The last two weeks went fast, but they were wonderful. We hiked with a great group of people all the way to the end. We only had to do 15 miles a day to make our deadline, but that didn't stop us from doing a 30 mile day and a 23 mile day. We went into Millinoket 3 days out from Katahdin and ended up taking a zero there being hiker trash.
The last 9 miles to the base of Katahdin were beautiful and sad. It was hard knowing that this was it, the real end to this adventure.
My parents ended up getting into the park on July 31 right after I got to the base camp area. When I saw their car coming down the dirt road I may have started to run, scream, and cry all at the same time toward them. I was an emotional reck, but was so glad I got to see them that day.
We had decided a while before that we wanted to do a sunrise summit of Katahdin. We were allowed to go up starting at 1am. So went went to bed around 8 and planned to wake up around 12 so that we could get started about 1. The first person got up at 12:15 and we all got moving. Joules and I planned to do the summit together and we were on the trail at 1:30am. As you can imagine it was dark the whole time, but I actually felt like this was an advantage. We knew we were going to be climbing bolders and going straight up, but because we couldn't see where we were headed we really didn't know where we were. All that we had to worry about was the bolder right in front of us and finding the next white blaze which was hard in the dark. The stars were gorgeous and the sky was perfectly clear. About 1.5 miles from the summit it flattens out and when we got there the sky was just starting to change colors! We went as fast as we could that last mile without tripping over the rocks and seeing that sign was an indescribable feeling. Joules took a video of us getting up that last little bit and I was speechless and crying. It is hard to express. We have been thinking about that sign, that moment for 5 months. We have been dreaming and having it pull us forward for so long. Now it was here and it was over. The guys we were hiking with had got up there before us and were already snuggled up in their sleeping bags. Goodness it was cold up there probably in the upper 30's and we were all in our shorts. So that sweat quickly got cold and we got in our sleeping bags to watch the sun come up.
I stayed up there with everyone until about 7:30am when I headed back down the AT in search of my Dad who was starting his summit at 6:30. I went probably 2.5 miles back down before finding my Dad and he was very glad I found him. The climb was nothing like he expected and I helped he get through the next half of the climb. I must have really been in a haze going up the first time because I didn't remember all of the rock scrambles and heaving over rocks that I did going up again with my Dad. By 11:30 we had made it to the summit and this time there were a ton of people up there. 17 thru-hikers and many day hikers all gathered around the sign. Once all my friends saw that I made it up again they got really excited and we took a lot more pictures with the whole group. I am sure we were quite a spectacle, but who cares we had just finished our hike and feeling that we were on top of the world. That was until we realized that we had to say goodbye and never knew when we will see each other again.
Dad was hurting pretty bad so we went down an "easier" trail. It did not have the bolders to climb back down, but was more of a steep rock slide down. Joules and I pushed him to keep going but took breaks when he needed to. He made it down with a few negative words toward the rocks, but I couldn't be more proud of him.
By the time my Mom picked us up and we made it to a restaurant in Millinoket we were all exhausted. Joules and I had been up since 12:15 and I had summited Katahdin one and a half times. We all slept really well that night!
Once we dropped Joules off at the airport in the morning it really started to sink in. The girl who has been the other half of me was gone, I was heading home, my life on the trail was over, my friends were gone to their homes, and I was not going to be living outside any longer. That first day was the hardest for sure. In some ways it has been getting easier to be back. I got to see some of my friends back home and some family which was wonderful.
I am no good at being lazy though. I need to do things and easily get bored. I hate the news even more now and wish I could escape from that still. I still have my hiker hunger and my feet are still swollen and sore. I didn't think I would want to be back out there so bad, but I am ready for another trail.
It is the lifestyle that is really what I love about long distance backpacking. This may seem funny, but saying that I was backpacking doesn't sound right. I wasn't backpacking really, I was living on the trail and moving everyday toward a goal. Taking in each day for that day and moment. Knowing what we have to accomplish just for that day. Not being distracted by politics, social media, relationship drama, paying bills, and making money. Focusing on ourselves, our bodies, our minds, and the world in front of us. Enjoying ourselves, laughing at how soaking wet we were, working hard, and getting rewarded for it. Being dirty and smelly together and having no one care. Not worried about what we look like or what people think of us. We are hiker trash and we know it. It is endearing when someone calls us that, not offensive. This is the life I miss. This is what you become and learn to love. Only the people who we hiked with have seen the raw, pure side of ourselves.
The support from the outside world was incredible. I feel so blessed and honored to have such supportive family and friends. You all helped me everyday more then you know. Just knowing that you are out there thinking about me was motivating. So a big THANK YOU to everyone. I appreciate it so much and am sending my love your way.
Until next time!
Canary
