August 31, 2018 Climbing Katahdin for Eddie

These are my people! 💓
My tribe!💓
My family!💓
Thanks be to God for their safety on Thursday. Climbing Katahdin was accomplished yesterday to honor Stovetop's (my cousin Ed Hamilton) desire to complete the AT. Oh how he loved hiking!
ChopChop (Abby) and Mint Craig Jr, my heart is soaring this morning.
Now, go eat some lobstah!

Baxter State Park's Hunt Trail, a 5.2 climb to the top of Katahdin.

Katahdin Stream Falls, about 1.2 miles in.

First view from the treeline.
Gulp, they weren't kidding when they said rock scrambles. Let's do this!

Hmmmm, so how exactly do I get up to where the white blaze is from here?

A short break to look back at the fog on the mountain

We finally made it after 5 hours and 40 minutes!

Mandarin orange cup toast at the top of the mountain to celebrate Grateful's completion of the AT. What an adventure it's been.

Clouds cleared up just in time to reveal breathtaking views from the top of the mountain.

Making our way toward the Hunt Spur on our descent.

Abby writes:

August 31, 2018

Eddie had been planning to finish up the AT with his hiking buddy, Grateful, at the end of August 2018. I assured him during our last few conversations at the hospital in June that he (Stovetop) would get to climb Katahdin, and reach the northern terminus of the AT. We had already discussed me joining up to summit with him and Lee since finishing their last section hike. I followed through on those plans this week to fulfill a promise I made before his death.

Yesterday (8/30/18), at 12:55pm, Grateful and Chop-chop (that's me) reached the end of the AT by climbing the highest peak in Maine. I had Eddie's hiking gear with me, and I could hear him walking me through each rock scramble, and encouraging me every step of the way. This one's for you Stovetop!