derien's Journal

made it back alive from Katadin
We made it back from Katadin, from our solstice climb! I honestly had my doubts for a few minutes, when we'd been walking for miles on the top of the mountain in a lashing rain. Eor has posted his detailed story of the hike.

It was as we were downclimbing the arete that I started shuddering uncontrollably. He had said we were stopping soon to put on another layer of clothing, so I said nothing at the time. Shortly after that he complimented how I was quietly soldiering on and doing well, and I said that I had stopped complaining because I was convinced I was going to die. He laughed, and didn't think I was serious until much later.

On the last, easy little bit of the hike (a walk, really) just before getting back to the campground, I mentioned that I would like to climb Mt. Fuji some time because I've gotten the impression it's quite different than Katadin, a walk-up from what I hear, and he started in on how if we do Katadin a few more times we might be able to get to the point where we can climb it in the dark, we can take headlamps and go up for summer solstice to see the sun rise from the top.

I may have said something like 'no fucking way!' I might have. And followed that up with, "If you think you're EVER going to convince me to do something like this again...! Well, I'll just let you know that now is not a good time."

Yeah, yeah, I'll probably try again next year. My legs almost feel normal again, three days later. We got so damned close, and were doing so well. If it hadn't been for the rain we would have made it this year.

It might be the bruises on each knee which are causing the most problem - my knees don't want to bend. I said I looked like I'd had a kicking fight, and Eor said I'd been beat up by a mountain. The mountain always wins, as he says. Annoyingly, though, the worst looking bruise on my leg I managed to give myself vaccuuming out my car before leaving.

Friday we attempted to dry out all our stuff, which never happened, under the forest canopy. We did some easy walking to try to keep from stiffening up, Eor puttered around the van putting things in order (he's a perpetual motion machine during camping), and we went to bed early yet again. Woke up very early on Saturday, broke camp, and went to Millenockett for breakfast. They do something at the Appalacian Trail Cafe called 'chopped tots,' in place of homefries. Basically it's tater tots (which, if you aren't familiar with them, are little balls of mashed potatoes which have been deep fried and then frozen so you can heat them in the oven at home) chopped up on the grill - aka how can we put MORE grease into your meal. Tasty. :)

By the time we arrived home Saturday afternoon I wanted to collapse - and this is after having slept quite well and long for two nights - but laundry had to be done and there was a concert we wanted to go to in the evening, and I'm happy to report that I rallied and felt quite able and normal for the concert. (Worse now, but that's sometimes how it goes.)

Things I'm glad we had for the hike -

raincoats

sufficient food (am really glad I got the thai curry cashews and maple roasted cashews!)

polarfleece jackets

smartwool socks (they totally rock about keeping your feet warm even when soaked!)

Things I wish we'd had -

rainpants (one of the other hikers had them and he was in much better shape on the way down than we were.) TOUGH rainpants, though, because sliding over the rocks might take it out of them.

Things I hope to change next year -

The pokey thing that was happening with the struts in my pack against my back. Eor has already rebent the struts somewhat, I'll have to pay more attention to getting that sorted out in future hikes; I have a bruise.

You ever notice how there's all those "This body climbed Mount Washington" t-shirts, but none for Katadin? It's not freaking fair. I think it's really a harder climb in a lot of ways. But of course nobody wants to get up there to sell shirts. (I still plan to get a Mt. Washington t-shirt. I earned it, even if it was two years ago. I may make my own Katadin shirt, if I ever make the damned summit.)

In completely unrelated news, I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon to discuss breast reduction. I'm so excited! Kind of scared, but mostly excited. :) I've wanted this since I was seventeen, and the recent persistent problems with my upper back and neck are indicating it might be a good idea. Yay!