Knife's Edge, Katahdin

[bart]

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.

[Slingah]

awesome....love it

[wader-dad]

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.

[bart]

I like that analogy, Wader-Dad( jetty). Makes me feel better. My friend is scared of heights but he wants to "conquer his fears." He's a paramedic, EMT...gotta admire someone like that. It's pushing me to do it. No way am I going to climb all the way up there just to stop and turn around.

Baxter does look incredible, I've been checking out pics online. Absolutely beautiful.

sounds like you had some good fishing

[bart]

Originally Posted by Slingah

awesome....love it

We gotta do a hike this year...

[bart]

This really shows what it's about...

[Sea of Atlas]

I have hiked the peak at least twice and all the four thousand footers in the park, and quite a bit of the other trails. I have been over Knife's Edge and it looks a lot more scary then it is as far as heights. I don't like heights, I should say ledges, and although its steep you would be fine. The main problem would be weather and bugs. Snow kept us off the Saddle which is one of the the easier ways up, we went Cathedral which is non-technical boulder climbing most of the way up. After doing knife's edge we went down Dudley. This was late June, the blackflies were the worst I have ever seen them. We were hiking with bug nets on and it was clouds! We were miserable coming down but it really kept us moving. The park is amazing, I love it. Its a great place to learn to flyfish because the brookies are hungry! Have a blast it makes me want to go again this coming year. I have stayed at Russell Pond but I would really like to hike in and stay at Wassataquoik Lake, there are leantos that are on an island and can only be accessed by Canoe, a beautiful place surrounded by brook trout.

[bart]

SOA- Awesome post, thanks. Feeling more confident about it now..

Never even thought about bugs. My friend who I'm going with has hiked Katahdin several times, but never mentioned that. I am definitely going to pack a bug net now..

I have a question. If I take the Helen Taylor up to the KE, down the Saddle, etc. will I encounter the Chimney? Everyone says that's the hardest part. But it sounds like you might have been climbing it on your hike. Thanks for any insight.

[Sea Dangles]

Looks like the same route we took Rob. Chimney Pond is a great place to stay if you can get reservations there.You will hike right into that camp on your descent.Hikers keep their food suspended so the bears can't reach it. Not many bluebird days there.The ultimate for me would be to approach it from the north but that would require days of hiking. Many years ago we took the Abol Slide down from the Peak;loose scrabble rock for 2000' is not fun. You will get a taste of that on your way down from Katahdin to Chimney Pond. If you are fortunate, you will taolk to some thru hikers at the summit. Crazy accomplishment.Good Luck,that is an awesome trip,and yes,reservations can be made Jan.1st but I think you have to be a Mainer.

[bart]

Chris, thanks again. I think we are actually going to camp at Moosehead and make the long drive in around 3:30 am to ensure a parking space. Someone also posted a link in another forum where you can reserve a space ahead of time so we should be all set.

If you want to do a hike this spring/summer, I'm planning on doing three before Kathadin in the White Mtns and possibly VT, and also a couple after. I'd be down to go whenever...

[Sea Dangles]

If you are staying there make sure you check out Gulf Hagas for a day hike. Beautiful scenery and close by to Moosehead region.A whitewater rafting trip is also a great call in that region and a lot dicier than you might expect.Four weeks out of a hip replacement and I am thinking such hikes may be a possibility,something I haven't considered in years.

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by bart

We gotta do a hike this year...

absolutely we should....I am starting off 2012 with a quick '4000. Mt Tecumseh on Monday.

[bart]

Nice, brother. Have fun and be safe. Take pics. I'll be ready to go early spring.