Thruhikers at Katahdin

imported
#1

This weekend at Baxter were Crow, The Gambler, WildFlamingo, Buddha, SouthernYankee, Buzz, Dumpy, Tubbs, Noll and others. On Sat morning I slacked soreshouldered Chiquita’s pack into the Park, and she and AKA made it to Katahdin Stream at noon. We looked at the clouds. We looked at each other. We looked at the time… They headed up, summitted, and were back at my tentsite before 6:30. Strong Hikers! As we were toasting their hike with some Long Trail Ales, Spot (a 4x thruhiker), Mandingo, Gnome, and Tunnel came down from the Birches to get water. Some of these hikers hadn’t seen Katahdin at all through the entire cloudy/rain soaked 100 mile wilderness, and for the first time in days the clouds blew away and lo, there was The Mountain behind us as we celebrated with AKA and Chiquita. The impact of that view on some of the kids rendered them speechless. Others couldn’t shut up :O) Late that night, in the warm rain, Spot, Mandingo, Tunnel, and Gnome headed up at about 2AM. They summitted in the rain at dawn as the clouds lightened, and then just about danced in the rain all the way back down. Sunday’s rain saw Harvey, flippers BlisterFree, Walnut, Clint, and some sectioneers go up. Ran into MATCers Weary and Rick StCroix a couple of times, once in the rain, fine gents both and I’m glad to know them. On Monday morning after the rain young Shifty’s parents (great folks) were still hanging about looking for him, so I ran out to Abol Bridge to leave a message with the MATC TrailRunner who happens to be PopTart 02! We meet at the Park boundary and in just a few minutes, up hikes Shifty and Shovel with Brother Ron close on their heels. Poptart radios into Katahdin Stream to let Shifty’s parents know he’s on the way, while we watch in mock horror as Shovel doctors his soggy feet. A rainy, muggy, wet, rainy, muggy, and wet weekend. The drought’s over!
Random register entries:
(Heading up)
8/7 “Only .25% to go!” SouthernYankee
8/7 “Where are my pants?” Moxie
(After climbing)
8/9 “It just couldn’t get anymore… wonderful! Chiquita and AKA signing out…”

TJ aka Teej

#2

I met Southern Yankee a few weekends ago in the Andover area when he was with Dimples and Java. He was debating then whether to hike his hike or keep up with their schedule of meeting parents on the 4th. Guess he chose the former, good for him.

I knew PopTart 03 said she met Poptart 02, but didn’t know he was RRing @ Baxter. Met him @ Trail Days this year.

Bluebearee

#3

A friend and I met Buzz in Vermont in June and sectionhiked with her for three days. She was planning to hit Katahdin by August 12. Really nice to hear she made it.

Bunchberry

#4

Really nice to get the latest news! Wild Flamingo took a zero at The Cabin in E. Andover while we were there. Boy, could he pack in the food! Buzz was there…doing some slacking. Buddha stayed there, too. I remembered him from Trail Days. Was passed by Shifty north of Carla Col. Saw Pop Tart '03 in Caratunk, also met Pop Tart '02 last year on my ill-fated trek.

I really love the journals…they’re like a continuing saga with inter-twining characters. Thanks, Teej

Lady Di

#5

Thanks so much TJ!
SO glad to see friends, Yankee, chiquita, AKA, shifty, tubbs, shovel, moxie and johhny walker all made it.
Sure as hell don’t seem like 15-17 percent completion rate from springer. Almost everyone i knew finished
A-Train 03

A-Train