Category: Appalachian Trail

Day 164 Kathadin Stream Campground to Mt Kathadin (5.2 miles) 2189.8 miles total

Kris and I headed to Baxter State Park early this AM. Parking in the park is very tightly controlled. We had a prepaid pass that you have to use by 7AM or you lose your spot.

Next had to register with ranger at campground. They keep close track of hikers going up mountain also. I was NOBO thru-hiker number 734. When I left GA 164 days ago I was number 1391 to head north.

Got started up mountain at 7:30. Told Kris I’d be finished about 2PM so we planned to meet at 1:30.

My knee was still pretty sore but once I got moving felt better.

The climb up was very difficult in spots. Lot of rock climbing and rock scrambles.

There are lots of day hikers out here on a weekend. I was passing a lot of them and wondering what the heck some of them were doing on this approach trail when there is an easier one. Amazes me also that people actually do this for fun. That’s crazy!

Weather was partly cloudy. Thankful not wet. This could be dangerous if slippery and we all know I’m pretty good at crashing.

I was just cruising up. Day hikers could tell I was a focused, motivated thru-hiker and most offered congratulations as they got out of my way.

Coming up peak below I’m thinking that’s the summit. As I got real close, I could see a sign. I’m almost there. Got to that point and…false summit. Crap!! Got about another 3/4 mile to go but this time I can see the summit. At least I think I’m seeing summit.

Now I’m really motivated and moving because I can see people gathered and know I’m nearing summit. The old man was really flying. I’m almost through thru-hiking kept running through my head.

When I got within about 100 yds of summit I heard chant of “Pete, Pete, Pete…”. About a dozen hiker acquaintances (Goddess, P Tang, Happy Hour, Chimes, GQ, Bobo, Bubba) rooting the old dude to finish line. Got tears in my eye.

I made it. Incredible feeling of accomplishment. Spent about half hour on summit laughing, tearing up and just celebrating with friends I will probably never see again.

Said my good byes and headed back down. Came down the “easier” trail as I wanted to minimize chances of falling.

I was back down at 1PM. 5.5 hrs total. Just Pete just flew up and down.

Kris and I left from there heading towards Smugglers Notch, VT where we will spend the next week hiking…NOT!!

Thanks to all of you for your support and encouragement during this adventure. I will get back to you with where to send your donations next week. I need some time to rest, heal, and reassimilate into society!

I’ll make sure to post a pic when the beard comes off.

Thanks once again for your support. Couldn’t have done it without you.

Just Pete…OUT!

Day 163 Hurd Brook Tentsite to Kathadin Springs Campsite (13.4 miles) 2184.6 miles total

So this Kathadin thing keeps getting bigger and bigger as I get closer. Weird, huh?!!  

Made it to meeting place with Kris about 2PM. She had been in park doing trail magic. We hung out there for about an hour and a half. Drankles and Twinkle Toes summited today. Good to get their insight into the beast.

I’ve learned that after a fall it takes a bit to figure out what you really hurt. This time it’s my right knee. Must have bruised knee cap because really sore. Walking with a pretty good limp. Going to have to suck it up tomorrow morning!

Next time you hear from me I’ll be finished…finally!

Happy trails!

Day 162 Nahmakanta Stream Campsite to Hurd Brook Tentsite (25.4 miles) 2171.2 total miles 

Bet you can’t tell I’m anxious to finish! Hit it hard today.

Parts of today’s hike were more difficult than I expected. Had to go up and over Nesuntabunt Mtn (below). Elevation was only 1520′ but a 900′ climb up and back down. 

This view is to Mt Kathadin. 16 miles as the crow flies. 36 miles as a hiker hikes. Really tried transforming myself into a crow but didn’t work. And why is it as the crow flies? Are Eagles or robins not smart enough to go straight from point A to point B?

This Kathadin thing is looking more serious the closer I get. It’s going to be a 4200′ climb in 5.2 miles. Then there’s the back down thing. I would pay lots of $’s for a helicopter ride down if anyone can hook me up on Sunday. I despise miles that don’t count!

At 5PM I stopped for a break. Tried to figure out where I would tent for night. Hurd Brook Lean-to was 5.6 miles. About 2 hrs and I decided to go for it. Last lean-to on trail and figured there would be lots of people I know there.

I usually try to stop hiking by 6:30. Sun is setting earlier and starts getting dark shortly after 7. About 7 I was still short of Hurd Brook. Started looking for tentsites. Shortly after that I passed a decent spot but I knew shelter was close so I kept going.  

Horrible decision. Between lean-to and me was a brook that you had to rock hop over large boulders. It’s pretty dark now and I can’t really see best path across.

To make a long story short, I had a nasty slip and fall. Ended up holding on to boulder with one hand and catching walking stick with other before it careened into water. Pretty athletic move if I must say.

Bad news is I got really banged up. Of course left elbow got smashed once again along with left shin, right wrist and knee.

I decided to retreat. Went back 50 yds to tentsite I’d just passed. Luckily I can set tent up in dark. Lots of blood from elbow and shin. So sore I could hardly eat. Guessing I’ll be stiff and sore in AM.

Lesson learned…it ain’t over ’til it’s over. Hopefully that’s last fall because not sure I can physically take any more.

Only 18.6 more miles to go.

Happy trails!

Day 161 Mtn View Tentsite to Nahmakanta Stream Campsite (23.0 miles) 2145.8 miles total

Rained all night. Was afraid would rain all day today but slowed to a sprinkle about 8:30AM, I quickly packed and hit the trail.

Had to put on wet socks to go into wet shoes. The good thing with having wet shoes/socks is it doesn’t matter if you just slosh through wet areas. Bad thing is you can get trench foot. My feet were pretty wet and pasty by end of day.

After a couple miles I was into the flats. Not as flat and smooth as I hoped, but flat enough to move more quickly than I have for a while. Able to make 3 mph a lot of the time.

 

Rain was off and on for most of AM and partly sunny in PM. Lucky that it didn’t pour all day so I had to sit in tent. Would have gotten pretty low on food by end of Wilderness. Will finish with very little as is.

Tented the other day by river fording with Bobo and Bubba. I know it sounds like a couple of good old southern boys but they’re really from MA. Nice guys. I’d strapped my extra socks on outside of pack in hopes they would dry a bit. Apparently they fell off at some point as Bobo and Bubba caught up with me and had them.

That’s Mt Kathadin you can see in the clouds. Sneaking up on that bad boy. Pic is from about 50 trail miles away from summit.

Tenting tonight in a nice flat spot in a designated campsite. I’m only one here. All the youngsters stay at shelters, or lean to’s as they call them in ME. Pretty sure that’s why a lot of them have coughs. Bobo and Bubba told me last night in rain there were 11 people in lean to that is meant for about 8.

All my stuff is pretty wet. Gonna be wet socks and shoes again tomorrow as I accidentally forded (slipped in) a stream shortly before camp. That sucks!

Hoping to get as close to Baxter State Park as I can tomorrow. That will be the first of many lasts for me. Last night in a tent, etc.

Saturday Kris will meet me at Kathadin Stream Campground in park. We’ll stay at a motel in Millinocket that night and go back to Campground Sunday AM. Then it’s 5.2 miles up to top of Kathadin and the end of this odyssey…except for the 5.2 miles back down!

Crazy close to being finished!

Happy trails!

Day 160 Pleasant River Tentsite to Mtn View Tentsite (17.2 miles) 2122.8 miles total

Light rain all night. Stopped for a bit shortly after 7:30AM. Got packed up and hit the trail.

Rain would come and go all the while I hiked. Not very hard. Just a nuisance. I do not like hiking in the rain. I do not like it at all.

White Cap Mtn (3650′) was a climb of 3000′ over 11.4 miles so not a steep climb but a long one. Highest point until Mt Kathadin. You can see Kathadin in pic below. Looks pretty big above the clouds. All by itself which is reason it’s pretty flat until you get there.

You make lots of decisions each day you’re hiking. Some are trivial and some aren’t. Today I tried to push for more mileage and passed a nice flat camping area. Bad decision. About 3/4 mile later rain started picking up. Now I needed to stop and there are no good tentsites as I’m on side of hill.

Ended up with worst tentsite of trek. Slanted and rocky. Not comfortable and raining hard now.

When I left Monson, rain was forecast for today and tomorrow. They got today right. Hoping tomorrow is wrong. I really don’t want to be stuck in tent in pouring rain this close to finish.

Happy trails!