Birches base camp to the summit of Mt. Katahdin - 5.1 miles hiked today (plus 4 more miles back down the Abol Trail) - 2193.1 total AT miles to date and total!!!
KATAHDIN!!! Today was the day. Six months exactly from the day I left Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia on 2/27, I was heading out for the final stage of this incredible journey. The 12 of us at the Birches had all turned in early the night before, in anticipation of an early start today. Baxter State Park (where Katahdin is located) opens its gates to day hikers at 6:30, so we wanted to be on our way up the mountain ahead of the anticipated crowds. It was a perfect day for hiking, with temperatures at the base in the low 70s and expected to be in the upper 40s at the summit.
The evening before, a ranger signed us in for today’s hike and issued us our official AT-Katahdin Hiker permits. I am the 542nd northbound (NOBO) hiker to finish the AT thru hike this year. I’m also the 1583rd AT hiker of any type (southbound, flip flop, section) to attempt to scale Katahdin this year. A small group indeed.
Four of our group of 12 left just after midnight and night hiked up to watch the sun rise from the top. I had no desire to attempt that climb in the dark. Pinot and I signed in at the trail head at 6am along with a few others from our Birches team, including Woody and Banjo, who we’d hiked with on and off for the past few weeks. We’d stripped all but the essentials from our packs and left them at the Ranger station, to lighten our load for the final climb. Some food, water, emergency gear, poles and a jacket were all I carried. It felt good to have a sub 10 pound pack for once.
The first two miles were much like the rest of Maine had been. Lots of rocks, roots, minor scrambles and climbs, but nothing too difficult. Then we reached the “wall”. The next two miles were a sheer climb up the side of the mountain, with multiple sections requiring hauling yourself up and over rock faces, yawning crevices, and clinging to minuscule hand and foot niches while trying to locate the next spot to anchor yourself. This went on for two miles. With the limited use of my left arm, I was forced to get creative several times, using my patented reverse one arm pull up maneuver to get from one boulder or rock face to another. Ultimately it took about 2 1/2 hours to get through this section, compared to the hour it took to cover the first 2 miles.
Finally, we reached the Gateway, which signified the last mile, a much less steep section above the tree line. By then the temperatures had dropped into the 40s and the wind had picked up considerably. It was downright chilly up there, but the strenuous nature of the climb made the climate feel great to me. That last mile was a time for reflection and solitude, as the reality of finishing after so long became very real. Although there were other hikers around, most were absorbed in their own thoughts. We passed a few hikers coming down, and congratulations were exchanged.
Finally, a little more than 4 hours after setting out, we approached the vaunted sign, signifying the peak and the final stop on the 2193.1 mile journey. I have to admit feeling emotional as I approached the sign. Several others from our Birches team were there, having made it for sunrise. They were waiting for 4 others who were right behind us. We took our obligatory sign pictures, spent some time congratulating the other hikers, and each spent a few minutes alone. I spent a few minutes alone in prayer, thanking God for all those who supported me along the way. I thanked Him for the wonder and glory of Creation that I was blessed to experience every day, and how He opened my eyes to pursue His will more fully going forward. All along the way I truly felt the prayers and support from family, friends, and certainly from those who pledged support for Family Promise. You will be contacted soon on how to provide the pledged funds. The total AT miles were 2193.1.
After about 30 minutes at the peak, the cold started to sink in, and we decided to start back down. We decided instead of tackling the two mile cliffs in reverse, we’d take the Abol trail back down to the camp. It was 1 mile shorter (4 miles instead of 5), and the rock face scramble was only a mile long instead of two. The drawback was that the one mile scramble was a rock slide even steeper than the trail we’d taken up. I led the way down, pointing out the best spots for foot and hand placement to the others who followed (Pinot and another of the Birches team). They were both uneasy by the sheer drops, so I had them focus only on my feet and talked them through each portion. It took about an hour to get through the worst of the climb, and then we had clear trail for the balance.
We made it to Abol campground at the trail head by 2pm, and started walking the 2 mile road back to the base camp. A passing ranger offered us a lift in the bed of his truck, and dropped us at the base camp shortly thereafter. Russell (Pinot’s husband) was there waiting, and after a celebratory Coke, we loaded our gear into his car and headed to Bangor. I will fly home from there tomorrow.
Again, I want to thank all who have supported me in this amazing adventure. I have been truly blessed. And now, in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.”
