Mount Katahdin
| Maine |
Elevation: 5,267'
Vertical Gain: 4,300'
Vertical Gain: 4,300'
Date: June 26, 2006
Time: 11:10 AM
Time: 11:10 AM
Weather: Cool and hazy
Party: Bob, Kevin, Dave, John
Party: Bob, Kevin, Dave, John
This was the first highpoint of four on our first multi-day highpointing trip and it was awesome
to finally climb Mt Katahdin. It didn't take much to get two runner friends from work, Dave and
John, interested in joining us on our attempt at this one. Kevin and I drove the full nine hours
on a Sunday while Dave and John took two days and stayed in a family cabin overnight. On
the way up we stopped in Freeport, Maine to check out the L. L. Bean outlet store and pick up
a raincoat and as soon as we walked in I happened to look up and see Dave with a surprised
look on his face. This was also fortunate since he forgot his copy of the Baxter Park campsite
reservation which was needed to gain entry into the park. They followed us up to the park from
there and on the 8 mile dirt road to Roaring Brook campground on the east side of Katahdin.
Kevin made good use of his headnet for the insects although according to the ranger the
black flies were already tailing off and the deer flies were only starting to ramp up. He also
gave us a tip on where some moose have been spotted at a nearby pond and he warned us
about Darcy, the crazed whitetail deer that had been harassing some campers. I brought along
a large tent so Kevin, John, and I shared it. That night we had a major downpour and I woke up
in the middle of the night when I put my hand down next to my air mattress into a half inch of
water. It turned out the main zipper would not stay closed and the water was just funneling in.
Since John was not off the ground on an air mattress he had it more difficult and went off a few
hundred yards looking for a dry lean-to with some fresher air. Unfortunately a number of other
campers had the same idea and they were all filled so he returned and made his bed on the
picnic table under the screen tent which seemed to satisfy him.
We started out at 7:25 the next morning despite a drizzle and uncertain weather, taking the
Chimney Pond trail and then the Saddle trail up the headwall to Baxter peak. It was here that
John gave us a new motto which we started repeating frequently - "This ain't nothin'." The
weather cleared so the views were slightly hazy but awesome and I was glad I picked the East
side to climb. With binoculars we could actually see a moving dot in the pond several miles
away where we saw some moose the previous evening and we convinced ourselves that it
was probably the same bull moose. We stayed at the top for less than a half hour before taking
the hour and 40 minute trip across the very rocky Knife Edge and returning via the Helon
Taylor trail. Just as we started down from Pamola peak we could look back and see the clouds
engulfing the ridge. The total was about 10 miles in about 7 hours of hiking. The last three
seemed long and were hard on the knees.
There was an extra day built into our schedule but we all decided to head out the next
morning. Kevin and I made the .3 mile walk back to the moose pond before leaving and
although the moose were not out we did watch a whitetail by the water for a while. Could it
have been Darcy?
to finally climb Mt Katahdin. It didn't take much to get two runner friends from work, Dave and
John, interested in joining us on our attempt at this one. Kevin and I drove the full nine hours
on a Sunday while Dave and John took two days and stayed in a family cabin overnight. On
the way up we stopped in Freeport, Maine to check out the L. L. Bean outlet store and pick up
a raincoat and as soon as we walked in I happened to look up and see Dave with a surprised
look on his face. This was also fortunate since he forgot his copy of the Baxter Park campsite
reservation which was needed to gain entry into the park. They followed us up to the park from
there and on the 8 mile dirt road to Roaring Brook campground on the east side of Katahdin.
Kevin made good use of his headnet for the insects although according to the ranger the
black flies were already tailing off and the deer flies were only starting to ramp up. He also
gave us a tip on where some moose have been spotted at a nearby pond and he warned us
about Darcy, the crazed whitetail deer that had been harassing some campers. I brought along
a large tent so Kevin, John, and I shared it. That night we had a major downpour and I woke up
in the middle of the night when I put my hand down next to my air mattress into a half inch of
water. It turned out the main zipper would not stay closed and the water was just funneling in.
Since John was not off the ground on an air mattress he had it more difficult and went off a few
hundred yards looking for a dry lean-to with some fresher air. Unfortunately a number of other
campers had the same idea and they were all filled so he returned and made his bed on the
picnic table under the screen tent which seemed to satisfy him.
We started out at 7:25 the next morning despite a drizzle and uncertain weather, taking the
Chimney Pond trail and then the Saddle trail up the headwall to Baxter peak. It was here that
John gave us a new motto which we started repeating frequently - "This ain't nothin'." The
weather cleared so the views were slightly hazy but awesome and I was glad I picked the East
side to climb. With binoculars we could actually see a moving dot in the pond several miles
away where we saw some moose the previous evening and we convinced ourselves that it
was probably the same bull moose. We stayed at the top for less than a half hour before taking
the hour and 40 minute trip across the very rocky Knife Edge and returning via the Helon
Taylor trail. Just as we started down from Pamola peak we could look back and see the clouds
engulfing the ridge. The total was about 10 miles in about 7 hours of hiking. The last three
seemed long and were hard on the knees.
There was an extra day built into our schedule but we all decided to head out the next
morning. Kevin and I made the .3 mile walk back to the moose pond before leaving and
although the moose were not out we did watch a whitetail by the water for a while. Could it
have been Darcy?
The evening of our arrival we took a
short hike to a pond on a tip from a
ranger. We were rewarded with a
great view of Katahdin and here,
Kevin is looking at one of two cow
moose across the way. Pamola peak
is on the left and the headwall we
climbed is in the center.
short hike to a pond on a tip from a
ranger. We were rewarded with a
great view of Katahdin and here,
Kevin is looking at one of two cow
moose across the way. Pamola peak
is on the left and the headwall we
climbed is in the center.
While we were straining to see the
cows, this bull stepped out of the
woods right behind us!
cows, this bull stepped out of the
woods right behind us!
Dave and John ...
and Kevin and Bob. Hey, the
hats my not be stylish but they
did help with the bugs!
hats my not be stylish but they
did help with the bugs!
Kevin by Chimney Pond
Looking back from the headwall.
Chimney pond is on the right. Our
moose pond near our campground is
the small one the second one down
from the top.
Chimney pond is on the right. Our
moose pond near our campground is
the small one the second one down
from the top.
Made it up the headwall and onto the
vast tableland.
vast tableland.
At the peak! South Baxter peak is in
the background after the start of the
knife edge.
the background after the start of the
knife edge.
The end of the Appalachian trail. Of
course I had to take this picture.
course I had to take this picture.
Kevin heading out on the knife
edge. We were glad the weather
held up so we could make the
trip across.
edge. We were glad the weather
held up so we could make the
trip across.
Perhaps the endorphin high is
getting to John.
getting to John.
A little further, a little further ...
We raced the clouds which hit
just as we finished traversing
the knife edge.
just as we finished traversing
the knife edge.
A long way to
descend.
descend.
