Dear friends,
Today, September 15, I completed my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail by climbing Mount Katahdin in Maine. I hit the Trail this morning at 8:00 and reached the summit at 12:00 noon. It was a climb of 4000 feet in elevation over very rocky terrain. The wind was blowing at times up to 50 mph with white out cloud conditions. I made the climb and got back down without injuring myself in spite of many opportunities to do so! I am now at the Appalachian Trail Lodge in Millinocket, Maine. I have now an opportunity to end my Appalachian Trail odyssey in a very special way. One of my very first students at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Elizabeth Page and her husband Dan Page have flown their Piper Archer airplane up to the Millinocket airport. Tomorrow, they will fly me home OVER the Appalachian Trail! If the weather is clear, I hope to take photographs of some of my favorite places on the Trail. How’s that for an appropriate ending to this amazing six month adventure?
When I get home to Durham, NC, I will send out another email to let you know how I survived the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine and made my way to the base of Mount Katahdin. Until then, thank you all for your kind thoughts of support over the duration of my hike.
Here is the photo of me on top of Mount Katahdin.
All my best,
Braid, AKA Joe Liles
September 15th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
way to go Joe! what an amazing accomplishment! safe journeys home!
September 15th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
That’s quite an accomplishment, Joe. But I’ll bet it was a piece of cake after having to be my advisor. Congratulations!
September 16th, 2009 at 1:32 am
CONGRATS!
I’m sure we’ll have lots to talk about at a future reunion. “YEAH! Me too! I thought about quitting almost every single day, but I kept on thinking of all those postcards of people with their hands raised over the sign… and all those false summits on the ascent to the top, MAN!”
I was fortunate enough to have 10-15 minutes of clear view at the top, but that was nothing compared to the exultant feelings of actually finishing mixed with the sorrow that this segment of life is officially over.
5,000,000 steps, wow. Congratulations again and again!
September 16th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Congratulations, Joe – quite a journey!
September 16th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Congratulations Joe!!!!! Can’t wait to be able to catch up with you about it!
September 16th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Well done Joe! Welcome to that journey’s end. It is one hell of a feat. Congrats! Look forward to talking with you more about it sometime soon. Safe travels back.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Oops, I left that “anonymous” comment.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Congratulations!!! I can’t wait until you can come and share some of your adventures at NCSSM. It’s incredible what you have accomplished.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Congratulations on something many only dream about. I can’t wait to welcome you back.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Thanks for the insight into a six-month adventure. Great job!!!
September 16th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Wonderful, Joe! Blessings to you. I’m sure you passed out many on the trail.
September 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Great Job!What a adventure!
September 17th, 2009 at 8:37 am
WOW! Congratulations! What a wonderful adventure. We have really loved following this blog. Many blessings!
September 17th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Congratulations Joe. You have been an inspiration since the first day I met you at NCSSM. Keep on reaching higher, climbing farther and achieving greater than before!
Stephen Hopkins ‘83
September 17th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Congrats, Joe! I’m going to miss reading about your exciting travels! Glad you’re back home and hopefully I’ll see you soon around NCSSM!
September 17th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Joe, my friend. It has been such a fine journey to accompany you on your hike. Thank you and Colin for making it possible. I hoping there will be the complete illustrated trail report coming out soon in hardback. I’m living at 5000 ft now with a mountain within close range right outside my window…El Hombre. There’s a pyramid at the top. Take care.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Congratulations, Joe. Quite an accomplishment.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Joe, thank you for sharing your journey with us. I am speechless. Bravo!
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I read your entire journey in about 6 hours. I was so excited for each entry. Thank you for giving me hope.
March 4th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Congrats to you! I wish I could have met you out there. I had the time of my life on the AT.
Gordon Bombay
GA->ME ‘09