Date: 2006-09-21
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: scattered clouds

Rats! No call today from Bama, but I did hear from a Trail Angel, Linda, who called me late this evening with news from Katahdin and Bama (see the following).Professor, Jesse James, Brainfreeze and Bama packed up at Site #4 and went to the camp store at 7:00 am for egg & bacon muffins, sweet rolls and coffee. They were on the trail at 8:00 am to hike the last 10 miles before M. Katahdin. After leaving the Abol Bridge Campground, Bama crossed Abol Stream footbridge where there is a killer view of Katahdin. Then there were a number of streams and ponds before getting to Dicey Pond Campground. Then more streams and more ponds, etc., etc.She and the crew reached Katahdin Stream Campground without incident. There is no cell service and no public phone. The first task ¢ and requirement ¢ is to officially register with the rangers. Bama¢s 2006 thru-hiker registry number for the Katahdin summit is # 286.Bama first saw K¢ache who was waiting on Pi to return from his summit down the Knife¢s Edge with Birkenstock. Banjoman and his wife, Karen, were in the park visiting all the thru-hikers who were coming and going from the Baxter State Park. Moe & Ponch came down from the summit and Moe said it was worst descent she had experienced on the AT. This confirmed many of the stories Bama had heard from the SOBOs she had met (yikes!). Bama enjoyed seeing all her old trail friends.Around 2:00 pm, Professor¢s wife, Pat, drove in with hot dog, fixin¢, cookies and cake for a day-early birthday for Professor (it¢s tomorrow). They shared the cake with all the thru-hikers who had summited Katahdin today. Professor, Pat, Jesse James and Bama then rented a four-person, ¢private¢ shelter (#9) at the park. After the party, the rangers were having a campfire, poetry reading by one of the rangers and s¢mores afterwards. Bama stayed until the cold and wind drove her back to her shelter and her warm mummy bag.Linda called me about 7:30 pm CT. She was headed toward Millinocket and making a number of calls to help out some hikers summiting Katahdin today and tomorrow to get word to their families and friends that it FREAKIN¢ SNOWED ON KATAHDIN TODAY! Darn! The Baxter State Park rangers closed the mountain. This killed a number of summit attempts. Bummer!Linda says it also puts doubt on attempts tomorrow, at least early ones. Some hikers like to start during the wee hours to watch the sunrise from the top (not me, thanks. It¢s dangerous enough when you can see where you¢re going). But the weather forecast tomorrow is still for 60s and bright clear skies. Maybe Bama will be able to make the 7-hour round trip up and down Katahdin before sunset. With any luck, there won¢t be 250 people trying to make it up at the same time.The Katahdin webcam address is http://www.katahdincam.com and it refreshes every 30 minutes. If you have absolutely nothing to do all day tomorrow, maybe you can see Bama walk by ¢ don¢t know. It was dark when I accessed it.From the 1928 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, let us pray,¢O Lord God, who hast justly humbled us by thy late visitation of us with immoderate rain and waters, and in thy mercy hast relieved and comforted our souls by this seasonable and blessed change of weather; we praise and glorify thy holy Name for this thy mercy, and will always declare thy loving-kindness from generation to generation . . .¢Amen.Bill