Katahdin &Baxter State Park n'more Trip Report

“August 18th-20th

I met up with Pennsy at his place in Easton, PA Wedensday night and crashed there for the night so that we could get an early start on the 400 mile drive to Portland Thursday.

6am arrived quickly and we were on the road around 7, after stopping for breakfast, it was 8, still we made good time getting around New York City and Boston. We met up with Yam at her new pad in Portland around 230 Thursday and then we hit the town of Portland.

First we checked out the post office, then drove downtown and finally we took a walk along the bay. Around 630 we met Artex in Old Town and had dinner and some beer at a bar/restaurant. Good food, good beer, good laughs. I wonder if that old guy got the pink flower dress lady.

Friday we got up early and packed up and hit the road north. Stopped for breakfast in Bangor at Dysarts. Very good breakfast mmm

We got to Baxter SP around noon and set up camp in our lean-tos at Roaring Brook Campground.

Around 230 we hit the trail to Sandy Spring Pond and checked out some views of Katahdin and South Turner Mountain, but no moose. We then climbed up to the summit of South Turner Mountain for some excellent views of Katahdin and the surrounding area. Pennsy really knocked his head hard on a tree, thank goodness he is a bonehead.

Whilst on the peak, we saw some bald eagles riding the thermals between the mountains and then we saw a mamma moose and baby moose mosie into Sandy Spring Pond. They were but specks. We then descended very quickly in time to see the mamma moose still in the water of Sandy Spring Pond. However, she was too far out of focus to take pics of her. Yam has a few.

After that we went back to camp for dinner, returned to the pond to see if any other moose would come out, but none did so we went back to camp and had smores.”
EarthNsky
6:22:29 PM
8/23/05


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“How is Little Yammie doin'?”
MarkO
6:26:45 PM
8/23/05


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“Y'all should have hit the Seadog in Yarmouth for some good food and beer. :) mmmMMmmm Portland is a cool little city though!”
lilmountaingirl
6:28:54 PM
8/23/05


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“This, from a big city girl!!”
MarkO
6:31:20 PM
8/23/05


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“LOL I know...Sharon is such a whopping metropolis! It's huge! My God, there's even TWO stop signs in town now!”
lilmountaingirl
6:35:28 PM
8/23/05


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“Wasn't there a joint called the Four-Legged Duck in south Royalton??”
mARKo
6:42:14 PM
8/23/05


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“thank goodness you posted - we thought you had fallen and couldn't get up!”
Roam Around
6:44:00 PM
8/23/05


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August 21st
“Saturday we got up around 7 and had breakfast, geared up and we were on the trail by 830. It was partly cloudy at the time and we were hoping to get to the top and have some views, however the forecast called for a 70% chance of rain. We decided on the Helon Taylor Trail as our route up Katahdin.

The numerous views on he Helon Taylor Trail were absolutely amazing. At one point we talked to a thru-hiker who had just finished his thru hike and it turned out that we were the first to congratulate him on his completion.

When we popped out above treeline, we could see Pamola Peak in front of us and the Knife Edge stretched out as it extended to Baxter Peak. We could see the clouds racing over the mountain in odd but very beautiful formations. It was almost as if they were assaulting the mountain in a Grand Napoleaonic Charge.

Pamola Peak quickly disappeared into the clouds, along with the rest of the heights of Katahdin. As we got closer to Pamola, the windier it got and eventually we too were in the clouds.

Finally, we were atop Pamola. We took a small break, chatted with some hikers and then did Chimney Notch, which is the most technical part of the hike. It was my favorite, but at times it was quite precarious.

We didn't spend much time on Chimney Peak, the wind was cranking about 40 MPH. We started out on our traverse of the Knife Edge which begins at Chimney. We were completely in the clouds, no views at all. Still it was so great to be doing the Knife Edge.

Clouds were so full of moisture, we were soaked before getting to Baxter Peak.

Once upon Baxter Peak, the summit of Katahdin, we hunkered down and had our lunch, we then descended via the saddle down to Chimney Pond. While descending the Saddle Trail, it started to rain and it pretty much rained all night and into Sunday afternoon.

Sunday morning we got up around 8 and decided to drive into Millenocket for breakfast and to kill some time. We went to Appalachian Trail Cafe and waited an hour before the waitress even brought us water. She even waited on people that arrived after us before us. After being totally ignored, we decided to leave. I thanked her for the water and we walked out. If you're ever in Milenocket, Maine, DO NOT GO TO APPALACHIAN CAFE, their service sucks!!!!

We then found a restaurant right down the street called Downtown Restaurant and we got outstanding service and the food was outstanding. That is the place to go in Milenocket!! We drove around Milenocket and East Milenocket to kill some time while it poured down rain and when we had no more side streets to drive down, we headed back to Baxter State Park.

While driving back, the rain ceased and the clouds started to lift. Rays of sun were beaming down through the wet trees and in an operatic voice sang the words, "Hike North Brother Mountain"!!! and we did and it was amazing! Quite an unexpected surprise. We all really thoroughly enjopyed the hike. The views along the Marston Trail were outstanding. When we got to the top, the clouds all but lifted and revealed amazing views in all directions. Only Katahdin held on to her clouds and at times even they lifted just enough so that we could hehold her heavenly slopes.

We descended as the sun was setting and the views were even more glorious in the evening glow. We practically ran the last few miles of the trail and we were all goofing off the whole time. It was alot of fun. Bennie and the Jets!!! Bennie, Bennie Bennie and the Jets! By the time we got back to Pennsy's car, it was dark. After some trailhead goofing off, we decided to head back to camp, but not before seeing a mamma bear and two cubs cross the road. Artex saw the cubs run up a tree.

We got back to camp, had dinner and smores and hung out around the campfire and relished in what turned out to be a great day, thuroughly satisfied.”
EarthNsky
6:47:17 PM
8/23/05


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“lol @ Roam

Nice report, ENS! Pictures! Pictures!”
lilmountaingirl
7:16:00 PM
8/23/05


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“What lmg said: pics man, we want the pics!

Sounds like a blast as usual! Thanks for the TR.



Oops, I see there's more below...
last edited: 8/23/05 7:37:17 PM”
Nonconformist
7:34:58 PM
8/23/05


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August 22nd

“yesterday we got up and packed up the cars. Yam and Artex decided to stay low and do a small dayhike around some ponds. Pennsy and I decided to take another crack at Katahdin. The forecast was still not in our favor, 70% chance of rain and thunderstorms. However, the skies were crystal clear above us and we decided we will turn around if it starts to look bad.

We hiked up the Chimney Pond Trail from Roaring Brook, stopped at Basin Pond and took in the lovely views of Katahdin and the vast bowl of Great Basin and then continued up to Chimney Pond and took in the beautiful views there.

After Pennsy registed at the ranger station, we headed off or up, steep up on the Dudely Trail. The Dudley Trail was awesome. Steep rock scrambling the entire way, totally what MarkO refers to as "gorilla hiking". We made good time going up, stopping very little, only to check out the views, which were absolutely amazing and the higher we climbed, the better they got.

We passed a man who was hiking with his sons and he had to be in his 70s. It was really awesome and inspiring to see him undertaking such a trail. As we closed in on Index Rock, we could see that clouds were starting to move in, but it still looked clear for the most part, so we continued.

Pennsy and I both climbed up Index Rock. Index Rock is a very steep rock slab, but can be climbed by hanging onto the side and you get good traction on the rock. Still, it was pretty scarey being up on top. Pennsy stood on it. I just kneeled. Climbing down off of it was scarier than climbing up.

When we got to Pamola Peak, I could see the entire Knife Edge as it stretched out to Baxter Peak, it was beautiful and grand, it was amazing. I could see what we did two days earlier. We wasted no time on Pamola as the clouds were beginning to move in. We scrambled down into Chimney Notch and then scrambled up to Chimney Peak.

While taking in the views on Chimney Peak, the clouds rushed in and with it came a chilly wind and rain. Distant thunder could be heard. The top of Katahdin is completely exposed and very dangerous in bad weather, we both looked at eachother and said, "descend the Helon Taylor Trail." We saw numerous other hikers and we advised them to do the same and they followed suit. We scrambled back down into Chimney Notch and then bypassed around Pamola peak and hooked back up with the Helon Taylor and there we quickly descended as the conditions deteriorated into the all out thunderstorm.

While descending we passed an elderly man dressed in street clothes and no gear coming up. He had just finished going around one of the more difficult scrambles. He asked Pennsy where the cutoff trail was. Pennsy responded that there was no cutoff trail. The old man looked at us in disbelief and Pennsy explained to him that the trail went up to the top and that there were no junctions until it got to the top and there it connected to the Dudley and Knife Edge trails. We both strongly advised him to turn around and he did so, begrungingly. I have no idea what that man was thinking. People like that seriously put many others at great risk.

When we got back to the Chimney Pond Trail, we passed a girl who was running up the Helon Taylor Trail to rescue an injured hiker who had fallen above treeline.

We then checked out and drove to a nearby campground and got warm showers and then had lunch/dinner in Milenocket at the Downtown Restaurant. We were on the road home just after 4. We stopped by Yam's to say goodbye and pick up Pennsy's cooler and then got back on the highway. Pennsy drove like a pro and got us back to PA in good time.

And that brought to close a great trip. I had an awesome time. Super company! Thanks to Artex for putting it all together. Thanks to Yam for the hospitality and for showing us around Portland.

Baxter State Park is an amazing place and it is not just about Katahdin. There is much more there than just Katahdin, this was evident on our hike up North Brother. That said, Katahdin is a great mountain. Even after one trip, she is already my favorite.”
EarthNsky
7:35:23 PM
8/23/05


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“Baxter State Park, Maine pictures - Baxter Bash 2005

here are the pictures...

EarthNsky
7:37:00 PM
8/23/05


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“Now those are some views! I can't believe you guys climbed out on Index Rock like that! Was that snow at the top or were those your knuckles? LOL!

Thanks for sharing!”
Nonconformist
7:52:59 PM
8/23/05
last edited: 8/23/05 8:25:16 PM”

“lol you guys - actually, I did not fall at all on this trip, no falls that I can recall. It's not often I go an entire trip and stay upright. Baxter State Park is my new favorite place.

LMG, I'm not sure the name of the place where we had dinner in Portland. It was pretty good though. Alagash beer is pretty good.”

“to the original thread??

ok. here's my pics for the fools that would like to view them. : )

http://community.webshots.com/album/430480877IiguMc
last edited: 8/23/05 8:51:36 PM”

“http://community.webshots.com/photo/430573390/430573390aOquAo#

lol yam - funny pic. I need to start exercising now, yesterday. I think I had my camera case under my shell.
last edited: 8/23/05 9:13:24 PM”

“Wow ~ great pictures you guys. It is truly beautiful up there.

ENS ~ are you sure you didn't fall just a little bit on Index Rock? :p That looked pretty flippin' steep.”

“yes. it was the camera case for sure.

(hey, did you get my email?)”

“Not bad!!!”

“great pics guys.... ooohhhhh Maine....”

“yeah, I still got Maine on my mind. I need a thing. Pennsylvania all of the sudden sucks.

I got your email Yam.

LMG, I managed to not fall, somehow. While descending the index rock, though, I was scared of falling.”

“This is a cool picture of Index:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/431299310/431376841AwEuxI”

“Most Excellent Stuff ENS!!! Beautiful Pics!!”

“thanks”

“ENS - re: the bad service you got. Same thing happened to me and my wife at a Denny's once. People that came in after us got their food before our order was even taken. I complained on their 800 number and received $35 in free food in return. Never went back there after we used up the free food. So - I feel for ya!

Cool that you got to check out Katahdin!”

“Well #&%!$ on a shingle!

My group was at Chimney pond this weekend, due to a change of reservations earlier this month. Sorry we missed meeting you ENS.
:(

Don't feel bad about the service at the AT cafe, outta staters don't seem to have patience for our laid back way of life.
:)”

“I lived down south, I know about laid back. We were being ignored. Definitely not worried about it though. Downtown Restaurant was awesome. Great food and inexpensively priced. For under $5, you got a huge breakfast and coffee and for under $10, you got a huge dinner. So it worked out well.

I wonder how close we got to bumping into eachother.
last edited: 8/24/05 4:39:28 PM”

“Wow! great pics guys! I so want to visit Maine!!!


and visit my little Yammy-poo. :)”

“yeah, Maine seems to be where it's @! Two turn tables and a microphone .... where it's at... Pennsylvania is all the sudden boring.. Maybe I'll pop down to Philly this weekend.

thanks em, how's Colorado treating you?
last edited: 8/24/05 5:22:47 PM”

“laid back is a relative term - kind of like "there's nothing there" which in outta stater terms means "I can't get catered to" LOL...
In Maine it's common to wait an hour for service - gives you time to catch up. Also common for the place to run out of menu items, or for the electricity to go out...

I'll have to read your report, see where you were - did you pass thru Chimney Pond?”

“Don't feel bad about the service at the AT cafe, outta staters don't seem to have patience for our laid back way of life.
:)”
twigeater
4:05:31 PM
8/24/05

More like comatose!!!”

“ENS, its great, but I hurt my foot so I havent been able to get in the mtns yet.

So are you gonna move to Maine now? lol”

“comatose! haha Mark-O!!

LOL...”

“lol I wish. I was thinking about putting together a plan to move to New Hamshire”

“Wow. I'm jealous that all of y'all get to spend time w/ yam and I can't. :-(

BTW, glad y'all had fun!”

“Nice pictures and trip report. Maine must be a magical place because it seems like everyone that goes to Maine wants to move there.”

“Maine seems to be where it's - rarely have these words been said.”

“bump for pennsy”

“Yay! I'm back on line.

Great report ENS! Your pics are super as well as Miss Yam's. Here are my pics, including how a real idiot hiker handles Index Rock.

This was a fabulous trip despite the weather. The North Brother hike was one of the best dayhikes I've ever done, despite Yam and ENS's terrible singing and Artex's version of the Blair Witch Project. ;o)

Thanks to AWOL Artex for organizing the trip and to Sweet Potato girl for her hospitality and to ENS for sharing the driving costs. Somehow, a St Louis Cardinals hat ended up in my condo. I'll bet that thing will burn like a mofo.”

“Oh No - how did I forget that hat?

-

Awesome pics Pennsy!”

“Nice report and pics.


beautiful spot.”

“I missed this before - saw the thread while searching for something else.

Great report and fine pics!”

“thanks PedX - hope to meet you next month on Greylock!”