Book 3, Final Chapter 12 – Appalachian Trail – 100 Mile Wilderness/Monson to Katahdin, ME – July 30-August 12, 2024 – 114.9 miles

On August 11th, 2024 I finished my 11 year journey of backpacking the Appalachian Trail – a 2,200 mile long foot trail that runs from Georgia to Maine by summiting mighty Mt. Katahdin in Maine. I met so many wonderful people over the years, some of whom became not just hiking partners over 3,4, or more years, but wonderful friends. I hiked in rain, sleet, snow, sunshine, fog, and even 65 mph winds. I hiked in all 4 seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall. I’ve stayed in hostels that were nothing more than an old mountain motel to a historic inn where the underground railroad passed through. The terrain ran the gamut of smooth pine needle tread to rocky, rooty and muddy terrain. I climbed the highest peak on the AT on Clingman’s Dome – 6,643 ft. high, through the lowest point on the AT in New York at 124 ft. above sea level. I hiked through deep thick mossy forests, farmer’s fields, boulder fields and grassy balds. Slept in the woods by myself multiple times, saw several bear, deer, a porcupine, different types of squirrels, all kinds of birds, but the elusive moose only displayed it’s droppings for me to see, nothing more. I’ve drank out more streams, slept in more shelters & lean-to’s and availed myself of privies that ranged from nothing more than an open-air seat in the middle of the forest to brand new privies that were picture worthy! I have driven many miles, flown more, spent more dollars on gear, food, travel, lodging, clothing and even medical bills than I care to count. Have had more falls than I can count, including one that resulted in 2 big shiners and another time a broken fibula. Some may ask “why?” To solve my curiosity of course! We backpacked for 10 days straight, one day of rest, and then 2 more days before summiting Mt. Katahdin. This trip put us through the 100 Mile Wilderness where nothing more than the occasional logging road passes through. There was no civilization to be had except small engine planes from time to time. We past countless pristine ponds, that we would call lakes here in the south, with nothing but wildlife touching the crystal clear waters. It was definitely the hardest outing for me. Not only did we not have a shower for 7 days, but we carried a smell that was unbearable until we eventually became “nose blind” to it. Temps were in the high 80’s the first week, with unbearable humidity – nothing dried including my feet – hence resulting in horrid blisters – one each on the balls of both feet for almost the entire 2 weeks. I was miserable – unfortunately the pain took away from the joy of summiting and finishing the Trail – but finished I did none the less. My photography skills simply cannot capture the severity of the climb up and down Mt. Katahdin, nor the breath-taking beauty of our surroundings. Here is my last journey on the Appalachian Trail…