Miles: 10.4
We finally did it! We officially and successfully began our adventure today. Last night we took a taxi into Katahdin Stream Campground and saw 2 moose (mommy and baby) on the way. We barely made it in before the gates closed, but I'm sure glad we did. It was good to wake up today just 20 feet off the trail.
We woke up early after a solid night of sleep ( we were exhausted!) and started walking at 7:10 am. I was thinking that we would get to the peak around 10, maybe 10:30. Boy, did I underestimate the terrain. It was straight uphill and a steep incline up until the table lands. On top of that, once we got above the treeline, we were literally rock climbing on a part they call the Gateway. Baxter State Park put in a few handholds here and there so hikers can heave themselves up on the granite boulders. We had "fun" playing the game of throw our hiking sticks up, find a handhold in the rocks and shimmy your behind up. There were times when I wish I had Debbie's or Stephan's chalk bag.
In addition to climbing the terrain rather than hiking it (perfect for masochistic hikers), there were clouds of blackflies. I couldn't shoo them away because I was using my hands to precariously balance myself on a boulder to prevent a fall down the sheer side of Katahdin. Climbing up the Gateway, we thought we could see the summit - it was just over there... not too far at all! Encouraged, we climbed up and up, only to find that we had another mile and a half across the Table Lands - an area of tundra-like growth. It was like Disney World - as soon as you turn a corner, the line is even longer. And I didn't get the benefit of seeing Winnie-the-Pooh at the end. However, I did get to see some incredible views once we made it to the summit. I suppose that justifies the hellacious climb. Katahdin is the tallest mountain around here and there is nothing the block the view of miles and miles of forests, mountains, rivers and lakes. I was so happy to just be there, finally starting our walk.
The trip down was anti-climactic, even though that leg is what I view as the true "start." Begin at the top of Katahdin and end up somewhere... maybe Connecticut.
We made it back to the lean-to (which is quite nice!) around 4:30. Kevin cooked dinner while I washed our reeking clothes (and it's only the first day). We also got our first bit of "trail magic" - somebody (I think the ranger) had left a jug of clean water at our lean-to. Thank you!
Looking back on today, I'm really proud that we did it. Mount Katahdin is by far the hardest hike we've ever done. Even though we were slow pokes, we finished it!
Tomorrow we're off through the 100-Mile Wilderness. Mmmm-mmm. Give me those blackflies!
- Bobo
(Finally chose a trailname to what Kevin Nish insinuated I was like.)