I started this trail in the rain and I finished it in sleet and hail. Two days ago on October 2nd, Jogle and I made it up to the summit of Mt. Katahdin. The 5.2 mile, 4100+ foot climb was tough with a couple of miles of rock scrambles. We started in the rain and less than a quarter of a mile from the top freezing rain, sleet and hail started. It seems this trail just wasn't going to let us finish easily. We made it just the same ... and safely. Luckily for us mom and dad were waiting at the bottom with warm coffee and a car to get us to town and into hot showers.
It still just feels like I'm on a day off. Our bodies feel broken and Jogle is starting the process of trying to put back some of the 30 pounds he lost along the way. We came over to the Maine coast for a day and then we're off to Niagara Falls for a few days of rest before Jogle heads back to England.
It's been a fabulous adventure ... one that I'll never forget. We're now Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and we're through. It's a great accomplishment for both of us and now we're just looking forward to a little rest and down time before we start the next process of re-entry into that other world from which we all came before we started hiking the AT. Thank you to everyone who has given support, sent messages, and told me to keep going ... I'm not sure I could have made it without all of the support I received from friends, family, and especially from Jogle, my hiking partner I met in the woods along this journey.
Sorry no pictures, but this computer blocks all software except the internet. I'll put up our summit photos as soon as I can.
6 comments:
Woooo-hoooo! I used to say "wake up and walk!" Now I can say "go back to sleep!!!!!!!" Love you and so happy you're safe and that you reached your goal! Can't wait to see you and all of your pictures. -La
You have done it & Now we all know that you can do anything you strive to do>>> so proud of you, love, Winston
Hey, 2,000-miler! Glad you're safe, chica. Now you can enjoy being dry and warm. Call anytime once you're done resting and start transitioning. Looking forward to hearing from you when you're ready.
- M & D
WOO HOO!! We all knew you could do it.....even with hail. Congratulations! AB
We are so proud of you! Sorry I missed your call last night...call soon after you are finished with your well-deserved R&R.
Love, Liz, Lizzie and Sanders
Congrats, Becca!
It is always interesting to see how everyone's trip is different - and your sleet-and-hail trip up Katahdin must have been something. Something that really struck me as sounding familiar though was when you said, "It still just feels like a day off". Isn't that an eerie feeling... to know that it is over, even though you still feel like you are a hiker and that your job is to get out hiking again the next day?
I just had my 1-year summit anniversary yesterday and I honestly can't tell if it happened a couple months ago, several years ago, or... if it was all just an incredible dream. Relish in it while the memories are still fresh... you completed an extraordinary adventure!
- Sudoku
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