Katahdin! I’ve had you on my mind for over one year, having made the decision to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail last year. You signify the accomplishment of completing a thru-hike for northbounders, as they excitedly climb your 5,287′ in completing the final five miles of their AT journey.

Katahdin! Your name means “greatest mountain” in the Abenaki Indian language. And you are great, rising above all other mountains in Maine. With your base at 1000′, a climb up your rocky slopes is equivalent to climbing a Colorado 14,000 footer.  I know, as I’ve done a few, and you are every bit as challenging from your base.

Mount Katahdin

Katahdin! While many hikers plan on scaling your slopes, most don’t even reach to within eyesight of your grandeur. I thought we would meet this October 1st, with my original plan of hiking northbound during my whole journey. My plans have been adjusted, as plans often are.  I will finish, just not now and not at the top of your peak.

Few who start the AT ever see this marker.

So here we meet on August 19th, the first day of my southbound journey, as I’m flip-flopping my thru-hike to end up now in the Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia sometime in early November.

It was fun climbing you, crawling over large boulders, and bushwhacking my way up the rocks. You were tough, but I had you whipped in 3.5 hours. The views from your mountaintop were glorious, seeing for over a hundred miles.  There were many others up this day, mainly day hikers.  I was surprised to see so many, but it was a great day to summit, with no rain in the forecast.

Very Rocky Climb

It was easy to spot the 5 NOBO’s who made it to the top that day, as they were exuberant and proud of what they’ve accomplished over the past 5-6 months. They were also a little smelly with long beards.

For me–I was more anxious than excited, because reaching your summit is really the beginning of the second part of my journey. I have a long way still to go, with much to see and experience still.  Going down your steep, rocky slopes was about as hard as going up, but I made it down just fine and I am prepared to hike now going away from you, with each day seeing you get smaller from the distance. After three days of hiking and 46 miles hiked, I hear I’ll still be seeing you in the distance for several more days in my rear view mirror at times when there is a view.  Maine has been a beautiful state so far, with 200 miles yet to go. And, it’s been such a welcome relief to be hiking in weather that’s 30 degrees cooler and more, compared to the sauna  of Virginia in July.

Two days south of Katahdin

So even though you ended up being more of a starting point than the grand finale, it was still fun, exhilarating, and you are the “greatest mountain”-at least in Maine. Don’t want to offend my Rockies!