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[at-l] Trail Trooper Climbs Katahdin!
Got a phone call tonite from a very elated and weary Trail Trooper to let
us know he climbed Katahdin today--completing his thru hike. His Mom,
Dad, and brother met him yesterday, and today his brother joined him in
the ascent. He has very mixed emotions about completing---the joy of
fulfilling his goal--the sadness of ending his hike--and wondering what
he will do tomorrow if not hiking.
The weather was bad today--cold, windy, rainy, and he was thinking it
would not be a great finish-esp. with the fog and visibility so bad- but
as soon as he saw the Katahdin sign, he got VERY emotional and the tears
came hard and fast. He was surprised by the deeply emotional experience
it turned out to be. Right now he feels he's experiencing culture shock
and it will take him a while to get used to groups of people again.
(His particular hike was more a wilderness experience than most) He met
quite a few hikers in the wilderness, and there were several others
climbing Katahdin today.
He doesn't feel ready yet to leave the trail--would like to follow it
back home. Extended an invitation to him and his family to stop here on
the way home, and he expressed a desire to go back over sections of the
trail, esp. Baldpate & the Mahoosucs WITHOUT snow. If they do come by,
I'll ask him to post an entry on the list. He asked about folks he met
on the way, so if anyone wants to send him a message, I'll gladly
forward. By the Way, he did his hike to raise money for a boys camp in
PA and reports of his hike are being published in his local newspaper.
He hiked for pledges per mile--therefore his hurry to finish in the time
available to him. That pace would not have been his first choice. My
personal impression is that he fell in love with the trail--both the
wilderness experience and the goodness of the people he met (he never did
long distance hiking before)
and would urge others to go slowly and drink fully of the beauty and the
awesomeness that is out there. He is quite a guy. We are happy to have
met him and to have had a small taste of his grand adventure. I fully
expect to hear of him planning another journey........
Ilene & Paul Trainor
Pine Ellis B&B Andover, Maine
P.S. He still has the barbed wire.
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