52 Photos: Hiking Katahdin

This weekend I accompanied my son, Doug, his college friend Anna and her father Bob on a hike up Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine.

Doug and Anna as we get ready to start the hike

This came about because Doug wanted to go to Maine because he hadn't been in a while and he wanted to share the experience of hiking the Mountain with Anna, who now lives in Maine but has never hiked the mountain before. Bob wanted to come along because even though he had hiked it before, it has been 30 years since the experience.

Katahdin Stream Falls

As for Doug and me, we had hiked it 3 years ago. In 2012 we hiked the saddle trail via Chimney Pond trail from Roaring Brook campground. This time we decided to take the Hunt trail (aka. the Appalachian Trail route). Doug and I agree that this trail was significantly more difficult then the saddle trail.

The trail begins to get difficult

Doug's first thought of going to Maine was to go by himself and meet up with Anna on Mount Dessert Island where Bob and his wife Janet live and then go from there to hike the mountain. Now, some people will do this but in order to get to the trail head early enough to make the hike you would need to leave between 3:00 and 3:30 in the morning and would not get back until close to midnight.

The view as we cross the tree line.

I told Doug that this would not be a good idea and that I would go with him and would seek lodging closer to the mountain for us to use as a base camp. My cousin Judy and her husband Scott graciously offered to provide a place to stay and so much more. She served us a wonderful breakfast at 4:00 AM before we departed for the hike and again the next morning before we left to return home. Thank you again, Judy, for your wonderful hospitality.

The long climb to the peak, still with clouds billowing by.

The gate to the park opens at 6:00 AM and we arrived at 5:55 and were the third car in line and waited exactly 5 minutes for the gates to open (they were very prompt). We arrived at Katahdin Stream campground and the trailhead shortly after and we were on the trail by 6:40 AM. The first mile or so was fairly flat and relatively easy and just as the trail begins to climb you come across Katahdin Stream Falls and we stopped to take pictures. Both Bob and I had our Nikon cameras (Bob shoots with a D300 like the one I used before getting my D750) and tripods which actually got quite heavy before the day was over.

The unique ground cover of Katahdin's table top.

After 15 or 20 minutes of taking pictures we resumed the hike which quickly became more difficult but before too long we were above the tree line and the skies had cleared and the views were already becoming spectacular. Every couple hundred feet of elevation change we would pause to take in the view and snap a few pictures as well as catch our breath.

Doug and Anna on Baxter Peak.

Flowering ground cover.

Upon reaching the table top and thinking you were almost there you realize there is still over a mile and half to go before reaching the peak that can be seen in the distance. We arrived on top at about 12:40 and ate our lunch before spending time taking pictures, including the prerequisite shots in front of the famous sign that is in dire need of repair or replacement. As the time approached 1:30 it was time to get started on our return trip to the trail head because as all the signs in the park remind you, the ultimate destination isn't the peak but the safe return to your starting point.

Looking down on the many lakes of the Millinocket area.

We made it back to the car at around 6:30 and proceeded to the Big Moose Inn tavern where we met up with Judy, Scott, their daughter Emily and my cousin (Judy's brother) Jamie. I was hoping to introduce Doug to Jamie's son Cody because they were similar in age. Doug did get to meet Cody because he works at the tavern and actually had a hand in preparing our meal! We had a great time at the tavern and the beer sure tasted good after a long day hiking.