Date: 2010-09-19
From: The Birches Lean-to

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Starting location: The Birches Lean-toFinal destination: KatahdinMiles hiked today: 5.2Total miles: 2179.1Shelter:I do not think anybody staying in the long distance hiker shelters of the Birches, slept very well. I know all I kept thinking about was the journey up to this point and the final climb up Katahdin.Red, MacGuyver, Prophet, his girlfriend and I registered with the park ranger for a night hike up Katahdin for the sunrise. The earliest allowed on the mountain was 2:am. We were up at 1:45 am and started our final day of hiking at 2:30 am. The temperature was in the low 40's which meant the top would be cold.I knew what to expect in the climb from my first hike and thought a night hike would add a little excitement to the hike. The trail started off fairly easy and just passed the Katahdin Stream Falls began the steep ascent over rocks, mixed in with boulders and rock face. The climb became a jungle gym exercise pushing and crawling over and around huge boulders. There were times I had to stop and go over in my head where the next hand and foot holds would be placed for my advancement. Several times rebar was cemented into the rock where I had to lift myself up, or reach up with a leg hold and push myself up. When I reached the section called the Spine (large boulders on top of each other with the sides quickly falling away) the black sky was clear with bright diamonds as stars. It felt like I was floating through the universe as I was surrounded by bright stars against a velvet black sky. The only thing keeping me grounded was the feeling of the boulders under my feet. I knew what was below me but in the dark no one else knew, until they came back down in daylight. Just as we reached The Gateway (the top of the Spine) leading to a high plateau called the Tableland, the first rays of sunlight could be seen peeking through the blackness of the eastern night sky. Typical of mountain weather, things drastically and quickly changed. The wind picked up, the temperature dropped and a blanket of misty fog swirled and encircled us in white. The closer we got to the sign designating the northern terminus of the AT the worse visibility became. Morning light revealed a sheet of white surrounding us and we never did catch the sunrise. Red, MacGuyver and I went down the Cathedral Trail a few feet to escape the wind. We stayed on that rock ledge for an 1 1/2 wrapped in our sleeping bags, hoping the sun would burn the fog away revealing great views. The cloudy mist just kept on whirling by. Shivering, we came to an agreement it was time for Team Alpha to take the summit pictures and get off the mountain top for the warmth of the valley below. Visibility did not improve for the hike down. We could barely make out the white blazes painted on the rocks. We met over 60 hikers (thru, section and day) who were climbing up to summit Katahdin. Almost everyone asked if we were the 2:30 group, since we were the first ones coming down. We answered yes. MacGuyver asked Red and I if we cried on Katahdin. I told her I didn't have a chance to think about in the wet cold of the mountain top. However on the way down I started thinking about the journey. Throughout the day I would look up towards Katahdin and see the top hidden in clouds.We hitched several rides that took us into Millinnocket and to the Appalachian Hostel run by Old Man and Navaigator. I hiked with Old Man in 04 and we have become friends since. Old Man is trying hard to bring the town's people and hikers together through special events.The hostel is full of hikers who have completed the trail. The most asked questions everyone is asking, "What's next?" What are you going to do? How are you getting home? Where are you going from here? My answer to the questions, 'maybe when I grow up I will know!"if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe