HIKE MAINE 2003! (winter trip?)

“I dreamed it up...

Compass Pond is in T2 R9, just south of the BSP southern boundary.”

“It's a few miles south of the AT and Abol bridge.”

“Ahhhhh, there it is! I don't know what T2 R9 meant but I found her. I didn't know it was outside Baxter.

The map doesn't show anything about a shelter, but there might be a sign? It looks like Compass Pond is on the right side of Golden Rd and River Pond on the left.

After staying at CP, we'll drive up to Abol Bridge, hike the Abol Pond Trail to the access rd, turn right to the Togue Pond Gate, and then left all the way to Roaring Brook, past Avalanche Field where we camped in October?

Or am I completely all wet with no clue?”

“Township and Range, 6 square miles of land.

No shelter baay-bee, we've got a cabin! There is a sign at the little road leading to the cabin.
And the rest of what you said is the plan.”

“Kewl!! I actually know a plan for a change. ;o)

Hmmmm.... gee, I see a short-cut to Roaring Brook. Up and over some trail with a whole bunch of squiggly lines all scrunched together. That means flat, right? Over something called South Peak (South means low elevation, right?), then some kind of Knife, Pamoly, and Chimley thingy. Finishes up on the Helen trail. Shoot, if the trail has a woman's name in it, it has to be easy, right?”

“YES! Everyone knows earth girls are easy.”

“HOWEVER...Helon Taylor was a man.
;)”

“Hey look at these pictures!

BSP trip

see what you bail-outs are gonna miss!”

“Wow, that's a lot of pics! Looks like they had a lot of fun. I'm liking the looks of the trail they were on. Well broken.”

“Me too!
If I don't get released from this cube soon, I'll be dragging a$$ the whole way.
:(”

“Twig --

That . . .my friend . . .is just mean.


Mean.


(the link to the pictures of the other trip)


I am still a gutless wonder on this subject. I have skirted (good word in this case) the edges of this issue with my wife, but have not made a full frontal run at it.



So far it has been defined as an early mid life crisis, and, when asked what i wanted for valentine's day . . . and my response was, "a x-country ski package from LL bean and a free pass to norhtern maine" . . . I am not sure that she thought it was the most romantic thing I had ever come up with!!!!


She is strongly suggesting that a three day downhill ski weekend with good friend might be the cure. And . . .I have a friend who really wants to do just that.




PS: RE: the pictures in the link. I was encouraged to see that their sleds ran the gamut. There seemed to be some commonality on the stiff cross bar mounted to the front of the sled.”

“I'm so sorry lee. :(
I know I'm even more excited after seeing the pictures, wahoo!
I think I'll get crampons before the trip. =D”

“gEEZ, I gotta get crampons?”

“I dunno, I just wanted an excuse to buy 'em! :)”

“Twigeater --

You've got mail at the address on your profile.





I would think you could have a blast with crampons up there. I assume that the resident ranger could provide some direction regarding avalanche safe areas vs avaalanche prone areas. And direct you to areas to fool around with crampons on.

I have a friend whose brother in law is a proficient backcountry/telemark skier, and he has taken trips up to the great basin just to make runs up and down.”

“lee!
The snow is so hard packed and icy this year, I think crampons would be good. (I've half killed myself skiing - probably won't be able to wear a skirt until spring, lol) And I've got a bunch of LLBean funny money to get some good gaiters.

After Chimney Pond I may head over to the Blueberry Knoll - I think it's in some of those pictures. I like that hike because you see the north basin and can make a loop back to the Chimney Pond trail. I want to leave time for a loop around Sandy Stream Pond to Whidden Pond, stuff like that - I'm more interested in seeing the sights than climbing. The others can do what they want, but I think that's my plan.

E-mail back at ya!”

“Oh, and anyone who can't make this trip is welcome to join me in March at the Nesowadnehunk bunkhouse!”

“I like your idea Twig....I still plan on snowshoeing in. How long do yo think that'll take??? Just wondering. I'm looking very forward to going on this trip, as I've never done a winter hike before. It's too bad some(Artex and Fritz) aren't gonna make it!!! They'll be missed.”

“They will be missed! :(

I imagine it will take 6-8 hours. I snowshoed a couple of mountains that were close to 10 miles each and it was 5-5.5 hours each time. That was with day pack only, although sleds are really easy on flattish terrain.”

“"flattish terrain"

Famous last words!

We(me and Janet Granite) aren't bringing sleds.....better pack light, huh?”

“LOL!
Now all I said was that sleds are easy on flattish terrain, I didn't say our terrain was flattish. :)
Actually, I think BSP describes the road from Togue Pond to Roaring Brook as an "8 mile uphill haul." A sled with just a rope is fine for that. Downhill you could ride 'em out! I have friends that use sleds with no extras every time we go and they like it just fine.

When is Janet-Granite gonna start posting? heh?

Also I read somewhere that it took a group 7 or so hours to snowshoe in, but if you ski out it's about half the time.

o(=)”

“Oops!
I forgot that she is really "Hurricane Janet"(last hurricane of the season, 1955).

Well, we'll see about "flattish" and "easy".......”

“Aww, I liked "Janet Granite."

Is this gonna be like the October trip when all I did was say "aurora borealis" in a post on the trip thread?
Just for the record - I don't think this is an "easy" trip at all - not for me anyway. I'll probably be the first to drop, LOL!
o(=D”

“AND...how come that "North to Maine" thread doesn't show up on the thread list?”

“ARE WE READY?????

o(=D”

“LOL!
My new winter bag should arrive Monday (at worst, I'll double bag myself... or triple bag myself.. counting my Hilleberg emergency bag which meets BSP requirements for emergency shelter for 3).”

“I'm bringing my zero bag.
Where'd you read that requirement, ped?

I picked up some florescent pink surveyor's tape and I'm gonna make two stakes with streamers - one to mark the entrance to the cabin and one to mark where you should enter the Golden Road.

I'm making moose stew and cheesecake! Prolly moose sausage for breakfast.

Who has two way radios?

wahoo!”

“Oh yeah!!! Can't wait.... :)”

“Damn straight we're ready!

I have a pair of 2 way radios that I'll bring. Even though we're staying inside, is it safe to assume people are still bringing shelters? You never know what can happen on that 12 mile hike in.”

“Oh yeah!!!!!”

“Yes, bringing shelters would be a good idea. Does everyone have some kind of survival bivy?
I have radios and think I can round up a bunch more.
I'm going to make a list for each of us of everyone's emergency contacts - does anyone have a problem with that? The other thing - are we gonna hike in pairs or groups, or not worry about it?

Anybody skiing in?
The weather for Millinocket is looking around 26 degrees and 60% chance of snow the day we go in. So that means 80% chance of snow in BSP. :)”

“26 degrees? That's 45 degrees warmer than this past weekend. I'm bringing shorts! ;o)

I don't have an emergency bivy but I'll have my solo 4 season tent.

I'll be on snowshoes, and I expect the skiers to get there first, get the fire going, then come back to the shoers and help carry their gear. Hey, I can hope, right?

If we have radios so we can be in constant communication, I would not worry much about hiking in groups. However, I try to make it a practice during winter hikes to never let a solo lag behind.”

“No kiddin' Pennsy, that's freakin' balmy!
My radios have a 2 mile radius, what about yours?

Thursday when I get there I'm probably gonna do a recon ski out the Abol Stream trail. If it seems reasonable that I may remain upright and unbruised, I'm skiing. Otherwise, I'm at least bringing them in and perhaps skiing out. That should make for great face plant pictures!

What you said about groups and not leaving any solos behind - that's how I hike as well, so that works for me!”

“And I'll be right there with camera in hand to capture every face plant.

My radios have a 5 mile range. I only used them once with mixed results so hopefully they'll be fine up there.

BTW - I have an extra sled if anyone wants to borrow it. It's the 4 footer with the pvc traces that can clip onto an existing pack belt. It worked fine last week in negative temps so I think the pvc will hold up.”

“I just spent a couple hours with my gear sled and gear. Snowshoeing/trail breaking was hard work, but with daily practice I should be ready in a month!

Seriously though, I will be one fried guy at the end of our 12 mile days.”

“Twig: I spoke too loosely. It isn't required, it is "strongly suggested":

"And since there is always the chance of delay due to injury or weather, it is strongly suggested that all parties, both above and below timberline, carry lightweight two-person bivouac sacks for each two persons in the group. "

http://www.mainerec.com/recomend.asp?Category=107&PageNum=107”

“I knew I could count on you Pennsy!

ahhh.......ped, I didn't see that (about the 3 person shelter) because I was looking for it in the official BSP rules. I didn't read through that website, but I'm sure it's sound advice.

I'll tell ya, I haven't used my backpacking tent in years, and it's not four season. I'm sure it will suffice in an emergency though, assuming it doesn't fall to bits when I dig it out of the closet. :)
Seriously, we should probably review (over moose stew and drinks of course) what each person has for emergency gear/first aid.

Hey, we'll be fried together ped, LOL. I thought I was doing well until we had to work two weeks straight - that is, 14 days that I barely left my desk, never mind went to the gym or hiking, etc. Most of those days ended at 8, 9, or 10pm and the last one ended at 2:30am. I worked 45 hours OT in one five day span. (all unpaid, btw) And of course, we ate take out 3x/day. At the end of the first few days my legs hurt like hell and I felt like I'd been hit by a truck (as did most of us).
I've been pushing like crazy the last week or so to get it back and feel pretty good right now. We'll see though. :)”

“This is the official BSP site:
BSP”

“We don't own a bivy sack, so we'll bring my 3 season 2 person tent that I have used in the past in the winter. Think they'll bust us for that????

We'll bring skiis and snowshoes, and use them as the spirit moves us.

We have been able to hit the gym twice a week, between ski trips and remodeling the house. And we've actually done a 4 miler at Bradbury foothill (Some call it a mountain) with a load. We'll be tired, but we'll do it.

Of course the cameras coming. Any other gear recommendations, besides, of course, warm clothing and bags.

What about a community pot of chili? How are the cooking facilities again?? Should we pack our stoves and grills???

We're getting giddy over here and are anxious to see old friends and make new friends. Seeya!!!!”

“Last trip we cooked and melted snow on the woodstove. I never used my stove at all, but there were only three of us. I just talked with the park and we have the bunkhouse to ourselves - she says it's not likely anyone will join us - so we can do whatever!

My favorite thing last trip was biscuits - I grilled 'em in the morning and put butter and jelly on 'em, crumbled 'em in my meals, had 'em with the homemade chicken soup my friends brought - yummy. Bring on the chili!

They brought the soup in frozen and thawed it inside. They also cooked burgers on small tinfoil pie plates. I brought in a potato and baked it in the fire and put cheese and bacon on it. (I'm making myself hungry here, lol) We burned everything and picked the stuff that didn't burn out of the ashes before we left.

One thing though, we have to resist the temptation to dump stuff over the porch railing - the last two trips I've shovelled toothpaste and food scraps from the snow in front and wiped down the siding. The outhouse is very close by, and we can use that to dump any wastewater and toothpaste in, no foodscraps though. I know you guys wouldn't do this, but was kinda surprised my friends did, so thought I'd mention it.

PS - did you read BSP's thoughts on pooping along the way, LOL?”

“I got those suggestions from a link on a Main Rec. page that purports to give the official BSP winter rules:

http://www.mainerec.com/baxter.asp?Category=102&PageNum=102 target="_blank"> Maine Rec.

My opinion is that it is important to bring along enough equipment to ensure that we can spend a nights safely under any reasonably foreseeable conditions (e.g. a nasty 48 hour blizzard and someone who can't walk) at any point along the route. There is no need to make sure that we could spend it comfortably.

The Thermo-Lite Emergency Bivvy Sack from Adventure Medical Kits can be had for 20 bucks (or less) if you find a deal and weighs 1/2 pound - and should suffice.”

“Oh hell, its getting close!!!”

“Yeah I looked at that site. There are a lot of sites that infer that they have the official info. However, if you look at mtkatahdin.net he has the old winter forms - back when you practically had to bring a doctor along to get a permit.

Another Katahdin website had a bulletin board and people thought they were chatting with park staff. It was very misleading and often misinformation got passed on.

I'm not disputing that we should be prepared to spend a night out and I respect others who are more experienced - there's lots of good stuff out there! But if you want the "official" rules the BSP site is the best place for that.

I think I have the little bivy sack you're talking about, it never leaves my day pack. You think I don't need my tent if I have that? I hate to drag a tent along if I'm not tenting. :)”

“this is it:
bivy sack”

“so are all of you going?


twigeater ,Fritz
Uphill Klimber, Skeetah Bait pennsy hiker
goretexx(we all no hes not going) pedxing, Tom Terrific

so 7 of you?”

“Pedxing
Uphill Klimber
Skeetah Bait
Wolfman's Brother
Pennsy Hiker
Tom Terrific
Hurricane Janet (TomT's wife)
twigeater

eight of us!”

“there's room for two more!”

“you know that I would love nothing more then to go. I would but, cant do that kind of a hike just yet. But darnit I promise I will be in Maine before the year is out!!!

guys go have a great and safe time. ill be thinking of you all”

“Thanks Maple - yeah thats the bag.

Twig: I'm no expert, but I think that bag is enough for emergency shelter.... over a good sleeping bag. It could be a pain to sleep in, but it certainly would make most nights survivable.

In addition, gear sleds, backpacks, snow shoes, snow, poles etc... will alll help if there is a need for an emergency night out. Furthermore, we should be able to pool resources. The bag I'm taking is supposed to hold three for an emergency (I'm sure two people with bags could fit - probably three without compressing the insulation too much).

BTW: How many folks are carrying snow shovels? Shovels are certainly be useful if building an emergenct shelter.”

“Shovels are on the required gear list. That said, mine's just a sturdy plastic kids shovel, $10 at the hardware store in Patten. :)”