AT SOBO 2019: Katahdin and the 100 Miles

It has only been a tad bit over a week, and already I can feel a change both physically and mentally.


I do not know at all how to feel about that, especially considering that I still have over 2,000 more miles to go. I will say, however, that I am incredibly grateful that I am going SOBO. These first days of my journey have been incredible.  Pictures and words cannot do it justice, but I’m going to try.

Mount Katahdin, where the trail ends for most but where it began for me, has legendary views and is full of history. At Katahdin Springs Campground I was able to catch this quick view from the bottom that I really like. However, my experience with climbing said mountain, and coming down, are a different story altogether.

Weather at high altitudes is terrifying. A drizzle at the bottom of the mountain is a torrential sleet storm at the top. A breeze becomes a gale, and it feels as if the mountain itself simply rejects the idea of you. I was alone for my entire ascent, and each step became more and more difficult. I kept telling myself that I could just turn around… It would be fine… Honestly, I didn’t even have to tell anyone… But I kept going. It was so bad that I had to focus on something else to keep my fear at bay and maintain control. For me, that started as a sort of mantra of me cussing the mountain, that eventually, after eight long hours and one freezing cold picture that I was lucky to have gotten at all, I ended up with a couple of stanzas.

Step by careful step,

He made his wet way up the mountain.

This trail was not a footpath,

They should call it the Hunt fountain.

Every single divot

In this endless gray rock-face

Is home to falling water

At a torrential downhill pace.

I quite literally repeated variations of this as I went, and it evolved and grew into that. While I am definitely no poet, it served a purpose. I learned that my imagination (always rampant) can, and will, be a resource in getting me through the hardest parts of my trek.

After Katahdin, I spent the next seven days going through the 100-Mile Wilderness. 

In this, the weather must have been trying to make up for its behavior on my summit day, because it was gorgeous. Every few miles opened up to another picturesque mountain vista, or a lake hidden between the peaks. Along with the sunshine, though, came enough mosquitoes to potentially black out the sun. It was preposterous. Anything you have ever read or heard or think you know about how bad the bitey-bugs are in summer in Maine is true.

 Probably, your imagination is not enough to really get a sense of the scope. To make matters worse, I lost my Deet on day two. Of all things to lose (and the only thing), I lose my damn bug spray in the 100 mile. In July. What worked for me was wearing a long-sleeve shirt and pants the entire time, despite the heat. I brought a bug net hat, but it restricted my vision too much, was uncomfortable, and I eventually stopped wearing it in favor of wrapping my head completely in a Buff and walking south as fast as I could to get away from the little biters. My Permethrin-treated clothes also helped, and added another level of security health wise. My Mom gave me a skin stick from Posh Soap called The Healer, and at the risk of sounding like an ad, it saved my ass. Literally. There were bug bites in places that should never have bug bites.

   Some highlights of the 100 mile for me are camping at Nahmakanta West Beach (pictured above) and watching the sunrise; climbing the old fire tower on the Barren Ledges for insane 360 views; and a few sections of the forest that have no specific name that I can find, but that truly felt magic.

Over 100 miles in eight days, and I’m just getting started. It’s said that Katahdin is one of the most physically challenging parts of the trail, and the 100 mile is one of the most logistically difficult parts, and also for me one hell of a mental battle against the endless onslaught of bugs. It is definitely a confidence booster to know that I’ve already gotten these difficult milestones under my belt.

For now, I’m kicked back and enjoying the food here at Shaw’s in Monson, waiting on a supply box in the morning, then headed back out for the next step in my journey. My feet and ankles are definitely happy for the break, but my heart is ready to get back out there.

Until next time…

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Comments 6

  • Kim Jones : Jul 8th

    Love this!

    Reply
  • Danielle O’Kane : Jul 8th

    Ugh Maine is so gorgeous. I went once (some of my in-laws love there) and fell in love with how pretty it was. Loving your blog so far Logan!

    Reply
  • Alyson : Jul 9th

    Go Logan, go! ❤️

    Reply
  • Michelle : Jul 9th

    How awesome! Loved reading your update!

    Reply
  • Scott : Jul 9th

    I am 62 years old and wanted to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin this year. I went with my girlfriend, who is also 62 years old, to Maine and was planning to hike to the summit on June 13th but Baxter Park was still closed due to snow. My girlfriend and I made reservations and went to the park the first day it opened on June 15th. As we were hiking to the summit of Mount Katahdin we met a SoBo thru hiker coming down. I think he might have been the first person of the year to start the thru-hike southbound. It took us six hours to get up to the summit and 5 hours to come back down but it was well worth it. Absolutely gorgeous. Good luck on your thru-hike, all the best.

    Reply
  • Sophie : Oct 27th

    great post! Thanks for the tips on bugs! I’m starting NOBO in May next year and am so worried about how to deal with this! Trying to mentally prepare myself haha

    Reply

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