A journey completed!!!!!!

On the morning of August 14th, day 145 of our journey, we made it to the top of Mt Katahdin in Baxter State Park, ME, completing our 2,179 mile walk from Springer Mtn in Georgia. Such an amazing experience. To say we are overwhelmed would be an understatement. The most humbling, yet at the same time the most empowering. The most beautiful, yet at the same time the most painful. Thank you for being a part of it with us.

The last climb

Mt. Katahdin, the northern terminus of the A.T., off in the distance.

Taking in the summit just before sunrise

CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!

Our 14th and final state . . .

Maine at last!!!!!!!

Some of our friends from along the trail

Steep climbs in the Mahoosuc Mtns, ME

Balpate Mtn, ME

Taking in the expansiveness

Sunset from Saddleback Mtn, ME

Rainbow Stream Shelter, ME

Speck Pond, Mahoosuc Mtns, ME

Where's Lola???

319 Miles Left!!!

     It's hard to believe, but the journey keeps getting better and better. Lola and I are doing well and are currently in New Hampshire. We spent the past week making our way through the White Mtns., including the Franconian Range and the Presidential Range, and we have both been left in awe. The hiking was steep and sometimes slick, but the 360 degree views made it all worth the struggle. The vastness and the sheer scale of the Whites exceeded all our expectations. Even now I feel as though I'm still trying to catch my breath. We have been blessed with more amazing trail magic as our new friends Terry and Gretchen, who we met along the trail in Virginia back in May, have taken us into their home and treated us to a day of rest. Right now I'm enjoying an ice cold beer, some chips and home-made guacamole, and I can smell the swordfish cooking in the broiler. Life continues to astound! We will be heading back to the trail tomorrow morning and should be crossing the border into Maine in 3 or 4 days. As best as we can tell, it looks like we'll be finishing sometime around the 15th of August. Wow! That seems really weird to type. I'm not sure how many chance we will have to update the blog between now and then with civilization becoming more spread out as we go further up into Maine, but we will do our best to keep you all up to date. Special thanks to Mom Boutwell, Mom Baker, Tony P and Maureen, Bess, and Peter for the awesome care packages we picked up in Killington, VT. You guys and gals are great! And a huge thanks to Terry and Gretchen. Your hospitality was just as amazing as the views!

The Presidential Range, NH

Sunrise from Liberty Mtn., NH

Franconian Range, White Mtns., NH

Thundering Creek Falls, VT

Is this what they mean by "Natural Beauty"?

Vermont/ New Hampshire Border

Sun setting and moon rising, White Mtns., NH

Catching the sunrise atop Liberty Mtn., NH

Franconian Range, White Mtns., NH

South Twin Mtn., NH

Lakes of the Clouds Hut, where we helped with dishes in exchange for a meal and a nights stay

Mt. Washington, NH

The Great Gulf, Mt. Adams in the distance, NH

Lola on the summit of Mt. Madison, NH

Curious fox, White Mtns., NH

Galehead Hut, White Mtns., NH

Upper Goose Pond, MA

The wetlands of New Jersey

New York!!!!

Lyme Disease, BOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Connecticut!!!!!!

Massachusetts!!!!!!

Race Mtn, MA

Vermont!!!!!!

Beautiful mountain lakes, VT