Because this was the last day of the trip, and I did most of my journal writing at night, I do not have any journal entries to offer here. The following commentary is from memory.

I recall waking up in a great mood, motivated to finish up the trip, despite the fact that my sleep was less than sound.  My self-inflating sleeping pad gave out last night, and I would later learn there was a hole in it.  Luckily this was my last day.

Duck Hole was a very short walk up the trail from this lean-to and was a very nice place, quite picturesque.  However, just as I had suspected, the area was pretty crowded and it would have been tough to find a lean-to.  I pumped my water and took off toward the trail sign, which, much to my delight, listed Lake Placid at only 12.2 miles away.

I busted out the 3.9 miles to Moose Pond in record time, I seem to get my best hiking in first thing in the morning.  The lean-to here was pretty well kept and in a good location, on an elevated chunk of land.  There was a very nice gentleman from NYC here packing up his stuff for the day.  I wish I could recall his name, as he was one of the most intriguing, nice and funny people I have ever met in the woods.  He was like a character out of some old woods movie.  This dude was enormous, I mean like 6'6 and solid right through, with hands like shovels.  And you should have seen the size of the pack he was carrying.  At least double or triple what I had on my back (and I thought I was carrying too much).  He carried everything with him, including a full tackle box for fishing and what seemed like a closet full of clothes for a night on the town after the hike!  Made me think of some larger than life Paul Bunyan of the Adirondacks.  He was a sight.  After some good talks about the Yankees and hiking and equipment, he offered me some extra water he had and we set out in different directions.

A few miles up the trail I came to Wanika Falls, which is a can't miss stop on this northern portion of the trail.  Here I met 2 guys from Canada that were down for the weekend.  They had stayed at this site the night before and were getting ready to take a dip under the falls.  I beat them to it, and man was it cold.  But very refreshing.  They followed after me and another young couple came along and enjoyed the water as well.

Wanika Falls	A hiker taking a dip in the water under the falls

After my swim in the water it was time to start thinking about the home stretch.  The idea of finishing this trail really sat heavy on me at this point.  The sense of accomplishment was already hitting me but I had a bit of curiosity about how I would feel when I saw that trail head.

This portion was not exactly an easy one, a lot of blow down and over growth made for some tough going, but eventually the trail flattened out, and I could hear cars in the distance.  Then I saw a trail register.  This would be the last one I would sign on this trip.  When I opened it up I immediately noticed a golf score card from my home town and knew that my parents had been there, and they would be waiting for me to finish.  Mom and Dad, the two foundations of everything I have ever accomplished, my biggest supporters, were there to pat me on the back and enjoy this experience with me once again.  I signed the register and it was at this point that the joy of the trip, and the happiness of accomplishing what I set out to do, and the sadness of actually being done, began to hit me.

I did it.   What a trip it has been!

Photographs
(Click on thumbnail to view a larger picture)

Just 12 miles to go	Another end of hike pic	My last register entry part 1	My last register entry part 2