A couple of years ago while we were on holiday in San Antonio, Matthew read Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. He really enjoyed it, so Stephanie and I read it and then Matthew and I half-heartedly made plans to "do that some day". It was the kind of statement you make while lying on a beach chair in the sun reading, while wistfully thinking about how cool that would be. Hmmmm... Amazingly, that day will arrive on March 27, 2013. Now, I realize that this is the kind of "some day" that most people will never have the luxury to find. I am (we are) incredibly lucky to have a chance to do this. Our benefactor - my generous wife Stephanie, is supporting us on this journey. She's staying home with Samantha and working, while Matthew and I wander in the woods for half a year. I am the luckiest guy alive and am continually amazed that she puts up with me. Her only condition: If we start it, we have to finish it - all 2160-ish miles of it. I owe her the world.


We're committed. We have been buying equipment, walked some short (10-12 mile) segments of the AT in New York to see what it looks like, and we have our one-way airline tickets to Atlanta. Stephanie and Samantha will be flying down with us to drop us off at the starting point on Springer Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia and they plan to meet up with us a couple of times on the journey when we are near civilization - once again, supporting us all the way. Have I told you how lucky we are?


I am planning to keep track of where we are on this blog using BlogPress and GPS Location. Between these two apps, I'll be able to save drafts of posts with photos and our position even when we're off the cell network. This will allow anyone to see where we are and what we're doing (at least after I get back near enough to civilization and cell service to post the drafts). Ideally these updates will be daily; it will probably be more like weekly. I guess I'll find out how connected one can be from the wilderness. As I write this in February, it's less than six weeks until we're out there.


The first two posts are just a couple of tests from the AT in early January to try out the software. While doing this, I discovered that BlogPress fails to find your location when you are not on the cell network, so I'll be using the GPS Location app to add coordinates to the posts.


Here's a link to the current weather all along the trail.




Monday, September 16, 2013

Finally Done!

September 14

Steve and Sam came to meet us late Friday evening and we all stayed at an inn near Baxter State Park. Sooo good to see them again. They picked us up at the Katahdin Stream Parking lot (where we would return Saturday morning early to summit Katahdin together).  The AT actually goes through this parking lot.

We woke early so that we'd be starting our ascent by 7:00 am. Katahdin is perhaps the most challenging mountain on the trail. It's "only" five miles from the parking lot to the summit, but you climb about 4000 feet and a lot of that is very difficult rock climbing. It took us seven and a half hours to go up and about the same down. Ouch! I am so impressed by Steve and Sam. They never complained and went right to the top with us:

IMG 0610


We saw many day hikers turning back during the climb without making it all the way up. It was much more difficult than Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

Approaching the top, it was very wet and windy.  Here we are on the relatively level last mile of the Tablelands, just yards from the summit:


IMG 0599

And then, Done:

IMG 0604

Sun and blue sky above us for just a moment. It was glorious.

Location: KATAHDIN!!!!

Very, very happy and tired Nory and Doc leaning on the Katahdin sign at the summit.
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6 comments:

Sam said...

You did it!!!!! Congratulations you guys! So happy for you, and so glad you were able to do that last bit with your family. I look forward to your stories. Don't shed the beards too quick! Duck Dynasty has put beards back on the map. You are coming off the trail in style!

September 16, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Mark Hickman said...

well done guys, now you can have a well earned rest
we are very proud of you, have you sold the book & film rights yet ????
look forward to hearing your tales soon
all the best
mark, jacqui & libby

September 16, 2013 at 11:24 AM
Anonymous said...

Congratulations, a real achievement that most who start never finish.

I hope the return to the non-walking world isn't too much of a shock!

Rob & Anna

September 16, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Dave & Deann Werner said...

Doc and Nory,
Congratulations on your incredible accomplishment. We enjoyed following your trek. Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors. Dave and Deann

P.S. Thank you for your kind words. It was our pleasure to meet you.

September 22, 2013 at 9:07 AM
jschuchardt said...

Keith and Matthew:
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement--something no one can ever take away from you! We wish you some quiet weeks of well-earned rest to reflect on your journey and re-acclimate to the "real" world. Looking forward to hearing your stories.
Regards,
Jon & Margie S.

September 22, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi Keith, Congratulations! Incredible achievement indeed. Proud of you both.

Hope you write a book.

-Rama

October 20, 2013 at 9:58 AM

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