Date: 2014-09-19
From: The Birches

To: The Summit
Miles today: 5.2

When we got up it was cold but our excitment was overriding the chill. We were up, packed, ate breakfast, and on our way to meet Reboot. We were at his camp site, he stayed with his friends, at 7 am and ready to go. This would be our last hike together and the most important one of the trip. We walked slowly because we knew it would be a tough climb. many say the toughest on the entire trail. I agree after having done it. The climb starts out slowly then starts getting steeper as you go. The rocks and roots do the same, small at first then bigger and bigger. The first mile is quite pleasnat, but the the real mountain shows up.It was a crystal clear day and we were all happy we had decided to wait for the perfect day to summit. The climb up to The Gateway was incredible. Very technical for a "trail". I'm not sure how they can even use the word "trail" in some places. "Cliff" seems more appropriate at times. It takes a litte while to get above tree line but then every few steps you just want to stop and stare at whats stretches out for miles around you, and we did. We took lots of pictures. The rocks continued to get bigger and bigger, and soon thats all you were in is one giant boulder field. There was rebar drilled into the rocks in places you couldn't climb up and over on your own. Nothing new for the Thru-Hiker, but how do the day hikers do this? Not sure but they do. When we reached The Gateway we just stood there in awe. You could see the top even though it was still 1.6 miles away, and you could make out a couple people too.We had to just stroll up to the plaque now. No more climbing, no more long slow clims where you have to stop to catch your breath, no more walking in the rain for hours, there it was. For the first time I was just filled with joy that I couldn't control and as I walked along behind To Long I was nearly in tears with the realization of what we had accomplished.We covered that last little distance to the plaque and as we walked up to it we both just stopped, turned to each other, both with tears in our eyes, and hugged each other. We had done it. We had hiked the entire Appalachain Trail, from Gerogia to Maine, and here we stood, together, so happy we could hardly take it all in. We took turns walking up to the sign, I let To Long go first, just to have a moment alone with her thoughts. When it was my turn I got down on one knee and put my forehead on the sign, just as I had done the Arch in Georgia, and prayed. I couldn't controll my emotions, and I thanked God for the journey, the struggles, the victory over not only the Trail, but many things that I had hoped to leave out here when I was finished. It is actaully hard to describe this moment. I felt as free of the world around me as I have ever felt, and I knew that I had been blessed beyond measure.We moved away from the sign to allow others to have their moment. Each Thru-Hiker had tears in there eyes as they too came to end of their journey. What does the Trail do for us? What drives a person to this end? Questions that we all struggled with days at times along the way, but we all found a reason to continue. Now we would all have to find some way to process this and return to our lives. I do not think anyone will accomplish this today.We stayed on the top of Katahdin for a couple hours. Waiting on al the Thru-Hikers we knew o make their way to the top. We celebrated with them all. It was my great honor to hike with To Long and Reboot, I will not soon forget you guys. Obsidian, Lovus, and Ketchup from germany were there, Eskimo, Tip-Toes and Ken, and many others. We all took pictures together, with each other, as groups, and hiking partners, as father and son, and as friends who we would likely never see again, but who we would likely never forget either. We ate lunch there, and just sat quietly looking out at the awesome views from the top of the mountain, and tried to soak it all in.After a couple hours we headed down, and really took our time. We were starting to realize there would be no hiking tomorrow, and that at the bottom of the mountain we both had family waiting to celebrate with us, but also to take us home. How could this really be over? When we reached the bottom, Jamie and Anna where there waiting on To Long. Norman & Connie (Like Mom & Dad) and Curt & Angie were there waiting on me as well. I introduced everyone and we all took more pictures together. These guys had driven from PA to pick up To Long, and from South Carolina to pick up The Sleeper. It was tough to leave, and I just felt like I wanted to stay. I hugged To Long one last time, told her I would never forget her, and that I wasn't sure how to leave. She said she felt the same way. The Trail has a way of bonding people together that would have never met, and who have come from very different lives, but who would change each other's lives forever from being bonded together on the Trail. I got in the car and we drove away. It was over. This is all but a memory now!