Day 158, miles today - 5.1, total - 2,185.9, miles to go- 0.0

August 23, 2013

The Birches Lean-to to Katahdin.

I made it to Katahdin, my thru-hike is complete. I normally update my blog while either sitting on top of, or inside of my sleeping bag. In many cases while the others were going to sleep. Today I'm doing it at a kitchen table, free of mosquitoes and without the use of a headlamp.

B-Rocket's mother and twelve of their friends are going to summit Katahdin with us. Six of the group are going to hike up the AT with us from the campground parking lot. The others are going to start on the Abol Trail, it's shorter that way, and then meet us at the junction with the AT. From the junction it's another 1.0 miles to the summit.

I woke up at 5:45. After eating breakfast I woke B-Rocket, it was 6:00. We were to meet her six friends in the campground parking lot at around 7:00. Three of the group were Kelly, Katrina and Dan. The three of them hiked with us on B-Rocket's birthday, about one month ago. It was good seeing them again, they are super nice. Once the group was all there, we got started, it was about 7:30 when we were on trail.

The first mile or so was moderate in difficulty. There were a lot of rocks, but for the most part there was a path to walk on. When we came to Katahdin Stream Falls, I stopped to take a picture. It was very pretty. We then had about two miles of very strenuous trail. I would consider it technical climbing. There were large boulders that we had to climb over. It was very difficult in many sections. We were above tree line and it was very windy. I put my rain jacket on for warmth, it was rather chilly. We then had one mile of better trail, where it was less steep.

Katahdin Stream Falls

Kelly and B-Rocket

Katrina, Dan, Kelly and B-Rocket

                                                                                Katrina

There were many dayhikers on the trail with us. It's obviously a popular trail. There was at least one group of Boy Scouts.

When we neared the junction with the Abol Trail we saw B-Rocket's mother and the rest of their friends. We all hiked together from there. I normally tend to hike faster than B-Rocket, but today I wasn't in a hurry to reach the summit. The end of my hike had been a long time coming, there was no point in rushing it. We passed Long Trail and Night Rider, they were both on their way back down. We congratulated them and said our goodbyes.

The sky was mostly full of clouds with an occasional patch of bright blue. I was hopeful that the gusty winds would eventually clear the sky.

As we got to maybe a tenth of a mile from the top, we could see a large group of people near the sign. That was where our thru-hike would be complete. Walking that last short distance felt a little strange, soon I would move from current thru-hiker to past thru-hiker. My journey would be over.

We got to the sign at 11:50 am, we both reached out to touch it. Our journey was complete. I didn't cry or yell with excitement. I mainly felt relief that it was over, and satisfaction in knowing that I pushed through difficult and sometimes harsh conditions to get here. I did feel just a little sad too, the trail life I had known and enjoyed was ending today.

We each posed for several pictures, separate and with others. We took one picture with all of B-Rocket's friends. We stayed on the summit for one hour. We ate a little lunch and just enjoyed the moment. The clouds opened up at times, revealing magnificent views all around us. It was truly spectacular. As we were getting ready to leave, I went over to the sign one more time, kissed it, and then started back down.

                                                                                 Blazer

                                                               Kelly, B-Rocket and Katrina

After we were all back to the cars we went to a close by restaurant for dinner. I went home with B-Rocket and her mother. They live in Lisbon Falls, Maine, which is about three hours from Katahdin. Lisbon Falls is forty minutes from Portland, where I'll fly out of.

It'll be great to get home, to see my family and friends. Returning to normal life will probably seem strange at first, but I'm ready.

I was fortunate to have met and hiked with many very nice people. There was Raider, Phys Ed, Sequoia, River Guard, Rabbit, Wanderlust, Iceman, Pumpkin Head, Dutch, Sundance, Garfunkel and of course B-Rocket. I've hiked with B-Rocket for almost two months. It was nice having someone to share the good times and the bad. With B-Rocket, I also got the support of her mother, Jamey. She provided support during and after my hike.  I also met and hiked with many others, whom I will always remember. I received trail magic from many generous people.  I even got to visit with John Nieman, who I hadn't seen for over 35 years.

Thank you to everyone who has followed my blog. I always enjoyed reading the comments. Just knowing that people were following was comforting. The support of my family, friends, and the students and staff at Madeira Schools was tremendous.

It was an awesome journey!

Thank you!

Day 157, miles today - 13.5, total - 2,180.8, miles to go - 5.1

August 22, 2013

Hurd Brook Lean-to to The Birches Lean-to.

I started hiking at 7:00 am. B-Rocket was still getting ready, she was going to follow shortly. It was and easy 3.5 miles to the Abol Bridge Camp Store, where I planned to charge my cell phone.

When I got to the store, Long Trail was sitting outside. I talked to him for a few minutes. I went inside the store and asked if I could charge my phone. The guy said yes. After plugging in the charger I went back outside and sat with Long Trail. B-Rocket got there soon after. We planned to hang out there for awhile.

There was a registration booth 0.9 miles up trail from the store. We had to sign in there to stay at the Birches Lean-to tonight. I walked up to the booth to sign B-Rocket and I in, and then walked back to the store.

The restaurant, at the store, opened at 11:00. Our phones were still charging, so we waited to eat lunch. B-Rocket and I left there at 1:00.

We had ten easy miles to hike to reach The Birches Campsite. On the way we had to ford the lower Fork of the Nesowadnehunk Stream. It was shin deep . There was one other stream which we were able to rock hop. I took a short side trail to view the Big Niagara Falls. It was very nice.

                                                                                 B-Rocket

We stopped at the rangers station to sign in. We had to pay ten dollars each to stay at the shelter in Baxter State Park. I was the 193rd thru-hiker this year.

We walked to the shelter area. The only other nobo thru-hikers there were Long Trail and Night Rider. There were five section hikers. We all ate around the campfire and shared extra food. It would have been nice if there had been other nobo's there that we knew, but it was a fun evening just the same. We were all going to Mt. Katahdin tomorrow. By 10:00 we were inside the shelter. Soon after it started to rain.

                                                                      My last A.T. shelter

One more day to go.....I started this journey about five months ago. It's hard to believe I only have one more day as a thru-hiker. Trail life has become a way of life. Hiking each day was sort of like a job, mostly enjoyable, but many hard times too. It was something that had to be done daily, if I were to reach Mt. Katahdin.


Over the past couple weeks or so, as I've neared the end, there have been days that I've felt excitement and days I've felt a little sad. My biggest emotion right now is that of relief, knowing that I'm going to make it.

Day 156, miles today - 19.6, total - 2,167.3, miles to go - 18.6

August 21, 2013

Wadleigh Stream Lean-to to Hurd Brook Lean-to.

After we packed our gear I walked to the privy, it was 100 yards away. When I came back, B-Rocket was feeding a chipmunk pieces of pretzel. She was trying to get him to eat out of her hand, he was only inches away. She then went to the privy. I picked up a couple small pieces of pretzel from the ground. Within a few minutes the chipmunk ate a piece from my hand. When I told B-Rocket she said wanted to feed him too, but he had ran off and we needed to get on trail.

We started hiking at 8:15. It was a little warmer this morning than the past few weeks. And it was another clear day.                                                               

We had one big up today, about 700 feet. It was over Nesuntabunt Mountain. From the top there was a view of Katahdin, it was 16 miles line of sight distance. We sat on the overlook enjoying the view.

                                                              B-Rocket looking at Katahdin

We stopped at Rainbow Stream Lean-to for lunch. The guide book said there was and excellent swimming hole upstream from the shelter. I decided to take a dip. It was a great spot. It was the first time I went swimming in a stream on this hike. I'm glad I did, it was very enjoyable. Maine has many ponds,lakes and streams that are great for swimming, unfortunately it had been on the cool side until today.

                                                                        My swimming hole

We hiked along Rainbow Lake. It was beautiful. I saw two loons in the water. There was a great spring 100 feet from the lake. The pool of spring water was 15 feet in diameter. It was crystal clear and very cold. I was standing at the edge of the pool filling my bottle, when all of a sudden my right foot sunk into the soft ground. To keep from falling I had to step into the water with my left foot. I ended up being shin deep in the water and muck at the bottom of the pool. Luckily I had already filled my bottles. I walked out into the lake to wash off.

When we got to Rainbow Ledges there was and amazing view of Katahdin. We took pictures, and thought about our climb coming up in two days.

                                                                                   Blazer

                                                                                 B-Rocket

At the shelter there were three sobo's. We talked with them for over two hours. The one guy, Don't Panic, just finished the CDT. This will be his second triple-crown. Meaning he has hiked the AT, PCT and CDT. The other two sobo's were new. They were packed way too heavy. The one guy had a back injury that was bothering him. I'm afraid they're going to have a difficult time.

Day 155, miles today - 21.5, total - 2,147.3, miles to go - 38.2

August 20, 2013

Cooper Brook Lean-to to Wadleigh Stream Lean-to.

I got up at 6:30 am. We started hiking at 7:45. It's a little warmer this morning than the last week or more.

The first five miles today were very easy. It looked like the 21 miles would go quick, however after the five miles the trail was full of roots and rocks. This made for very slow going and it was hard on my feet. Stepping on the top of roots, of various sizes, for several hours makes for a long day.

We stopped at the Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to for lunch. There is a great spring here. I still filtered the water, but it was refreshing to drink the cold water. Warren Doyle had signed in the log book. I had met him several days ago. I had said that he had hiked the AT seventeen times, he has actually hiked it sixteen times and is working on seventeen. I also saw where a lady named Copperhead signed in July 20. I met her in 2007 while I was doing trail maintenance at Buffalo River in Arkansas.

We crossed several streams today, we were able to rock hop all of them, keeping our feet dry. We passed several ponds, still haven't seen a moose. We stopped by Nahmakanta Lake, the trail follows along the shore for one to two miles. It's a beautiful lake. 

                                                                               B-Rocket

While we were hiking we saw an owl sitting in a tree. We watched him for a few minutes. He was huge.

                                                                              

We got to the shelter at 6:45. Long Trail is here, he's sleeping in the shelter with us. 

Day 154, miles today - 17.1, total - 2,126.2, miles to go - 59.7

August 19, 2013

Sidney Tappan Campsite to Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to.

I got up this morning at 6:15. At 7:15 Condor walked by. The trail went through where we camped. He asked about the water source. We told him there was a spring 200 yards down a side trail. He came back a little later and said he heard a moose splashing in the water and making snorting sounds. He said he didn't stay around to try to see him. I grabbed my camera and phone, and said I'm going moose hunting. B-Rocket said wait for me, as she got her phone. We went slowly down to the spring, in hopes of seeing our first moose. No luck, the moose was gone.

We started hiking at 7:45. We had three ups to start our day. First was 700 ft. over West Peak, second was 300 ft. over Hay Mountain, and third was 650 ft. over White Cap Mountain. The trail overall was in very good shape. There were large sections of the ups that had rock steps. They weren't like the rock steps you'd see in someone's backyard, but they were still steps, which made going up much easier. The Maine trail crew does a great job of taking care of the trail here.

From the top of White Cap Mountain we were able to see Mt. Katahdin. It's the first time we have been able to see it. The sky was a little hazy, but we could definitely see it. It's been the long term goal since starting this hike. I didn't think about it much before reaching Maine, it was just too far away. Now it's within sight. In four days, weather permitting, I plan to summit Mt. Katahdin.

We saw a male grouse today. He stood a few feet from the trail as we walked by.

We stopped for a lunch break at East Branch Lean-to. There was one sobo and one section hiker. After lunch we crossed the East Branch of Pleasant River. It was a pretty strong stream, but there were enough big rocks across the stream that we were able to stay dry.

                                                                         Mountain View Pond


When we reached the gravel road called Kokadjo-B Pond Road, we were to get our food drop. The people at the Lakeshore House in Monson will deliver your food in a five gallon bucket. We were told to look for a pink ribbon and then from that point go twenty yards into the woods.  Our food was there! We sat at the road eating for several minutes. We had both ate pretty much everything we had been carrying. We were glad to get the resupply, even though our backpacks are a lot heavier now.

We only had four miles to reach the shelter. There's a nice stream in front of the shelter and a water falls 100 ft. up stream. The sound of a stream or falls is great for sleeping.

There are three nobo's besides B-Rocket and me. There's Condor, Long Trail and Jackpot. I met Long Trail yesterday for the first time. This is my first time meeting Jackpot. He started May 15. He's doing 20-25 miles per day. He's flying! He goes to Columbia University, he has one more year to go.

    Jackpot at Cooper Brook Falls Lean-to

Day 153, miles today - 11.7, total - 2,109.1

August 18, 2013

Chairback Gap Lean-to to Sidney Tappan Campsite.

I woke up this morning at 5:45. I laid in my sleeping bag until 6:15. For breakfast I had three Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks, two Pop Tarts, one granola breakfast bar, and a small box of raisins. I woke B-Rocket up at 7:00. We weren't planning many miles today, so we didn't need to get out early. It was about 8:15 when we started hiking. It was a clear and cool morning. The rest of the week is supposed to be sunny and dry. We can only hope.

We went over Chairback Mountain.  The trail followed along the ridge giving us a great view of the mountains.

                                                             View from Chairback Mountain

 Later we had to ford the West Branch of the Pleasant River. It was just over ankle deep, but it was about 100 feet across. While hiking we  passed a few sobo's and met one nobo. The nobo's name is Long Trail, he's from Vermont.

We stopped along side a fair size mountain stream to eat lunch. The stream was almost a cascade as it dropped down the mountain. It was somewhat loud, but at the same time relaxing. We took a long lunch break since we only had 3-4 miles left to do. After eating I took a nap. B-Rocket read a book on her iPod.

We stopped briefly at the Carl A. Newhall Lean-to. We signed the log book and used the privy.

We had two more miles to reach the Sidney Tappan Campsite. We had to go over Gulf Hagas Mountain, it was a 700 ft. up. Once at the campsite we walked 200 yards down to a spring to get water. It is the best water source I've seen for a long time.

My tent

Day 152, miles today - 10.9, total - 2,097.4, miles to go - 88.5

August 17, 2013

Long Pond Stream Lean-to to Chairback Gap Lean-to.

I woke up this morning at 6:30. We weren't doing many miles today so I didn't wake B-Rocket until 7:30. She's not one to wake up early on her own. Basically I'm her alarm clock. The section hikers left at 7:00, Roadrunner left at 8:00, we started hiking at about 8:30.

Our morning started with a 1,000 ft. up. There were a lot of rocks and roots, but overall not that bad. Where the trail leveled off there was a side trail to the Barren Slide. I took the side trail to see it. B-Rocket waited on the AT for me. When I got to the end of the trail there was a very nice overlook. The overlook consisted of large boulders jumbled up. From there I could see a boulder field reaching almost down to the  base of the mountain. I assume that was the Slide.

 After I got back to the trail, we had a short level section and we had a 600 ft. up. At that point we were on top of Barren Mountain. There was a nice view, and there were remnants of a fire tower. We took a snack break on the rock surface. We were in the sun which made it very comfortable. B-Rocket laid down, closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth.

We passed through the Fourth Mountain bog. There were walk boards to walk on all the way through this section. It would have been very difficult and messy without the boards. When we got to the top of Fourth Mountain we stopped for a long lunch break. There was a nice view of the surrounding mountains. After eating, B-Rocket read a book she had downloaded. I laid down in the sun and took a nap. Taking a nap in the sun, while on top of a mountain, is pretty nice.

After lunch we had 5.5 miles to Chairback Gap Lean-to. It was about 6:00 when we got there. We didn't do a lot of miles today, but there was a lot of elevation change and there were some very rocky sections making it difficult to make good time. There is one section hiker with us in the shelter. He's from Tennessee. I told him about Big South Fork in Tennessee. It's one of my favorite places near Cincinnati to backpack. I gave him the highlights of backpacking there. He wrote down the name and location. He said he was going to look into it.