Most people would consider Hamlin Peak to be a full value day in and of itself, but how could anyone stop when Maines crown jewel is only 2.2 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain away? Either onetakes about the same amount of time to connectto Chimney Pond. Officials say 75-year-old Donald MacGillis fell 50 feet off Knife Edge on Mount Katahdin. The traverse across Knife Edge is relatively toughand requires focus and agility. Fortunately, he let us in and we got one of the last parking slots at the campground. Ive climbed it a handful of times with various friends over the years, in a variety of weather and going up and down via the many combinations of foot paths. Our typical 2 mph average speed was reduced to .9 mph which was both humbling and also why we underestimated the amount of water that we should have brought. With Mt. Stetson was born into a prominent Bangor family. Katahdin stands at 5,269 feet tall. If youre hiking for the day and not staying at the parkovernight, thereare multiple trailheads at which to park and begin the hike, all of which require online reservations(parking areas are capped at a certain number of vehicles). Katahdin in Maine using the Helon Taylor Trail. The lands in the park were gifted to the state by former Governor Percival Baxter between 1931 and 1962, and as such are required to remain forever wild. This means that you will have to abide by such arcane regulations as no pets allowed, no power equipment such as chainsaws, generators, or Bluetooth speakers, no public consumption of alcohol, no drones, no children under the age of 6 above tree line on Katahdin, and no wearing of white cargo pants after Labor Day. And lessons learned. Continue to follow the main trail up the ridge, passing both the Cathedral cutoff and the Cathedral trails en route. Four of us drove there and spent a few days camping at a lean-to shelter at Chimney Pond. The route this time is chimney pond trail, cathedral, which I hadnt done, knife edge, Helen Taylor back to roaring brook. Trekking poles will come in handy to keep your balance but you may need to stow them at times while clinging to the rock with both hands. The trail starts out quite mellow and you will immediately pass the Helon Taylor trail junction on your left. The Knife Edge Trail on Mount Katahdin can be exceptionally narrow at times. And it is the most difficult section of the whole hiking trail. Not anytime soon. Some of the more popular include: Budget Hotels in the nearby town of Millinocket, 20 miles from Baxter State Park: There are no dogs allowed in Baxter State Park. A few years later now in our 40s I agree to my girlfriends wish to climb it. Alan Bernier has spent the better part of the last 20 years bagging peaks large and small across the country, including over 2,000 different mountains in New England. Keep Maine beautiful. I really enjoyed the classic New England hike starting out in the woods on nicely sloped trails, to be greeted by more and more boulders before exiting the trees, then, WHAM, you step out of the trees facing a rock face requiring you to use a re-bar and your hands and feet to get up it. More Videos. It connects Pamola Peak to Mount Katahdin. It's also a fully exposed climb in. I had done knife edge twice both ways in a single previous hike. Filled with relatable travel stories, adventure itineraries, and travel tips for any budget! Preparing for rain on a trip is always a challenge. I decided to re-tackle this peak via the Knife Edge trail which is one of the most exposed hikes in all of New England. We opted out of our adventure and made the very disappointing hike back down to the car. The second time was at the end of our summer college vacation, in 1952. A Foggy View of Knife Edge Hiking Mount Katahdin. Family and friends may call at Brookings-Smith 133 Center Street in Bangor on Thursday evening from six until eight. This spot may be one of the highlights of your trip! This is a fun class 2. late! Connecting the Helon Taylor Trail to the Knife Edge Trail, Pamola Peakis a great spot fortaking a break on a nice day. Flexibility in trailheads and hiking dates can go a long way! When we eventually summitted the mountain, we couldnt decide if we should take the easy way (Saddle) as the article suggests, or go down Cathedral. Although only 1.1 miles in length and 365 ft in elevation gain, knife edge trail is difficult particularly due to its full exposure condition. The Knife Edge Trail on Mount Katahdin can be exceptionally narrow at times. It took about 10 hours. Down climbing on loose rocks is no fun, especially if you brace yourself on one of the seemingly stable rocks! Realizing later I should have returned by saddle trail and chimney pond I decide the shortest way is the original plan across knife edge, except my girlfriend isnt going to be up to it. I grew up in the distant shadow of MT Katahdin. If youre prepared and careful, however, the 360-degree view of the incredible rocky trail and inner basin are sights worth seeing. Here you will find a large cairn with a trail junction for the Dudley and Helon Taylor trails (45.90613, 68.90606). This will be the trail that you finish your loop on, and if poor afternoon weather conditions are forecast you may want to do this loop in reverse. The first day we climbed to the second lake. Ive been up the mountain twice, once via the Knife Edge. Mt Katahdin is Maine's highest peak at 5,269ft. : Start at Roaring Brook Campground and take the Helon Taylor Trail to Knife Edge which will bring you to Baxter Peak, or Mount Katahdin. Hikers are advised not to leave the ridge once theyve started, and to traverse it in only one direction (due to its level of difficulty and the length of time it takes one-way). If youre forced to take your chances on a first come first serve parking space, you need to be prepared to wake up early. The approach on the Helon Taylor trail up to Pamola Peak was an incredible climb. She never did. . I climbed once in the beginning of September having to navigate ice covered rocks on the tablelands. Katahdin. Katahdin. However, when the top ends of his frame back kept getting jammed on the rock overhangs and he tried to muffle his sobs, I realized that my enthusiasm might have just crossed the line. 02-12-2011, 13:35 #42 mudhead Registered User Join Date 01-26-2007 Location maine Age 61 Posts 4,964 Images 35 You can't expect the Park to publicize events like a death. Unfortunately, my wife had a different opinion and was ready to throw me off the mountain! Shop Our Favorite February Amazon Deals Before the Sales End, The 14 Best Mineral Sunscreens of 2023, According to Pros, 14 TikTok-Famous Cleaning Products That Actually Work, According to Our Experts, 14 Best Healthier Candy Alternatives of 2023, According to Taste Tests. My wife and I have hiked every four thousand foot mountain in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. You can access the Helon Taylor and Chimney Pond trails from the Roaring Brook Campground, the Abol Trail from the Abol Campground, and the Hunt Trail from the Katahdin Stream Campground. That decision really helped, because I was sucking fumes toward the end. It all depends on which hiking route you plan to take. Would I recommend it? Please check with individual businesses and organizations for the latest information before making travel plans. Marcy & Washington behind her, I agree forgetting Kahtadin is in a different league. I hiked on Monday 8/5/19 with my best friends Will and Pete. A Massachusetts man has died after a hiking accident in Baxter State Park.Officials said 75-year-old Donald MacGillis fell 50 feet off Knife Edge on Mount Katahdin.He and his 25-year-old nephew lost the trail Wednesday morning in dark and foggy conditions.They got in touch with authorities who told them to shelter in place until daylight.Officials said they got another call a few hours later from the nephew saying his uncle had been injured after a fall.At first light, rangers were able to get to the two men. Wonderful old memories. Chimney Peak is the small sharp peak adjacent to Pamola, separated by a narrow gap or "chimney". Learn from our mistakes to make hiking Mount Katahdin your realtiy! In this video, we hike up to Baxter Peak, the top of Mt. I was hooked after the first climb and have returned to Baxter State Park different times. Preparing for rain on a trip is always a challenge. This is a great article. I ask everyone visiting us this fall and . This trail has a mixture of loose gravel, bare rock slabs, and steep, eroded trail that will keep you on your toes. Hes proud to call New Hampshire his home and loves outfitting customers for their next adventure while working at the EMS in Portsmouth. As you approach the peak, the difficulty kicks up to third-class scrambling, eventually culminating with a few semi-exposed moves that could spell disaster for a less sure-footed climber. Post your experience and the trail conditions (with the date of your hike) in the comments for others! The better option will be to continue following the blue blazes along the Helon Taylor trail, following the spine of the Keep Ridge and eventually below tree line. On average, it takes hikers around 10 hours to complete a round-trip Katahdin hike. Knife Edge is a 1.1 mile fully exposed, technical hike. There is another ranger station here, as well as a bunkhouse and a handful of lean-tos for campers that have reserved sites. This route is well above treeline, with a cliff on one side and steep talus on the other. He is survived by Alanna, his wife of forty years, their four children and five grandchildren. A full-time teacher who fits adventures near and far into every little nook and cranny of her life! I did not climb it until I was 45 years old. Great experience. The 3.2-mile trail with 3,413 feet of elevation gain is rated as very strenuous, and it should not to be attempted in bad weather due to its level of exposure. Please note that many establishments throughout New England have modified their hours and/or operations in response to COVID-19. He was the consummate local/metro newsman in his career as an editor at the Berkshire Eagle & Boston Globe, and he was my ultimate model. Although checking the weather forecast is helpful, its important to realize that weather can be much different on the summit than it was at the trailhead.Always pack layers, even on a sunny summer day. From Pamola peak to Baxter Peak (the Knife edge plus the somewhat broader ridge betweeen Baxter peak and South peak) is about a mile, with 2000' of gain on the approach from Chimney Pond. Baxter State Park has a limited amount of trailhead parking, so in recent years they have implemented a strict parking reservation system. Easily the most challenging hike Ive done, (coupled with Huntington Ravine on MW). The cleft off of Pamola is no joke, going down or up out of it. You will need to know which parking lot you want to park in. Users say that the Baxter Peak side of the Knife Edge is a boulder scramble. The Dudley trail drops steeply to the north and heads straight back to Chimney Pond. Start with 2-3 mile day hikes. At first light, rangers were able to get to the two men. They got in touch with authorities who told them to shelter in place until daylight. The hike concluded with a down climb Cathedral Trail to Chimney Pond. Facebook: http://facebook.com/outsidechronicles Instagram: http://instagram.com/outsidechronicles Website: http://www.outsidechronicles.com Whilenot quite as rough, the rockiness of the hike does not ease up after summiting Baxter Peak. This is a great spot to stop for a snack and to take in a breathtaking view of the mountain ridges that you will soon be climbing. function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}
The next leg of this loop back-tracks 0.3 miles to the North Basin Trail and continues through a spruce forest for less than half a mile to reach a large cairn marking the Hamlin Ridge trail on the left (45.92297, 68.90857). Lost some toenails due to some ill-fitting socks as well. Research which trail youd like to hike and try and reserve a campsite or parking spot where that trail begins.Its important to have a backup plan. Advertisement He. Start at Roaring Brook campsite and take Hayden Taylor to Pamola. You can make a Day Use Reservation for the parking lots at Roaring Brook, Abol, or Katahdin Stream Campgrounds. The hike concluded with a down climb. This is a fun class 2 scramble with a section of class 3 hiking. The Togue Pond gatehouse is the only local way to get into the park by car, and it opens at 6AM. Maine snow totals: A town-by-town look at Tuesday's storm. It took an agonizing 4 and now its 8pm and I know we arent going to make it. All rights reserved. Donald MacGillis, a. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.---------------------------------------All of the musical compositions or arrangements and footage in this video are original, and were composed, recorded, and captured by Andrew Lin, Bryan Lin, Robby Huang, and Thomas SinardFeaturing drums by Nate LaguzzaOriginal content and music is copyright Adventure Archives (c) 2022 Avoid bad weather and wind in this segment at all costs. Sharing how to gain experiences within your budget is what I'm here to encourage you to do. We respect your privacy. Keep in mind that the shortest trail isnt necessarily the easiest. This ridgeline is as narrow as four feet, with 2,000-foot drops on either side in some places. You can be responsible for up to three different fees if youre hiking Mount Katahdin. Some spots are as narrow as four feet, with 2,000-foot drops on either side. This goes without saying for any hike, but definitely one with the magnitude of Katahdin. water filter we could have been in fairly serious trouble. The Knife's Edge is an epic approach to Baxter Peak. For a while before you hit that rock and exit the trees and after that, its very much a rock scramble, and I really enjoyed rock hopping, especially on the way back down. Katahdin in Maine using the Helon Taylor Trail. My wife and I hiked Mount Katahdin twice first over Labor Day weekend in 1977 (both in our early 20s) and second in October 2014 (37 years later you can do the math on our ages!) All rights reserved. Mt Katahdin is Maine's highest peak at 5,269ft. The first view up Katahdin is at around 2.4 miles, but the "peak" that is visible is actually just where the slide turns into the "Tableland" plateau. We climbed to the summit and navigated the Knife Edge. Glad I did it. Cheers! Aug. 10, 1986 Derek Quiet, age 16 - Fell off Knife Edge on Mt. Unsubscribe at any time. 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