9/16/21 Poured rain last night but my morning it had stopped and was cold and foggy. Left the shelter and climbed about 1,400 feet to the summit of White Cap Mountain (3,650 ft). Sun was coming out and views to Katahdin were seen. Remainder of the days weather was excellent. Climbed several small peaks after descending White Cap which had no views. These included Hay Mountain, West Peak and Gulf Hagas Mountain. Saw some grouse. Got to Carl Newhall Lean-to by 12:30 PM. It had only been 7.2 miles. Had lunch and Mark arrived. Needed to get more miles in because of the wedding. Mark declined as he was tired. Explained I had a deadline and had to keep going. Exchanged phone # and I hiked rather easy trail down hill or flat for 8 miles. Saw Platinum heading north slack packing from SHAWs. She started the same day I did. Forded the wide but shallow West Branch Pleasant River. Getting dark so I stealth camped at site on Guthook noted on comments at nice spot.
9/15/21 Started with cloudy skies and climbed 750 feet to Little Boardman Mountain (1,980 ft) with no views. Dropped down to a pond and Brook and it started pouring rain. Than it stopped but again started pouring at the Logan Brook Lean-to. 3 woman were there 2 of whom we had met before and they were hiking the 100 mile wilderness. 2 other section hikers and 2 people who work for Backpacker Magazine with their 2 dogs were day hiking and doing some videos for the magazine. I would have hiked further but it was pouring rain and 2 NOBO’s stopped by and said it was quite windy on Whitecap Mountain. 7 of us crammed into the shelter. Rain stopped overnight.
9/13/21 Another beautiful day and hike. No mountains or ridges to climb. Initially trail had the usual rocks and tree roots at its base but than was clear hiking on firm ground. No mud. Walked by Nahmakanta stream than trail turned inland eventually reaching Antlers campsite on Jo-Mary Lake. Many NOBO’s initially seen including Two-Fer who I met way back on my second day on the trail with my brother Allen and Piper. She looked great and we spent some time discussing our adventures.
9/8/21 Awoke at 2:30 AM to leave hotel and Barb drive us the long distance to Millinocket to meet our shuttle driver , Jaime, the owner of the Appalachian Trail Lodge. We met Mark who had wanted to share our campsite at Katahdin Springs in order to start his south bound section of the AT by climbing Mount Katahdin. Shuttle drove us to the entrance of the park where I had to show my reservation of the camping permit to stay at a lean-to at Katahdin Springs in order to enter. Weather at the base was cool and partly cloudy. Left my stuff I would need to camp that night in a separate lean to so I didn’t need to haul it up the mountain so essentially we we’re slack packing to the summit as everyone does. Had to register with a ranger and started hiking with Mark leading. May have been 10 other hikers some finishing their thru hike and other day hikers. Initially trail was easy and we crossed a few bridges of Katahdin stream and some waterfalls. Then the climb became steeper and Mark faded behind and I just hauled ass upwards over huge boulders with a few metal rods to grab onto. Incredible views and went above tree line. I passed several climbers. I felt strong and as I was climbing I became quite emotional teary eyed at times recalling how incredibly difficult my journey which had started on 3/7/21 (over 6 months ago). I felt like Lieutenant Dan in the Forest Gump movie when he is on the shrimp boat in the hurricane standing in the crows nest screaming at God “ is this what you call a storm”. I felt like is this the best mountain you can up with. This is nothing. I was angry with God really myself because I alone had caused all the problems with anxiety and depression and loneliness having to make the heartbreaking decision to get off the trail with Piper go back home and then get back on the trail without Piper. I waited for Barb and we hiked onto The Tableland past Thoreau Sping and we were now in windy cold conditions with fog and limited visibility obviously no views. Layered up with warmer clothing. Relatively gentle long uphill climb for at least another mile. Saw the famous sign at the summit in the mist I had dreamt about for so long and reached it and I was crying. It was bittersweet as I was not done with my journey still having the hundred mile wilderness and other miles in Maine and Virginia maybe 270 in total. Pictures were taken and about 8 other hikers were at the summit some thru hikers who had finished their journey congratulating others and I was envious. This was how I was supposed to complete the AT. It was not to be for myself but I was more determined to do the miles I had skipped and be a true thru hiker all be it a flip floper. Barb and I slowly hiked back down. We never saw Mark as he had turned around due to feeling poorly. We found him in our lean-to lying down inside his sleeping bag.
9/11/21 Well decided to start entering stuff in the log. Left hostel at 6:00 AM. Said goodbye to Barb. She was so helpful in arranging food and reassurance in setting up SOBO thru the hundred mile wilderness. Dropped 3 hikers who were starting SOBO at Katahdin Stream campground. One had just finished the CDT and now wants to complete AT in like one hundred days. Oh to be young again I can only dream. Had to wait to get into the park due to huge line most won’t be able to get in. Baxter has it’s rules. Saw my first hopefully not my last Moose from the shuttle van in a pond sticking her head in eating aquatic vegetation. Hiked with Mark who we met at the hostel. He is 62 yo and completed a NOBO in 2017. He doesn’t have his trail legs and gets short of breath easily when going up hill. I led the way and waited for him. Saw hikers at Katahdin stream I had hiked with previously in Virginia with Piper getting ready to Summit including Wendys. She had called the hostel wanting a Wendy’s hamburger to eat at the summit. Cody from the hostel was going to Bangor and brought her one. What a picture that will be Wendy eating a Wendy’s hamburger at the summit and end of the journey. Hike was easy mostly flat with the usual rocks and tree roots. Went farther than planned to get to the dam at rainbow lake which has a beautiful view of Katahdin. Crisp beautiful weather and camped at the small dam at the end of rainbow lake.13.4 miles and only 1,932 feet elevation gain.
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