Date: 2011-09-27
From: The Birches

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

The last four days. I arrived at Abol Bridge on friday with a beautiful view of Katahdin. My emotions were crazy knowing the excitement of climbing the last mountain would signify the completion of my adventure. The forecast for Saturday was morning showers, afternoon clearing. Not good but it is what it is. My goal was to sumitt on the 27th since that was the day I sumitted 33 years ago. I was four days early and explored my options. Saturday, rain, Sunday, clearing, Monday, 50% rain, Tuesday the 27th, 50% rain. My mind reflected on all the highs and lows of the past six months and decided to just let the trail take care of the details and for me to trust it. I would climb the day I arrived at the base. It started to rain during the night and continued in the morning. Why rush? Wait.... no, we must climb. Family was coming. Not my family, the other hikers families that I would adopt for a day. Mank's Dad, who flew in, brought breakfast and Coyote's family brought in cookies. I would hike the Mt. with my hiking family who i've been living with for the past six months. Everyone took off and I reflected as I climbed. Wow. This is really the day. It was lightly raining but it made no difference. I met Scribbles, on her way down, grinning as wide as the Kennebec. I reached into my pack and pulled out a squished pumkin Woope Pie for a mini celebration. Seconds later she was gone, on her way home. As I approched the sumitt, my hiker family clapped their hands and chanted: Mark, Mark. I grasped the sign in a total cloud but my sprit was shining bright. After dreaming of being an "end to end' thru hiker for 33 years, I had finally accomplished my goal. Tears ran down my face as I released personal joy, realizing the greatness of the moment. Everyone was celebrating and slowly began to leave for the five mile hike down. To my amazement, Coyote's family waited for me at the base so we could go to a cabin they had, to shower, eat and celebrate. Later we went into Millinocket for one last party before we went on our seperate ways. While we all were traveling on the same trail, now the trail split into all different ways, never to be the same again.       Snake Farm's brother came to pick him up Sunday morning and the weather was perfect. You're climbing again? Can I come along? Great another opportunity to climb the Mt this time in great weather and on the Abol Slide trail. The trail is shorter and steeper than the AT, Hunt Trail. After one mile the trail is an open slide, straight up, with great views. As the day before, celebration was in full blossom as I arrived on the sumitt. I hiked a little of the Knife Edge hoping that maybe the weather would be nice enough to be able to hike it on Tuesday. I chased Snake Farm and his brother down arriving again about an hour after them. We drove to McDs to get some hiker food and off they went leaving me at Millinocket's Hostel.          As I picked up my pack, Spark Plug's big smile met my eyes and the greatness of the climb on the 27th began to be realized. After breaking her wrist and fracturing her rib, finally she had been delayed enough for me to see her again since southern Virginia.I met Trump's parents Sunday night and rode with them to Roaring Brook on Monday to meet Trump, Aces, Catalyst, and Poncho as they came down the Knife Edge. I asked lots of questions as it was my dream to hike it on Tuesday.The weather on Tuesday was "The Best of the Year" according to the ranger. We climbed from Roaring Brook, past Chimney Pond, up to the saddle, on to Baxter Peak. I howled as I approched and a familiar howl was returned. Spark Plug was holding court as usual sitting on the sumitt sign. I poped out a few beers and the great tradition of Oreo cookies. Then off in the distance I could see Smiley, Cotton, and Lady Pants. What a reunion and celebration we had. Pictures of crazy poses were taken to remind us of best days of our lives. To celebrate each day and to enjoy friendship not knowing if you would ever be able to share time together again.It was time to start climbing the Knife Edge, a rock ridge that drops straight down on both sides of the trail. I howled as I slowly climbed away from the sign. I could hear Smiley return the cheerful yell that would be our last. We returned to Roaring Brook in the dark after another long day. 24,000 ft. climb in four days wore me out. I have completed my dream of 33 years. 5,500 miles on the AT, four sections, covering the trail two and one half times. I think it's time to go home.