Day 132: Katahdin.

Day 132 - 8/30/10
Woke up at 5:30 for an early start up the mountain. Had a couple bowls of cereal, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which is exactly what I had been craving days before. I think Mom must have read my mind or something because I really wanted that more than anything and I had seriously considered buying some at the store at Abol Bridge, but I didn't want to hike out a 1/2 gallon of milk afterward. It all worked out though, so after my quick meal we headed back to Katahdin Stream, the main campground area. Took a few pictures at the trailhead, then I journeyed out to climb my last mountain at 6:30.

The trail early on was very nice gradual climbing, and after a mile I was at Katahdin Stream falls. From there the trail became much more steep and rocky, but I had so much adrenaline I was flying up the mountain. Before I knew it I was climbing boulders and popping above treeline, which is where the real fun began. Going up the Hunt Trail to Katahdin, which is the official AT route, was a very technical climb, and probably one of the hardest, if not the hardest on the whole trail. Washington is taller, but much more gradual, whereas this was going straight up a giant rock slide pretty much. Because it's so tough it goes by very fast, you're just so focused on where to place your next step. I was heading up the spur and reached the Tableland by 9:00, a false summit you hit at around 4600'. When you come over the crest of that you can see the real summit, Baxter Peak, less than 2 miles away. It still looks so far away though.

Hiking along the flat Tableland for a 1/2 mile or so I hit Thoreau Spring, which really wasn't much of a spring at all, but I needed some water so I took some time filling up there. I had to drain from one bottle to another with a filter over one so I wouldn't be drinking tons of floaties. Because it took some time The Crusher ended up catching up to me there, and we hiked to the peak together. Having someone to talk to while hiking to the peak was interesting, and I think it affected how I reacted as I approached the Katahdin sign. Had I been alone I may have cried or gotten emotional, but because we were talking it snuck up on me, and suddenly we were at the top. I had made it! I hiked the AT! I am now a real thru-hiker! When I saw that sign and touched it I was overcome with an intense feeling of joy, on top of the world, both mentally and literally as well. If I had cried it would have been tears of happiness, but they didn't come. I can tell you this though, I couldn't stop smiling. Easily one of the happiest moments of my life. And the weather was perfect for a summit day, gorgeous blue skies, slight breezes, great visibility. The Crusher had said that it was best day in the history of the AT to summit, and I'd have to agree.

Whippersnap was already up there, and with him was his wife, so The Crusher, he, and I had an awesome photo session. That was the other great part about the whole experience, we just couldn't stop taking pictures. I wanted to capture everything! And as others showed up, first Three Bears, then Rocket, and finally Ichabod, we just continued to flash the cameras and demand more photo sessions. I was glad to be one of the first thru-hikers to make the top because it gave me the chance to witness everyone elses reactions as they reached the summit. Each person had their own moment, some intensely emotional and others just screaming out to the world. My favorite would have to be Ichabod's. As he climbed onto the sign he stretched his arms out to the heavens and yelled as loud as he could, "WE WALKED SO FAR!!!" It was fantastic.

We all stayed up there for a good couple hours, no one really wanted to leave. I sure didn't, partly because I didn't want to hike back down, but mostly because it meant the trip was finally over for me. It was a bit sad, but as I said earlier I was overjoyed more than anything. I felt complete, like I had done everything right, that the trip was all I'd hoped it to be and I couldn't have asked for a better day to finish. I was worried that seeing the sign, touching it, finishing, would throw me into a deep sadness, but I've changed. The trip has changed me, and I look at the end as a positive thing, a moment of true happiness that very few get to experience. I feel blessed to have had the chance to do this. As I hiked back down the mountain I saw someone hiking up, and it looked a lot like Ace. As we got closer I saw to my surprise that it was her. She had gotten really sick and took over a month off, so she was doing a flip-flop. Of all the days to decide to start back up I was amazed that it happened to be the same day as me. It was great to see her again, and she wished me a congratulations. I hope the remainder of her hike goes well for her.

Going up was tough, but heading back down was more challenging. Not physically, but just logistically. It was so steep and rocky that sometimes you'd have to make a leap of faith, nothing too crazy, but tough hiking all the same. I mountain-goated the whole way down, flying down and getting back to the campground around 2:30. When I showed up in the distance I saw a sign that said "Welcome Home Coon Cat", something my Mom had gotten made. It was a great sign, huge too, at least 4 or 5 feet long. I went over and sat with her, showed her my awesome photos, and had a bunch of snacks she had brought. Eventually The Crusher came next, then Three Bears, and they joined in on some last moments of trail magic and being together. Three Bears's aunt was there as well, having driven from New Hampshire I believe to pick him up. Then Ichabod and his parents came down (they had gone up to the top with him), and came over for a bit as well. Then it was time for everyone to say goodbye, people had places to be and rides to make. That was probably the saddest part, knowing that there weren't going to be any more nights around a campfire, hanging out, talking, eating ramen and tuna.

After people started leaving and going their own ways Mom and I went and swam at the same beach as the day before, then went back to our site and cooked up some burgers and hot dogs. It was a nice ending meal. Sat around the campfire for a while, until at least 9:30, watching the stars and talking. She went to bed a bit before me, I stayed up to make sure the fire was going out, then went to bed after I was sure.

Today is September 1st, several days after my actual summit date. I didn't want to write it up immediately after hiking because I wanted some think time and to see if any emotional changes would take place over the next few days. I still feel good, a bit more sad now, but not depressed. It's starting to settle in that I'm not hiking every day anymore. The trip really is over. I think it will take a long time to not think about it every day, but I'm also excited and optimistic about my future and getting a fresh start on a new chapter in life. This was a once in a lifetime experience, one that I will never forget. It has changed my life, made me a better person, and shown me what is truly important: Friendship. Working hard. Appreciation for nature. Perseverance. Determination. Ability to adapt. Acceptance. Generosity. There are more, and I'm sure more will come to be realized after several more days, weeks, and even years have gone by. I can't believe I hiked almost 2200 miles, from Georgia to Maine. I still look in awe when I see the map on the wall and how far I really walked. I'd like to think I did it all on my own, but the power of support and encouragement can do a lot, and I think without all of you who have supported me I might not have made it. Thank you to anyone and everyone for that. Special thanks to my parents again, you were behind me 100% through this whole experience and it was crucial to keep me going, Jen for being understanding about my need to do this, and Ian who helped my beyond measure with all his guidance and advice. It was almost five months ago I walked into those woods, little to no experience with backpacking, somewhat clueless, but if I had not received his help who knows if I would have even made it one step. He told me I could do it, and I did. So thank you Ian.

This isn't the end for me. I may never do a long trip like this, but hiking and backpacking is now a part of my life and something I will do for the rest of it. I will probably put up a few more posts now and then, although it will no longer be every day. Perhaps some reflections on how things are changing in my life, new realizations about the impact this trip has had on me. In the next few days I think I will go through my notes, thoughts, whatnot, and make up some lists of random things, favorite spots, biggest trail personalities, best state award, etc. as just a fun thing to do. That's it for me on the AT though, I'm done, "all pau".

(In case you're wondering why I wrote that on my arms for some summit photos, I did for two reasons. One, I did it in honor of Earl Shaffer, the first person to thru-hike the AT. At the museum in Pine Furnace they had some old journals of his, and in it he wrote those exact words, which in Hawaiian means "all done". The second reason is because Jen's family on her mother's side are from Hawaii, and she actually taught me this phrase years ago before I had even hiked the AT. I wouldn't have written those words on my arms if either of these circumstances didn't exist, but because I knew what it meant without needing translation in Earl Shaffer's journal I just felt compelled to do it. I needed to. Just like I felt compelled to do this whole trip. So there's your explanation.)

Total miles: 2179.1