Through Thru-Hiking.......

On the way to the top. Katahdin, Baxter State Park, Maine.



The end of the trail.


"No phone, no pool, no pets, no worries and best of all not a single regret.  I've been a lot of places and seen many things but the heart of my adventure will always be the friends I've made along the way"
-Silas (Pepper)-

The climb to the summit of Katahdin was one huge, horrible, terrible, awful, rock scramble. At least that was my opinion.  Silas seemed to take it in stride as if he had been doing this sort of thing for the last several months. 

"Are you sure this is the trail"?

Silas always seemed to be ahead and waiting on the rest of us.

There are a lot of great pictures of Silas along with Jake and Maria.  Rest assured I was in the background.......... way back. My assigned task on the ascent was to pick up anything they dropped along the climb and watch for bears sneaking up from the rear.

Here is a nice shot of me! It was a beautiful day to climb.

Silas and Jake enjoy a celebratory cigar at the top!

Just a great pic.

Just some photographic evidence that I was on the Mountain!

I was .2 miles from the top before we had to begin our descent. My heart and mind were willing but my legs and the clock said no.

My loyal family taking a nap while patiently waiting for me at the summit.

Yes, that white blaze painted on the rocks is the trail...

Going down must surly be easier...... actually no.

A Mom kiss for luck! 

We look fresh and rested before we set out bright and early. We would have taken a picture at the end of the climb but

it was DARK!!!

The view from the top of Katahdin.

This marks the end of a great trek for Silas along the Appalachian Trail.

 167 days, 2190 miles, 14 states.

Silas has met some interesting folks and made a few great friends.

It has been fun for us as his family to follow his adventure and cheer him along.  Some of us got to join him on the trail for a few miles and it was a joy to walk with him a bit.  Although I wasn't able to reach the summit of Katahdin with Silas it was a thrill to make part of the climb with him. As I sat on the windy slope just below the top and watched Silas, Jake and Maria celebrating together in the distance, a deep sense of contentment filled me.  Watching your children reach greater heights than you are able to reach is a good thing. 

I love being with my family. God has blessed me greatly with a loving and patient wife, five kind and courageous children, and a new daughter (Jake's wife Maria) who is willing to venture forth and conquer mountains along with the rest of the Schroeder's.

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it.......

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them!

-Psalm 127-

I am a Happy Man.

5.5 Miles to the top....

KATAHDIN !!!!!!!


Silas has reached the base of Mount Katahdin and is patiently waiting for us to arrive.  Jake and I saw him off in Georgia last April 1st and said we would meet him in Maine at Katahdin.  Silas has had an epic journey since then and we are ready to hold up our end of the bargain.  If all goes as planned we will summit on the 15th and celebrate with a fresh Maine Lobster on the 16th. 

I am looking forward to camping in Maine for the first time. I want to see a Moose, hear a Lake Loon call, and drink a cup of coffee around a New England campfire.  We will be a bit too early to see any fall leaves but the weather should feel like fall. 

Silas only has 5.5 miles left to go.  That last few miles will be an uphill climb to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park.  It will probably be an emotional finish for him. Silas has been seeing the sign posts along the trail for the past five months with the word "Katahdin" carved into them. 

 

 

To finally find yourself waiting at the base of the mountain after walking towards it for 2189 miles and 165 days must be exciting. Silas, we will fully understand if you suddenly dash to the top before we arrive. 


What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson-
 

Into the Wilderness.

Silas is nearing the end of his walk through the woods. Today he will see the remaining miles drop to double digits.  He has entered the 100 mile wilderness. We are excited for him and will be glad to have him home for a while.  It is fun watching our children grow into adults and venture out into the wild.  Life is an adventure and we have tried to raise fearless explorers.  Silas will have some great tales to tell when we next gather together as a family.

This picture was taken years ago when our explorers were young.

A recent picture of our fearless crew.

As the youngest of 5, Silas was usually "bringing up the rear" so to speak.  I think he has taken the lead in the "miles hiked" category!

Keep on hiking Silas. We are all cheering for you.

These are the numbers for those who like numbers.

159 days on trail

1210.5 miles

14 states

4 pairs of boots

countless pairs of socks

hundreds of tales to tell.

Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.

-John Muir-