This is it! The day I climb Katahdin. I did my best to save Katahdin until the end of my Appalachian Trail journey, but it just didn't happen for several reasons. 1) It's tough to be an avid hiker, live in Maine, and put off climbing Katahdin. 2) Baxter Peak of Katahdin is on the New England 4000 footer list and New England 100 highest list. By putting of this section of trail, I would also be holding up those lists. 3) I want Lynn to be be with me when I finish the trail. With the trouble she has with her arms, there is no way she could have done the scramble through the Gateway. I know there is no view on Springer Mountain, but it is more important for me to have Lynn there, so that is probably where my Appalachian Trail journey will end.
We are camped at Bear Brook on the east side of the mountain. The AT goes up the west side. Special thanks to Peirce and Dan for dropping me off on the west side at Katahdin Stream Campground. They are off on their second attempt of Fort. The rest of the group is coming up the other side of the mountain. Today's plan is to hike the AT up to Baxter Peak, then cut across to Hamlin Peak (another 4000 footer), then back up to Baxter Peak hopefully catching up with the group, and then going with the group across the Knife Edge.
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The first mile was easy enough.
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I went across a small bridge over Katahdin Stream.
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I was quite impressed with Katahdin Stream Falls
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Up a stone staircase.
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Uh, oh! Detour!
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Earlier in the day I passed a crew of volunteers. They were heading up to do some trail work, apparently here. Here's a come-a-long. I believe they are used to drag large stones into place for a stone staircase.
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The detour was very minor. I'm starting to get up there.
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I passed Mike and Plugger, two thru hikers who were finishing the trail today. I wished them well and told them I hoped to see them at the top. The trail got steeper and steeper.
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Looking over to 'The Owl'. Looks like some clouds are rolling in.
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Lots and lots of scrambling.
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One last view before heading into the clouds.
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There were several medal bars to help out.
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This is definitely one of the toughest sections of the entire AT, and they saved it for the end.
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As I went through the 'Gateway' I passed the 2 miles-to-go mark.
What a thrill for thru hikers to be so close! I still have nearly a third of the Appalachian Trail to explore, so it will be quite awhile before I'm down to just 2 miles.
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Down to the last mile.
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After a very steep trail coming up, the trail levels off for awhile.
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I made it to the 5,267 foot summit. Like so many hikers before me, I was in the fog.
Baxter Peak marks my 61st New England 4000 footer.
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Here's the cairn at the top. Many thru hikers, take a stone (usually a very, very small one) from Springer Mountain in Georgia, carry it all the way to Katahdin and place in the cairn.
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I tried to take a picture for two hikers with them by the sign, but the batteries went dead. I tried the same thing with two other hikers with the exact same result. That's it. I'm not touching anymore cameras.
Time to head over to Hamlin Peak
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There's Hamlin Peak! I'll have to drop into the saddle first.
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The weather was starting to clear a little. Here's a view of Mount Coe, South Brother, and North Brother.
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I met up with Gary and Alberta who had just come up the Saddle Trail. They are off for Baxter Peak and then the Knife Edge. From where we were standing, we had a good view of the Knife Edge.
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About 20 minutes later, I met up with Ed and company coming down from Hamlin. This is about where I expected to cross paths with them, so I was doing well. I told them I would catch up to them soon.
Closing in on Hamlin Peak
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I bagged the 4751' foot summit, my 62nd New England 4000 footer. I turned right around and retraced my steps. Here's another look from the saddle down into the valley.
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Heading up to Baxter Peak, again.
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I saw the group ahead and quickened my pace, catching up to them as they got to Baxter Peak. The weather was getting better all the time. Here's a look back at Hamlin.
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Despite the crowded summit, I managed to get a picture of the Katahdin sign without anyone around. Note the last white blaze for nobos (first white blaze for sobos).
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There are lots of lakes in Maine.
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I saw Mike and Plugger again. I congratulated them on completing their thru hike of the Appalachian Trail.
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Here's some of our group. From left to right - Bob, Ed, Susan, and Mike.
Mike gave quite a description of the Knife Edge the night before. He's done it a couple times before, but says he doesn't want to do it again. He and Susan went back another way. I missed the chance to hike with them, but would hike with them both tomorrow.
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Here's Al and Darcy.
When Ed first met Al he called him Jean-Luc Piccard. If you saw him without a hat on I think you would agree. One difference is that Al is a big guy. It's more like Captain Piccard on super vitamins. Al's from Canada and often comes down to Maine and New Hampshire to hike. Darcy completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2005. She picked her real name as her trail name. She said it was easy to remember that way.
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The AT came across that plateau before heading up to the top of Baxter Peak.
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Time to head over to South Peak . . .
. . . and then across the Knife Edge. Yikes!
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Don't look down if you are scared of heights.
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Keep moving forward
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Ed and Bob negotiate a tricky spot.
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This spot is one of the reasons Mike won't do the Knife Edge again.
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Darcy, the fastest hiker in the bunch, patiently waits for everyone.
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What a great day it turned out to be!
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Heading down Chimney Peak
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We caught up to Gary and Alberta!
Alberta deserves a bravery medal for not giving up as she traversed the Knife Edge.
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We worked as a team coming down the Chimney, handing down poles and packs.
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View from Pamola Peak down to the Chimney
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Looking back to the Knife Edge
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I made it!
. . . and so did the rest of our team!
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Time for a break, and a chance to really enjoy the view.
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Now we will head down the Helon Taylor Trail.
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We walked down Keep Ridge staying above treeline for sometime.
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Darcy and I were getting a little ahead of the pack.
"Ed is going to want to stop here for a break," said Darcy.
About three seconds later I could here Ed's voice yelling down, "Eric, why don't we stop for a break here."
Left to right - Darcy, Bob, Al, and Ed.
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Katahdin Lake
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Once below treeline, Ed gave us the green light to go at our own pace. It took all I had to keep up with Darcy who ran down the remainder of the mountain. I thought I was in pretty good shape, but Darcy proved me wrong. We came out at Chimney Pond Trail which we then took back to Roaring Brook Campground.
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That night, Mike 'The God of Fire', offered more entertainment.
"Eric, want a baked potato?" asked Mike.
"Sure," I said.
"$1"
Mike jokes that everything costs a dollar. Food, directions, jokes, his company, the use of the bathroom, borrowing his flashlight etc . . . He will sell them all for $1.
I've always made my website available for free to everyone. I'll make an exception with Mike. Mike, you can read my website for $1.
