializing, but called it quits around 8pm since we all had a big day ahead of us.With plans to meet at the trailhead at 6am and my watch alarm set for 5:30, I was awake at 5, anxious, excited and unable to sleep. I didn't fall asleep until nearly midnight either as I shared a lean-to with my mom and dad, a million thoughts were racing through my head, keeping me awake. It was the worst night of sleep I've had on the trail with the exception of night #2 when I slept in Hawk Mt. shelter for the first time. On less than 6 hours of sleep and full of adrenaline I was up and ready to go well before the planned meeting time. It was reminiscent of trips to the amusement park, Cedar Point, when I was little. That once-a-summer trip was so anticipated that sleep was always difficult... until the car ride home afterwards!Around 6:15, just as the sun was coming up, we all set off for the summit of Katahdin. I hiked with Gangsta and James while everyone else was on up ahead. As we got higher, the weather worsened. Clouds rolled in, wind picked up, but at least it didn't rain. James was a trooper that day - I gave him "Greatest Husband Ever" award for hiking in those conditions simply to be there for Gangsta's shining moment and to act as our own personal photographer. Fog was so thick it was hard to see the person in front at times. Visibility was maybe 20 yards. After a lot of bouldering upward, the final mile is across the tableland and is relatively flat. Gangsta and I hiked together quietly in front with James bringing up the rear, anxiously awaiting the sign to appear through the fog. I felt excited but nervous - I wanted to see the sign but part of me didn't. The fog added a mystic quality to the experience, as if in a dream...Then, a bunch of foggy figures appeared before us and we knew we had reached the summit. Unsure of what to do, how to act, or what to feel, I clutched her arm and said "oh my god." We simply stood there staring at the sign that up until that moment had only been in our imagination. It was the most surreal moment of my life. We just stood there, staring in disbelief. Disbelief in ourselves, what we had accomplished, the sign before us, that the moment we had imagined for so long was actually happening, that our thru-hike was almost over. As my eyes welled with tears, I tore my eyes away from the sign to look at G. Hers were watering up, too. This was it. The emotions running through me were countless and indescribable. We cried some more, took some photos to capture the moment, then, as crowd around the sign disbanded, it was time. I walked the remaining few yards of the Appalachian Trail and touched the simple, unassuming, wooden sign. I knew my life was forever changed.Happy Trails,Wags(photos and videos will be posted later this week along with a follow-up on how my first week of transitioning back to the real world and life without Gangsta is going. You think you're addicted to reading TJs? I think I'm addicted to writing.)