Yesterday we climbed Katahdin, the climax of the whole AT experience. A towering mountain with huge plateaus above the treeline and a rock boulder climbing approach which is daunting. It was a fitting end - day 176 on the trail.
It took us 3 and 3/4 hours to get to the top at 5268 ft, and 3 and a 1/4 hours to get down. The day was sunny with wind speeds 5-10 mph. It was glorious to be up on the summit, with 15 other thru-hikers who were also completing their hike, with a view stretching for miles over the 100 miles wilderness that we had walked through the last 7 days.
How do I feel? Initially it was relief that I had made it, and that it was over. Now 24 hours later, it is disbelief that we actually achieved it, that we actually did walk the whole way - 2179 miles. This is a major achievement - and by tomorrow it may be exhilaration and pride. But at the moment I still can't believe that we have actually done it.
We have 4 days booked in Boston in a small apartment in Beacon Hill, the historical downtown area, until we fly home on the 29th - Boston - Los Angeles - Melbourne - Cairns, arriving on the 1st October.
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