Anyone ever do this hike? Planning on doing it mid-July. Looks crazy. There's parts of the trail where you only have a foot or two on either side of you before it drops off a 1000 feet..
Rob, I have been to the top of Katahdin 4 times. My last trip started at Roaring Brook and we hiked to Pamola peak. Took the Knife's Edge across to the peak of Katahdin and from there we went to Chimney Pond and back to Roaring Brook. This is listed as a 12 hour hike but we did it in 7. Two weeks later I lost the skin on the bottom of my feet. Wear good boots and watch the weather. If you have a fear of heights it is not for you. Some areas are hand and foot climbing and the drop is 2000'.You may want to plan for a few days to get the weather window. Great approaches to the summit all over the park as well as other hikes in the lowlands where wildlife is abundant. One year we were hiking near Daisy Pond and came face to face with a moose,very cool. Google Gulf Hagas for my favorite hike in Maine.Oh yeah, make sure you are in shape....
Thanks for the info, Chris. That's awesome you did it. We're going to start at Roaring Brook and go up the Helen Taylor trail to the KE, down the backside of the Saddle and out through Chimney Pond. I am afraid of heights when the only thing keeping you safe is you. No railing to hold you from going over, no ropes. I saw a video of a kid absolutely petrified up there. But this is something my friends have wanted to do for a while. I have a good six months to train mentally and physically for it so I will be ready.
Back when all reservations were opened January 1st with preferences to Maine residents, I had a pal in Maine that got us signed up.
First night at roaring brook, went up to Katahdin on the Cathedral trail- crazy- goes up like 2400 feet in 1.2 miles- that is steep. Then next night at Davis Pond lean to. Total Wildneness. Then over to Russell Pond scene of my one and only brook trout blitz. My friend and I are in a canoe- available for use. Its about 7 pm and all is perfectly still. Then these insects come out and the water erupts and I caught 9 brookies on 9 casts with a mepps spinner and the last one I thow back, a beaver comes out of no where, takes the fish and swats the water with its tail.
Next morning, Bull Moose on Russell Pond and back to Roaring Brook, Baxter is an awesome place and I mean awesome before that word has been used to excess. 200,000 acres and maybe there are 200 people in the park outside of Roaring Brook.
My friend is afraid of heights but I went on knife edge for a good while and its like walking on a Jetty so you do that all the time. Just don't fall off the Jetty.
Hybrid Mode
