AT Thru-hike Complete!

Some may know from my Facebook page, but recently I finished my thru-hike. Words can’t really describe how it feels to be done, but I’ll give it a try. It’s a mixture of sadness that it’s over, and being excited to come home. Having my bed back and a place that’s dry in the rain sounds quite appealing. It also hasn’t really sunk in. I don’t really feel like I just walked 2189.1 miles, and I know it’s an accomplishment I should be proud of, but it just feels surreal. One thing I do know is that I am very excited to be back in Santa Cruz. I really miss cohousing and all my family and friends, and I’m quite excited to be back.

The trek from Stratton to Katahdin was beautiful. I may have mentioned this before, but Northern Maine is one of my favorite parts of the entire trail. I stopped in Monson just before the 100 mile wilderness to do a resupply and eat some barbecue, but didn’t really have time for a blog post. That’s why it might seem like you haven’t heard from me in a while. The 100 mile wilderness is the section from Monson to Abol bridge, a total trail distance of about 100 miles where you can’t resupply. However, it’s kind of a joke. Yes, there is no place where you can purchase food, but there are multiple dirt roads that you can pay to have food drops sent, and there’s even a place in the middle where you can mail food for a $10 fee. I opted to just hike fast and light, so four nights of food was plenty. I even had time to enjoy the many lakes and swimming holes. What a treat it is!

After Abol bridge I had about 9 miles to the base of Katahdin, so I purchased food for that evening and my hike up the mountain. Then it was off to the Birches, a shelter meant only for NOBO long distance hikers who may not be able to make reservations in Baxter State Park long in advance. When I left Abol bridge I was told by a trail steward that there was space in the birches, but I guess there was some snafu and I didn’t end up getting a spot. No problem though, the ranger at Katahdin Stream Campgrounds was able to squeeze me in with some other people who reserved a lean-to. He was very kind about the whole thing and said it would be fine is I pitched my tent. This was all fine by me because Katahdin Stream Campground is just as close to Katahdin as the birches, just over 5 miles to the summit.

The climb up Katahdin is no joke. It was arguably the toughest climb on the entire AT! I found myself rock scrambling multiple times and having to pull myself up by my arms. In several places it’s quite exposed and a fall could be fatal. I was careful and didn’t have any issues, even with my fully loaded pack (hardly any food though). I could have kept my pack in the ranger station and used a loaner day pack, but it just didn’t seem right. My pack has been with me this whole time and I couldn’t bare the thought of it sitting alone in the ranger station. It deserved to see the summit just as much as I did.

At the summit I had a feast of poptarts and fruit snacks. If my pack didn’t give away the fact I was a thru-hiker than my choice of lunch items sure did. Again, it hasn’t really set in, but it was really nice being congratulated by so many strangers. I couldn’t imagine a better place to end a thru-hike. The views atop Katahdin are some of the best on the entire AT. I sat atop the mountain for a little more than an hour before starting my descent. Ascending Katahdin is hard enough, but the descent was just unforgiving. Remember that going up I was approaching the final destination of a six month backpacking trip. I was excited to say the least. Adrenaline is pumping through you and all you can think about is that final summit photo. Coming down I was tired and just wanted to be home. I wished that I could reach the summit and be magically teleported back to Santa Cruz with friends and family… and vegetables (it’s been a while). Instead it was a grueling descent followed by a long hitch to a podunk town. It’s ok, I made it, and I’m used to podunk.

You would think, setting out on such an adventure I’d come up with some epiphany of life. What it means and what my part in it is. Actually I don’t feel any wiser, I have just as many questions as I set out with, if not more. That’s not to say though that I didn’t take anything away from this trip, I did. As cliche as it sounds, your dreams are truly possible. With enough hard work and determination, you can achieve anything. You just cant give up. You’ll either die trying, in which case it won’t matter because you’re dead, or you will succeed. Death, or success. Another take away from this trip was how much more people matter than things. Rather than spending time surrounding oneself with material possessions, try and surround yourself with genuinely good people. I’ve thought a lot about the tiny house movement that is becoming more popular and it does intrigue me. It’s kind of a cross between living out of a backpack and having a home. It also forces you to think about the things you really need, and to throw out needless stuff, a lot like backpacking! Anyways, these are just some of the things I’ve thought about as I walk.

Tomorrow I’ll be taking several buses to get to Portland ME, where I will fly out of Monday. Like I said before, I’m extremely excited to see many of you at home and I can hardly wait any longer. That’s all for now.

-Orion