Day 52 (August 15)

I climbed to the summit of Mt. Katahdin today, the northern terminus of the AT. It was a beautiful day after yesterday's monsoon. I started at 7:30 a.m. and got down from the mountain six hours later. It can take five to 10 hours to complete the five-mile, up-and-down route. There are some pretty difficult rock and boulder scrambles with steep ups and downs, but all ages and genders seem to be able to get to the top. It is a majestic mountain and an honor to climb every step. The top of Katahdin is the first piece of land in America to feel the sun every day. I was so pumped, the ascent seemed to fly; not so coming down. It wasn't as difficult as I expected being very steep. It was just long.

At the bottom I hiked another 10 miles back to where we left camp in the rain yesterday for Millinocket. I can't miss any of the trail. I got a hitch back to town from a couple 75 year old buddies out for a drive on the back roads. What a hoot. They were drinking beer, and had chosen to drive the back roads so as to not be bothered by state police. I became the bartender for the two six packs in the back seat of the pickup. Each of them had three bottles of beer during the 18-mile ride. Great guys. They have lived in Millinocket all their lives. The town is dying, though it once had six separate paper mills. Millinocket used to produce the largest volume of newsprint in the world. The '63 High School B-ball team won the all New England state tournament at Boston Square Garden. They told me that moose population isn't what it use to be and that both of their wives are retiring soon from driving school buses. You can learn a lot in 18 miles at 40 mph whilst avoiding pot holes on either side of the road...

It was quite a day in Katahdin again. Pictures just don't do it justice.