Hiking Trail Journals

Appalachian Trail 2003 - Chelsea's Journals

Entry #153 - September 30, 2003

A beautiful sunrise over the lake this morning. It was a little chilly but clear skies, so the hiking was very good. Saw some great scenery going by the lakes. After a few hours on the Trail, I caught a glimpse of something up ahead. It was a bull moose! We didn't get the greatest look at it since it grunted & trotted off almost immediately, but it was cool nonetheless. I was starting to think we'd go through Maine mooseless.

It was on the ridge after Wadleigh Stream where we first saw what we'd really been waiting for. Katahdin. There it was, peeping up over the ridge across Nahmakanta Lake. All this time we have been waiting. Every possible view of it over the last 100 miles was clouded over, but there we were, only 38 miles by Trail and it was there waiting. After that we climbed Nesuntabunt Mtn. where we had a spectacular view of it and the range. We had been waiting so long that we thought we'd really be blown away - excited, scared, joyful, something. But from here it just seems like another mountain, another obstacle to overcome.

Made it the 22 miles in gorgeous weather. This day really wore me down, though. Everyone here at the shelter is so happy I don't know why I'm not more excited - only 3 days left. I just feel burnt out and numb to it all. At least I'll never have to walk 20+ miles in a day again if I don't want. Tomorrow it's 15 to Abol Bridge, then 10, then 5 to the top. Well, we have to turn around & come down, so it's still 10 miles the last day. The last day - it can't come soon enough! I have definitely had some great times and have seen wonderful things, but I'm no long-distance hiker.

3 days left.

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