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Okay, peeps, I want to talk to you about Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Okay, first of all, I think it is wonderful that one of the highest peaks on the east coast, Katahdin, like Denali (and perhaps, in some future, Tahoma?), retains its Penobscot name: Ktàtən, that is Kta- (“great”)) + aden (“mountain”).
One could spend a lifetime doing scholarly research on Katahdin and its role in and importance to the Indigenous peoples in what is now known as Maine.
All of what I'm going to talk about is rooted in respect for the Penobscot and their great mountain, of which I have been a grateful ascendant, multiple times.
As some of you have already noted, Katahdin also happens to be the northern terminus of the far more recently established, settler-colonist creation, the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. More than 2 million people hike on parts of the trail in a given year.
But this thread is going to be about Katahdin specifically, and, even more specifically, about what it's like to hike up to the summit, which I've come to realize is a Frequently Asked Question for me.
Mt. Katahdin is located inside Baxter State Park. It is HUGE by east coast standards, and more aligned with western national parks in terms of both size (>200,000 acres) & wilderness management. It's about 1/3 the size of @YosemiteNPS, & only a little smaller than @RockyNPS.
To get to the main hiking trails (I have not yet visited other parts of the park), you drive about an hour north from Bangor, through the town of Millinocket (where the last gas and groceries can be found), and then another 20 miles or so to the entrance.
Then you go another 10 miles or so on a dirt road to one of the trailheads: Roaring Brook, Abol, or Katahdin Stream. You can drive in on the day, or camp in one of the campgrounds, which feature quintessential east-coast lean-tos!
We've camped in the park, but (& here's where we start getting into my answers to FAQs) it's better IMO to camp outside the park, say, at Big Moose Campground, and just get a day pass or two (in case the weather is bad one day). That way, you don't have to plan so far in advance.
Wherever you camp, get an EARLY start. I'm talking 6am. I know it's painful (this is a fake smile - I am a night owl & HATE alpine starts), but it's important if you don't want to get turned back at the gate, or have to turn back early on the trail. This is a BIG hike, people.
My favorite trail is the Hunt (Appalachian) Trail. It has fun scrambling and gets you up onto the alpine summit plateau early on in your hike. But Chimney Pond + Cathedral or Saddle are also great.
Okay, some PRO TIPS. The Hunt (Appalachian) trail and the Cathedral trail, and, of course, the Knife Edge traverse (pictured), have significant, exposed scrambles. I do NOT recommend these routes if you have ANY fear of heights. It will ruin your day/trip if u have to turn back!
Also, more general advice, bring at least twice as much water as you think you need and WARM CLOTHES including, ideally, dry undies/bra and t-shirt because even at the height of summer it can be frickin' cold up there. Here I am feeling semi-hypothermic on the summit in August.
As you descend, you will feel so tired. I hike a lot and the Katahdin descent is brutal (you will get at least 35,000 steps in the day, with a solid 3,500 feet of elevation gain/loss). You will need SUSTENANCE. Your best bet is River Driver's. https://www.neoc.com/river-drivers-restaurant-maine/
Okay, here's what most of you are probably waiting for, my best pics from all my trips: 1) me and a rare glimpse (!) of my partner B on the summit, 2) me on the Saddle trail 3) scrambling on the Hunt Trail with @MiriamGoldste 4) reality check …
5) Me and the Thoreau spring marker, 6) Me enjoying camp life down at Big Moose campground, 7) Fish-eye on the knife-edge traverse, 8) view from summit towards Chimney Pond (so tiny from up there!)
Okay, that's it! Happy to take questions and offer advice as always.
