Sheila Wee

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Michael called today. He ate roadkill black bear last night. A man
hit it with his car so he had it butchered. His wife shared it with
Michael and some other hikers. Not the normal trail magic.
He and Wiffle will start hiking the 100 mile wilderness tomorrow. Mt.
Katahdin is at the end of the wilderness. They took a zero day today
since they hiked a 30 mile day and they needed to resupply. The sign
going into the 100 mile wilderness says you must have a minimum supply
of 10 days of food. However they only plan to be in the wilderness for
5 days. He said there will be no means of contact until they leave the
wilderness.
Here is the big plan...I fly to Bangor, Maine on the 17th. Wiffle's
parents pick me up at the airport. We find Michael and Wiffle at the
base of Mt. Katahdin where they are waiting on Gumpy, Peeper and Hawk to
come off the mountain. Gumpy, Peeper and Hawk plan to summit on the
17th. Hawk's father will also be there waiting. We have cabins rented
in Millinocket, Maine. After celebrating their summit we will try to
get as much rest as possible because Michael, Wiffle and I plan summit
Katahdin on the 18th. Wiffle's parents are going to hike around on
other trails while we go up the mountain. The hike up Mt. Katahdin is 5
miles and it is straight up. This will be a hard 10 miles, especially
for me. I'm excited though. I can't even imagine the emotions a thru
hiker has on top of this mountain. I'm sure I will cry just watching
them. I cried after coming out of the Grand Canyon the first time we
hiked rim to rim. That was the hardest hike I had ever completed. I
have done another rim to rim since then which was a little easier just
because I knew what to expect. Michael has hiked rim to rim a total of
three times. An AT thru hike is a bigger accomplishment. What a
thrill!
As I have told you already we will then be moving south so Michael and
Wiffle can actually complete the trail. Remember they have to hike the
81 miles they missed when they came home for Mom's funeral. While I
rent a car and slackpack them in the New York-Connecticut area, Wiffle's
parents will return to Maryland. After the real end of the trail for
Michael and Wiffle we will drive Wiffle home. We will then head south
to hike the 53 miles Michael aquablazed earlier. This section is
Harper's Ferry to Front Royal, Virginia. After this section Michael
will have officially completed his AT thru hike. Woo-Hoo!!!
We hope to have time to see the coast of Maine before we have to start
driving south. If time doesn't permit we intend to return to Maine next
year for a visit.
The end of the plan is we return to Olympia around Labor Day. Back to
work and reality.
I am glad Michael will be home. I miss him. I am so proud of him. I
am happy he has been able to achieve a dream he has had for a long time.
Wish him luck on the final leg of his journey.
Sheila