Date: 2007-10-01
From: Monson, ME

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

YAHOO!!!!!! Arrived at the summit at 11:45 am. Just letting it all sink in. Ready for a vacation.More to come later.Woke up last night at 3 and couldn¢t go back to sleep. Thinking about the day ahead made my mind race with excitement. Might have faded in and out of sleep but was ready to get up and start climbing Mama K right away in the morning. Were on the trail by 7:45. The scenery was just a normal Maine mountain at first but had a different feel to it. This was is, the mountain that we had been hiking 6 months to climb. Katahdin Stream Falls were some of the most amazing falls I¢ve ever laid eyes upon. Absolutely beautiful. Shared the beauty with Brisk and Uncle Silly. Soon we were above treeline and it truly was the most amazing mountain I¢d ever climbed. People had always talked about Katahdin being so amazing but I just figured that was because it was the end of the trail. The climb was tough but none of it mattered. Was just a big playland for big kids like us. The clouds rolled in. Soon I felt like I was on Mt. Everest with the sea of clouds covering the valley below. Could not have asked for better weather. Took a break on a rock and couldn¢t believe my eyes. Hold On and Ox were climbing up the mountain with Nice-enuff. How perfect to meet up with old hiking buddies on Mama K herself. It was a joyful reunion. They had done like 57 miles the 2 days prior to catch up to NE and myself. Wow. We continued up the mountain. Soon we arrived at the Tablelands. Felt like we were in a fairy land. Was in a rush to get to the top but taking my time knowing this was it. NE and I rounded a hump and there it was. The famous sign. Eulah, Walnut, Low Gear, and P-Hawk were already there celebrating. Really couldn¢t believe my eyes. Stumbled over a rock to be reminded that anything can still happen. NE and myself hooted and hollered the rest of the way up. Arrived at the windy summit and stared at the sign. KATAHDIN. Along with various milages including the milage to Springer Mtn, Georgia. The only thing really going through my head at the time was ¢This is it, and I f****ing walked here.¢Soon there was quite a gathering of hikers on the summit. Pike County, Uncle Silly, Eulah, Low Gear, Walnut, P-Hawk, Brisk, Ox, Hold On, NE, and myself. Many hugs were shared and a few toasts with the summit brews. The summit photo session was surreal. I had looked at so many summit photos wondering what it would be like to be up there. And here I was, at the end of my thru hike, having my summit photo taken. Hard moment to describe.NE and I had a photo taken together with our picket fences. A dream come true. We had been dreaming of this moment for years and there we were. On each side of the sign with our mangled fences. Mine managed to stay in tact on the outside of my pack the entire way. NE¢s is a different story. His had trouble making it through the blow downs in the Smokies. Was elated to be in the summit with 4 other strong women that had just completed the journey as well. Going to miss those girls. We had awesome times together. Took the Abol Trail down. Very steep and loose gravel on top of slanted boulders. Scary. Took 2 hours or so. Was excited to see my dad and Terry. Arrived at the road, dad and Terry were no where around. Found them down the road a bit after getting a hitch. Classic hitch. The guy was asking us about our hike, assuming that we were only day hiking. He was asking is it was busy on the summit. We told him that it got busy just as we were leaving. Then he asked if we¢d seen any thru hikers just as he would ask if we¢d seen any wildlife. Priceless moment. We all busted out and said ¢Yep, we sure did, we are thru hikers!!¢ He couldn¢t believe that he was giving a hitch to people that just finished up such an amazing accomplishment. He almost drove off the road in excitement. What a bittersweet feeling. more than anyone could ask for.As I sit here and type I think about all the great friends I made along the way. Some I may never talk to again and others I know I will be friends with forever. Excited to contact them. Glad I don¢t have to say good bye to everyone. I was tough as it was to the few that were around me but I do wish I could have seen some of them again on the trail. I wish the best summit day for them and safe travels home.