I have arrived
June 15, 2010 6:07 pm Leave your thoughts
Date: 6.15.2010
Location: Baxter State Park Millnocket, ME
I have arrived
At the base of her beauty
I have arrived
In the presence of perfection
I am at BSP now. I checked in at 2 ranger stations, completed some paperwork regarding both my stay at the campground as well as my intention to begin a south bound thru-hike. They keep records of hikers so the paperwork is necessary.
At the second rangers station I met with a ranger named Betsy. Betsy is an older woman probably in her 60’s. As she completed the paperwork she began to brief me on some basic “need to know” items. Stringing your food up away from your tent because of bears etc.
Jacob and Adam who I rode in with on the shuttle from Bangor joined us and Betsy began to brief us on “Summiting” or hiking to the top of Katadihn where the beginning of the North end of the Appallachian trail actually begins (the campsite is on the trail but 5 miles down from the start).
When summiting you can leave your pack at the rangers station and borrow a day pack to take up since you don’t want to carry a full pack up a 5 mile vertical rise.
She told us we should be on the trail by 6 or 7. She said she would start no later than 7. I took that to mean I should start at 6 and when she was finished I promptly headed out to set up camp.
My camp spot is amazing! I am right next to Katadihn Stream and if you have ever had the pleasure of sleeping beside a stream you know what an amazing experience it is.
I set up camp and sat beside the stream listening to the peaceful sounds for almost 2 hours just unwinding and letting go of all the stress of the city, the commute getting here, and planning this hike.
I gazed up at Mt. Katadihn in awe of her, contemplating my climb to the summit in the morning.
Knowing I had a difficult day ahead I called it an early night and crawled into my hammock around 8.