⛰️ In the presence of these majestic mountains, as I sit grounded on this rock, I feel deeply alive, inspired, and connected to something far greater than myself.

This weekend in High Point, NJ, we had our biggest climbing group so far. Any states think they can gather a group of more than 80 people?

The first state on the Tour de Fox itinerary certainly did not disappoint. In fact, we all had such a good time in Maine that were a little sad to wake up this morning and push for the New Hampshire border (a feeling forgotten soon after arriving in beautiful North Conway).

It started with a visit to the Blue Ox Saloon in tiny, downtown Millinocket. Millinocket is an old logging town that acts as the gateway to Baxter State Park, home of Maine’s highest peak – Mt. Katahdin. We were joined by 4 Mainers, Jamel -who came up from the southern part of the state to climb with the group the next day – and the Lyons Family – Millinocket locals who know all too well the effects of Parkinson’s disease on a loved one. With a lot in common, we were fast friends.

Thursday arrived, chilly and gray. Clouds were sitting low in the forest as we drove the bumpy dirt road toward Katahdin. On a clear day, breaks in the trees offer neck-straining views of the mountain and surrounding lakes. But on this morning, expansive views didn’t seem to be in the cards. No matter; a climb is a climb, and the summit is its own reward.

After parking and making final preparations, Jamel, Chris, Kristen, Anne and I set off up the Hunt trail. We hiked and carried on lively conversation, excited to a person to finally be underway. The clouds sat stagnant above us, refusing to reveal a peek at what we knew loomed ahead. Through rocky gullies, up tree root steps and across log bridges we climbed toward a mystery destination.

The Hunt trail quickly moves above tree line and begins to traverse an extremely steep and boulder-strewn ridge line. The terrain is tricky, requiring some scrambling and the use of hands and feet to feel secure. Jamel, the only one of the group who has climbed Katahdin before, led the way. Anne, an Idaho native and an experienced mountaineer was surprised to find she couldn’t hide her respect for this mighty eastern peak. I was happily reminded of a time when I was 8 years old, scrambling to the top of Mt. Cardigan with my mom and dad.

Just as the ridge began to level before cresting onto the plateau west of Kathdin’s summit knowns as the Tablelands, and we were all starting to feel a little tired of the suffocating cloud cover, we broke free, into the sunlight…seemingly into a different world.

Not that anyone had been complaining about the hike up to this point, but the sun rejuvenated us and pushed us toward the now plainly visible and spectacular summit just a mile away. For miles on end all that we could see was a fluffy, white ocean of clouds. It felt like we were on the only piece of land in the world.

We basically ran the last few hundred yards to the summit marker, grabbed some photos and settled into the rocks on the craggy, sharp crest of the summit’s knife-edge ridge for lunch. Jamel had lugged a surprise for each of us to the top; a Baxter Brewing Co. IPA to toast the climb and to complete our true Maine experience. As we sat and marveled at the surroundings, warmed from the sunshine, the beer at 5,300 feet, and our lunches, the clouds to the north slowly swirled themselves into oblivion. And finally, right before it was time to go down, we got our view.

All in all, it was the perfect way to start a trip that we’re all sure will have a grab bag of incredible moments and views. Even with that knowledge, though, our morning at the top of Maine will be a tough moment to top.