09 October 2012

Today is the day. 

Many people wanted night hike to catch the sunrise on Katahdin in the morning, but due to recent snow, I thought it would be safer to hike around 7:00am.  The first 2 miles were simple, but the higher we got, snow covered the ground.  Ice formed around the rocks which forced me to focus on each step.  The rock climb in the middle of the hike was a bit challenging, but Nutella went first and I learned from trial and error.  I met Jonathan on the last mile and he gave us some encouraging words.  He was hiking with Regina who would later be on the same bus to Boston with me and Nutella.

 It was an amazing feeling.  The last mile was filled with snow and much anticipation.  I wasn't sure whether or not I would get emotional and surprisingly I didn't.  I'm not sure how to feel about that.  The summit never really felt real.  It felt like I was hiking another mountain and tomorrow I would hike another and the next day, another.   I sat on Katahdin watching my fellow friends summit.  The tears in their eyes caught me off guard.  Maybe they felt like this was the end for them.  The accumulation of the hardest days of their lives and the happiest moments mixing and coming to an end seemed foreign to me.  Why didn't I feel that way?  I don't want to over analyse this so I will just take it as my journey not being over with.  I am happy with that.  Knowing that I have more wanting and yearning in my life and creating opportunities to fulfill those needs will keep me be.  I had the most amazing time of my life thruhiking the AT.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I learned so much of myself and my capabilities and hopefully those never leave me.  I wish the best of luck to future thruhikers. Who knows?  I might be another someday. 

08 October 2012

Ladies and gents, today a group of us entered into Baxter State Park with the hopes of summiting on the 9th.  We hear the weather is going to be exceptional.  The 10 mile hike today didn't go without some excitement. 

This is a view of Katahdin from Abol campground this morning. Isn't she a beauty?

In Maine there are a few rivers and streams to ford and here is a photo of Switchback doing so.  Do you see the frustration in his eyes?!

Unfortunately I fell in this same stream and my camera got damaged so not much photos beyond this.  I had to ask Nutella every time I wanted to take something which I'm sure annoyed him, but we are buddies.

When we arrived at Katahdin Stream Campground, everyone was celebrating.  Tiny Dancer, the guy on the far right with the red hat, saved a book of matches he received on Springer Mountain from a Ridge Runner named Jonathan.  He didn't know what he would get or not get when he returned them to Jonathan 2,184 miles later, but to our surprise, Jonathan cooked 2 delicious carrot cakes to celebrate our journey.  Thanx TD for keeping those matches!!  That night was so fun.

07 October 2012

I spent a couple days hiking with Nutella in the 100 mile wilderness which has a reputation of being a bit difficult due to resupply issues and what-not.  The terrain began with a couple mountains, but nothing too strenuous.  The weather had been spotty with rain showers usually in the evenings which made the shelters so welcoming.  A couple nights ago, Nutella and I ran to a shelter in the rain around 7:00pm and were greeted by a group of high school weekend hikers that took over the shelter and showed no concern on our behalf.  I ended up hanging my hammock in the pouring rain while they sat and told ghost stories inside the shelter.  Have a little hiker etiquette! 

On this particular day, Nutella and I had the notion to make it to the White House Landing Hostel.  I wanted to experience this because you hike .9 on a blue blaze trail to a lake then toot a blow horn.  The hostel owner will hear that and pick you up with his boat!!  How cool does that sound?  This made a 28ish mile day for Nutella and I and because of that, we were running all day....literally.  This section of the 100 mile wilderness was flat, but because of the recent rain, mud soaked the trail which made it difficult to pick up speed.  However, we made it.  I was a little discouraged when on a tree I see a sign that said the hostel owner was a di*k.  We made it to the boat dock at 6pm, blew the horn and was picked up fantastically by the owner in his boat and we were greeted by a awesome group of hikers.  I couldn't have asked for a better group! 

White House Landing Hostel owners

Me, Chatty Kathy, Sacagawea, Tiny Dancer, Charlie Brown, Subway, Nutella, and 2 SOBOS