Mt. Katahdin, Maine- anyone summit it?

[pearl-drum-man]

Looking for first hand accounts. Thinking of trying to get up there this fall before the weather turns. Have found some good stuff online, but would like additional accounts from those who have done it. I've done fourteeners in Colorado, so I have some experience. Insights on lodging, camping, etc much appreciated as well. Would be a two person trip, and would take the JK if there is a reason to.

Also would like accounts of the Golden Road for those that have driven it. Worth it?

Thanks!

[Mark Doiron]

I have not been that far north on the AT. But, have you visited SummitPost? Lots of great info for climbers:

Katahdin Search Results on SP (http://www.summitpost.org/object_list.php?object_type=0&object_name_0=katahdin&page=1)

[pearl-drum-man]

I have not been that far north on the AT. But, have you visited SummitPost? Lots of great info for climbers:

Katahdin Search Results on SP (http://www.summitpost.org/object_list.php?object_type=0&object_name_0=katahdin&page=1)

Thanks! Been to the site before but didn't think to try there for this, should be lots of good info.

[yetibear]

You looked at the AT Conference site also?
Oh, wait, they changed their name, they are now Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and don't forget to check out the Appalachian Mountain Club. I think the AMC might be the better of the two for Katahdin, but then they are more 'local' so I could be a bit biased.

I used to spend a little time up on the logging roads, but it has been a while since I was over that way. I'll tell you what I remember off the top of my head, and if you have any questions, just ask, if they jog something in my memory I'll let you know.

We used to go in just north of Moose Head Lake, on it's east side. It is, of course, a toll road. At the time the toll was, I think, $3, I don't remember if that was for a day, or week, or every time you enter or as long as you didn't leave it was good. We did it as a bunch of day trips over a week or so, so we were always leaving the road. Sometimes we would be back the next morning, and sometimes we would go to Freeport, or Bar Harbor and not be back for a day or so, and I just don't remember if we payed for each entrance, or would show an unexpired reciept and get to go back in on that. The toll was pretty low(20 years ago) then, so it wasn't all that important.
I guess while I'm telling you what I don't remember:thinking: I may as well mention that there are hundreds of miles of haul roads back in there, I don't recall if the toll at Moose Head covered all the open roads or if the gates were set up by company's. You know pay a toll to run Champion's roads until you come to a gate for International Paper, then pay to use their roads, ect... But my info is really dated anyway.

The road is like a superhighway of gravel roads. I mean that bugger was at least as wide as a good rural 2 lane highway, including the shoulders, and mostly wider than that. The main haul road is not your typical dirt road. It is well maintained(better then the paved state roads in Maine). The haul road is not a logging trail into the woods, it is a unpaved highway.

The real fun is in the little side roads you can get off on. Back then almost any path without a gate was open. So you could really get out into the deep woods and play(active logging areas were mostly closed). And there are other secondary roads that lead off to lakes, and dams, little isolated tourist camps. Just miles and miles of roads not needing 4wd, and 10X as many trails that will require all the skill you can muster.

When you pay the toll to get in, they give you a map and the rules. The rules were no big deal, things like don't go into active logging sites, don't go on closed or gated roads, don't set up camp on the haul road, don't burn down the forest, but most importantly EVERYONE ELSE you meet on the road had right of way! Well, not everyone but all the road personnel, all paper co. personnel, all logging and road equipment, and most importantly ALL! ALL! haul trucks. Those log trucks fly! They go fast, the entire with of the road is their's, and they do use it. It is a gravel road, a private road, so mud flaps and such are optional equipment. This means there is a cloud of flying gravel accompanying them down the road. I never had a problem, just be aware this is a high speed gravel road, the risk of getting hit by a stone is real. After the first time you encounter one of these rock storms you will learn how far you have to pull to the right to get out of the stone rain.

The map they give you is good for the main road, fair for the secondary roads, ok for the less used trails and hopeless for the backwoods. On those trails, in the first 1/2 mile you will hit 7 road forks, 3 T intersections, 31 intersecting side roads, and it will loop back on it's self at least twice, and somewhere it will just dead end.. You can get very disorientated. These are old logging roads, so they were layed out for just the site they were working, very little else was considered in their routing. It really is very easy to become confused on how to get back out. I don't believe the USGS topo maps were all that much better in showing those trails.

Another BIG thing to watch for on those little used paths, are the bridges. These roads were built to get heavy logging trucks and equipment in and out, so there are very few fords. You are in heavy, mature, second growth forest, crossing steep banked rivers and streams, the only way across is the road bridge(few, if any bypasses.), and that bridge is a log and plank structure 50, 60 years old. Some of them look real sturdy, to bad they rot and decay from the bottom up, and inside out. Check every bridge, in the backwoods, like you life depends on it, on some crossings it does. A bridge that appears to be an incredibly sturdy structure, will crumble under your feet, check them before you drive across.

Gas - as long as you don't get there to late in the year(mid Oct. at the latest) there are tourist parks and small stores(very few and VERY far between), that do have gas. Expect to pay thru the nose for it. There are a few little villages scattered about in the north woods, again expect that the gas will cost you a premium. Fill up when you can, if you plan on exploring for a while.

Weather - September and October can be really glorious up this way. Warm days, cool nights, after the first frost(late Aug. early Sept.) the bugs are all gone. The leaves are all turning, or sometimes just gone, it can really be the best time of the year. Or it can rain for days, and snow is never out of the realm of possibilities. Generally Sept. and Oct. are good weather times, but plan for some real rugged conditions, they do happen.

And, any later then mid September, check with Baxter State Park, I'm not sure when it is, but they do close Katahdin to climbing pretty early in the fall. They also can, and do close the mountain, at ANY time they feel conditions are not safe, and their standards for 'safe' have gotten pretty restrictive over the years. It may even be the entire park they close, but I know the mountain is closed early.

One last thing, have a CB radio, the log trucks all have them, I think the maps even tell you what channel is used in different areas. The way the roads are set up, even after you have driven pretty deep off on some old log path, you are never that far from the main haul road. That doesn't mean you can't be lost in an area of thousands of acres, it's just the way the roads twist and turn your are never hundreds of miles away from it. Then again it does not mean anyone is going to use the section, near you, for days either.

That is more than enough for now. If you have any questions fell free to ask. But like I said my info is pretty dated, and I'm sure senility has taken a few memory's away:eek2:, but if I can help, I will.

[yetibear]

Check out the Green Mountain Club also, they don't confine themselves to Vermont only.:thumbsup:

[pearl-drum-man]

Check out the Green Mountain Club also, they don't confine themselves to Vermont only.:thumbsup:

THanks for all the info!

[ronjenx]

Looking for first hand accounts. Thinking of trying to get up there this fall before the weather turns. Have found some good stuff online, but would like additional accounts from those who have done it. I've done fourteeners in Colorado, so I have some experience. Insights on lodging, camping, etc much appreciated as well. Would be a two person trip, and would take the JK if there is a reason to.

Also would like accounts of the Golden Road for those that have driven it. Worth it?

Thanks!
I've been to the top many times, including Knife Edge.
I will be going up the Hunt Trail from Katahdin Stream Campground September 9 or 10.
I did my first hike up Katahdin on this trail in 1968. This is the only trail I have not done multiple times. So, this will be a 40th anniversary of sorts.
Still need some information?

[4x4fn]

Mt. Katahdin is well worth the climb, especially the knifes edge. There should be plenty of lodging in Millinocket, hotel or campgrounds. The golden road is just what yetibear said it was. Pretty smooth, well groomed but there are plenty of trails off the golden road that you can explore. A CB is a good tool to have if you are traveling on the golden road. On the golden road you will encounter alot of truckers hauling logs, be aware.......They travel very fast and like I said it is good to have a CB in your jeep to be able to communicate with them so you know where they are...Let me know if you come up to Maine, I am about an hr south of Millinocket.

Chris

[pearl-drum-man]

Still need some information?

Time is getting short on this one so it is unlikely I'll be able to pull it off this year, just too busy with stuff. But I welcome any and all info (especially first-hand experience/accounts) you can offer. I definitely want to do it, and by the sound of it it is something I should plan out well in advance. Post up some pics when your Sept. trip is done!

[pearl-drum-man]

Let me know if you come up to Maine, I am about an hr south of Millinocket.

Chris

Will do, thanks!

[pearl-drum-man]

I'm hiking it next weekend for the first time. I'm going with brother-in-law who hiked it last year (but did not do Knife's Edge). This time we will be going up Helen Taylor Trail to Knife's Edge to Baxter Peak then looping around on the ridge and doing Hamlin Peak. Should be a very long hike, but we can shorten it as we hike, if need be.

Will report when I get back.

Looking forward to it.

[ronjenx]

My trip up Katahdin was delayed several times by weather, but we finally made it on 17 September.
In the picture by the sign on Baxter Peak, I'm on the right.
The other picture is looking from Baxter Peak to Pamola Peak, with Knife Edge to the right (all parts of Katahdin).
Like I said in an earlier post, this hike was up the same trail (Hunt Trail) I first climbed Katahdin 40 years ago. I said back then I would never do this trail again because it is the longest one to the top. Well, after climbing all the other trails many times over the years, I thought it was about time to recreate the first hike.

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13469&d=1222727723

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13470&d=1222727747

[pearl-drum-man]

Awesome views, congrats on the summit!

[ronjenx]

Climbed Katahdin once again, 24 September 2009. The weather was perfect.

This is a view of what Abol Slide looks like. About halfway up at this point.

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30709&stc=1&d=1254098618





This is a view looking south from the Tableland.

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30710&stc=1&d=1254098730





Here is a view looking toward Baxter Peak from the edge of the Tableland. The peak is 1 mile away.

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30711&stc=1&d=1254098923





On Baxter Peak. I'm the one sitting at the far right, back to camera.

http://www.jk-forum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=30712&stc=1&d=1254099027