The Incredible Summit at Mt. Katahdin

This morning at 5:30 we made the half hour drive to Baxter State Park in Millinocket, Maine. We were checked in at the main gate and drove another half hour over a gravel road to Katahdin Stream Campground, where I checked in at the Ranger's Station before beginning my climb to the summit of Mt. Katahdin. Even though I knew I would be back with my family at the end of the day for one more night at the motel, goodbyes are always the hardest part of this hike. To make it worse, this time I was leaving Forest behind as well.

 

After we said our goodbyes, I headed up to the trailhead where I signed in (a safety measure required by the Park) and began my hike 6.1 miles up the Hunt Trail. For the first 2 miles, I found myself thinking that I should have brought Forest along; the terrain didn't seem bad at all. Then, I began the ascent to 5,627 feet, at a rate of 697.2 feet per mile. It was no longer a hike; it became an alpine climb. I had to scale huge boulders and rock faces, and pull myself up using crevices and narrow ledges and quickly realized there was no way I could have brought Forest along without help. I truly appreciated the advice of the folks at the Appalachian Trail Lodge and the Baxter State Park Authority. After all, this wasn't the end of my hike.

When I reached the summit, I had to catch my breath and then wait my turn to climb onto the wooden frame for the traditional Katahdin photo finish. It was a little anti-climactic for me because it came at the middle of my hike, instead of the typical end, but the unbelievable views and fact that I'd been able to make the climb won out. As a Mainer would say, it was a "wicked awesome" hike!

After the ceremonial photo, I hiked a bit down the Knife Edge Trail, where I stopped to collect water from Thoreau Spring, have lunch and let my family know about when to expect to pick me up back at Katahdin Stream Campground. The hike down the mountain proved to be just as arduous as the climb up, so I was exhausted when I got back down to the trailhead and signed out. As always, it felt so good to see my family coming up the Trail to meet me. Forest let out one of his famous hound warbles as he wiggled his way toward me, too. It felt so good to have his leash back in my hand; I'd felt a little incomplete all day.

Tomorrow I will resume my Appalachian Trail hike, but from here on out I'll be going SOBO (southbound) instead of NOBO. After they drop me off, my family will begin the long drive back to North Carolina, too.