113 ... 113 ... 114 ...

[Tom Rankin]

115!

Yes, the title is correct, I'll explain that soon enough.

Back in 2005, Laurie and I began hiking together. Our first hike was Colden in the ADKs, at a brisk -10F! Thankfully, there was little or no wind that day (more on wind later).

We continued to hike all 4 seasons, here and there and everywhere. We did the Catskills together, and eventually the Adirondacks in 4 seasons and Winter. All the while we were chipping away at the 115. Vermont was done first. Then this summer, the New Hampshire 48. Finally, all that was left was a trip to Baxter State park, with Laurie at 112. I had already done the 115 before I met Laurie, but I figured another round wouldn't hurt!

We drove up last Thursday stopped off for lunch and a few beers at the 'Run of the Mill Brewpub'. Very tasty!

When we got to Millinocket we went a few miles further and checked into the Big Moose Inn. This place is run by a Saint named Laurie. She is slavishly devoted to her guest's happiness, comfort and convenience.

Sunset from the BMI:

Friday, we knew that the gate opened at 6:00, so we 'only' got up a little after 5:00 and went down to the breakfast area. Sure enough Laurie was there, serving us hot coffee, muffins, etc. and showing the guests how to use the skillet and electric tea kettle. After breakfast, we headed to the gate, and arrived around 5:45. We were 4th in line! Excellent! A few minutes before 6:00, the gate was already open and in we went to hike North Brother. The rangers were very friendly and helpful. We reached the trail head around 6:45 and were on our way around 7:00. The clouds were covering the top of Doubletop, so we figured we would hit fog. After climbing to about 3,100', sure enough we were in the fog. It actually was slowly lifting, but we never got any views, except of flowers.

The last few hundred feet of the approach below tree line are a very badly rutted trail.

As we broke out above tree line, we felt the full force of the wind and horizontal rain! It was blowing hard enough to knock us around, but we knew it wasn't very far, and we were geared up for the assault, with double layers all around, including balaclavas and gloves. When we got to the summit, we ducked around the large rock at the top and had a brief snack and a rest.

The rest of the nearby NEHH peaks were skipped, partly because we wanted to be ready for the big push the next day, and partly because we couldn't see more than 100 feet thru the fog!

113! ... (cont'd)

 

[Tom Rankin]

Part 2...

Friday night Paradox joined us at the Big Moose Inn. We had some excellent pub fare and a really good 'Katahdin Red' Beer!

Saturday we knew that the gate opened at 5:00 and we were advised to be at the gate by 4:00! So we got up at 3:00 and again Saint Laurie was waiting for us with a smile on her face! We headed off to the gate in the Paradox-mobile, and hit the gate at 3:45, being about 11th on line. Another score! The rangers did advise us that it was going to be VERY windy, but we proceeded. At the trail head, we signed in and learned that this was already a Class 2 day (travel not recommended), with Class 3 being likely (some trail closures). When we arrived at the Chimney Pond Ranger station,

sure enough it was Class 3. We were told we could head up Hamlin, but not to expect to summit. This was certainly a downer, but not an absolute deterrent. We head over to the Hamlin Ridge trail and started slowly up.

Indeed, it was WINDY! We were being blown around, snow/sleet/rain was blasting in our faces and making travel slow and risky. At about 3,500', with still more than 1,000' of torture to go, we made the group decision to turn back. This was only the 2nd time I've been beaten back by a mountain, with over 600 summits to the plus side. But it was the right choice.

(An interesting thing happened the next day. When we mentioned to the Ranger at the trailhead that we had turned back the day before, he said something like, "Yeah, I saw you, I was up there." I commented that he was perhaps mistaken because we had not met anyone in uniform, but he responded with something like, "Oh, I was up there, out of uniform, and I recognize you." Amazing, incognito Rangers...)

We headed down and walked out and drove back to the Inn, hearing that perhaps one or two hardy (crazy!?) people had summitted. Winds were reported to be up to 70 mph! John kept muttering, "Stupid mountain!".

113....

Saturday night we went into Millinocket for some groceries. We saw a Maine Lottery sign that had 2 numbers on it, '115' and '111'! It was shocking!

We took it as a sign that we should either bet heavily or go forth and conquer!

 

[Tom Rankin]

Part 3

Sunday morning was pretty much a repeat of Saturday, with Saint Laurie again serving us at an obscenely early hour. Off again to the gate, and this time we were 7th in line. That part of the anxiety was over. Again the rangers told us that it would be windy, but not as bad, and not as cold. The temps were right around 32F on Saturday, but in the mid 40's as we started. It stayed about this way all day. We skipped the 2nd ranger station and headed straight for the Hamlin Ridge Trail. After 3 young men passed us with climbing gear, we were passed by 'Danny' from Quebec. He and his lady friend were doing the same hike and she was also finishing the 115! (Sorry I forgot your name. We later found out they had successfully finished. Congrats!) On we went up the trail, getting higher and higher.

Amazingly, we saw these tiny flowers still blooming:

The wind was definitely strong, but this time it was bearable for long periods. We pressed on slowly and eventually gained the summit of lofty Hamlin.

The wind was pretty fierce, so we headed quickly down to the Caribou Spring, (which was dry), and took shelter in some low bushes for a rest and some food.

Fir waves on the Brothers:

114!

Now, only the last mountain remained, Katahdin, 'The Greatest Mountain' in the local native American language. Pamola has a quote, "Katahdin is a strange, lone, savage hill, unlike all others...It does not need superlatives to set it off." - Fannie Hardy Eckstorm. We could see it all day,

and we could tell that ice and/or snow still remained.

And we doubted that the wind would give us a break. The jagged knife edge was closed, thus our route would not be there, but we were now determined to press on. About 500' of descent and over 1,000' of climbing still remained, almost all of which was above tree line.

On we went, slowly clicking off the mileage and elevation. The wind actually calmed to nothing at times but the people descending warned us it would be back. They were right. The last .25 miles the wind returned as strong as ever. The conditions were slick, but not treacherous. Just then, we saw a raven fly directly over the summit in front of us. Now we were certain we would make it. Laurie was already crying. When we were within sight of the summit sign, I raced ahead and pulled out the '67' and the

115!

patches from my pack and handed them to Laurie as she stepped up to the sign. We embraced and both cried for a short time, then we took a look around.

Wow, the sky was mostly clear, but not perfect, still we could see for many, many miles. We chatted with several people, (there were tons of people up here by now, most of whom had come up the Saddle Trail), and hung out while the wind occasionally whipped up and pushed us around. But we didn't care. We had done it! The 115, together!

I recalled the lyrics to a Christian song:

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Paradox commented that Katahdin was perhaps his greatest mountaineering challenge to date, having already been to Ranier! He was no longer calling it a 'stupid mountain'!

The end of a long journey in some ways, but the trail goes ever on.

Thanks to Laurie, my wife, for this long, wonderful Journey. Thanks also to Paradox for going along. And thanks to Saint Laurie as well!

 

[prino]

Fantastic!

Congratulations Laurie on completing the 115 and you too Tom for doing the "double".
I was over on the Bigelow range on Saturday and although quite a strong wind conditions, they were nowhere as bad as up your way. We could just see Katahdin in the far distance.
Those pictures are top class! The colors on both those flower shots are beautiful.

Cheers!
Phil

 

[yvon]

Congratulation Tom and Laurie.

 

[J&J]

Congratulations Tom and Laurie. Another job well done!! The lottery sign was just way too coincidental. And what a great mountain to finish on!

 

[audrey]

You certainly won the lottery! Congrats to you both.

--Pat and Audrey

 

[Silverfox]

Excellent way to finish with some great photos

agreed..the lottery sign says it all..you couldn't make that up!! too funny

Big Moose Inn worked pretty well for our group last year..civilized

Congratulations!!

 

[marty]

Congrats folks!

When we left Baxter on the preceding Tuesday, the ranger told us that we were beating the bad weather. Gues she was right.

Isn't Baxter an awesome place to finish a list?

Great pix and TR!

Regards,
Marty

 

[Head]

Congrats Laurie and TR! What a swweeeeet place to end up! The lottery sign is classic!

 

[MichaelJ]

Awesome!

What a great way to finish - congratulations Laurie!!!!
(and you too on round two, Tom)

 

[Paradox]

Congratulations Laurie! Thank you for having me along on this adventure. I had a terrific time. My own personal feeling while looking up from Chimney Pond to the summit of Baxter and rock walls that surround you on three sides, is that this is the most intimidating mountain I've ever experienced. It is beautiful beyond belief. While I'm glad that most parks do not have the set of rules that you find in this one, I am glad that at least this one does exist. With the obvious exception of the Saddle Trail and Baxters summit, the sense of isolation that one feels is wonderful.

Just some notes I would add to Tom's TR: I was very happy to join Laurie in finishing her 115 in such majestic surroundings. We did some great hiking in two days with a bit of suspense wondering if we would be turned back a second time on Sunday. This made summiting Baxter particularly satisfying. IMHO The Saddle Trail is not as tough as it looks from Chimney Pond, or from the Saddle itself.

Thank you for pointing out the fir waves on the Brothers: quite interesting!

I took a good look at the data from the GPS track and no we would NOT have been under 9 hours even if we had not stopped to get water at Basin Ponds. You folks are wonderful company!

GPS Track on Wikiloc

 

[bikehikeskifish]

Congratulations you too. Always good to bring along Paradox in case you need to be extracted.

Tim

 

[Jazzbo]

Congratulations Tom, Laurie, John!

Congratulations Tom, Laurie, John! What a great TR. It had everything .... suspense , drama, victory, defeat. Great pics too! Thanks for sharing your victory! Wish I could have joined you folks.

I ended up hiking Equinox, Dorset, and Pico. Sadly without GPS and due to lack of time to properly research Dorset I found out when I got back I missed main summit of Dorset so I have to go back. Could be worse....

Weather was far kinder in Vermont with Sunday being simply awesome. Just light breezes on top of Pico.

 

[Paradox]

Congratulations you too. Always good to bring along Paradox in case you need to be extracted.

Tim

Darn right, I did not want anyone else filling in for this crowning achievement! It's nice to know they think of me as numb-er one!

 

[Chip]

Congratulations ! Great photos and report.

 

[J.Dub]

Darn right, I did not want anyone else filling in for this crowning achievement! It's nice to know they think of me as numb-er one!

Oy, Vegas...it's too early in the morning for dentistry humor!

Congrats Tom and Laurie! Great TR and the pics are awesome.


And that studly Paradox looks like he just stepped out of a Mammut advert...

 

[Tom Rankin]

Oy, Vegas...it's too early in the morning for dentistry humor!

Congrats Tom and Laurie! Great TR and the pics are awesome.


And that studly Paradox looks like he just stepped out of a Mammut advert...

I've given up trying to out-pun the good Doctor M.

Most of the time he was 'patiently' waiting for us to catch up.

 

[Tom Rankin]

From Laurie (who also gets all the photo credits):

Webster's defines a privilege as a right granted, a peculiar benefit , advantage or favor. Has the 115 ever been a privilege to me! To God who has granted me this very special privilege, and walked each step with me, I am humbled and grateful for the privilege. To my parents who gave me the option of the mountains and the joys to be had there at a very early age, I am very privileged. To my children who while perhaps never fully understanding my desire to walk so many steps and climb so many mountains, I have been privileged to have had their blessings none the less. And now they are affording me the absolutely awesome privilege of sharing these mountains with the grandkids.

The 115 has given me the privilege of having special winged messenger's share so many peaks with me, the chickadee that landed in my hand on that first hike with Tom, the bald eagle over the summit of Slide, the white throated sparrows that I was so pleased to find inhabit the heights of Vermont and serenaded me to the summit of Bondcliff and the raven who led us to the top of Katahdin on Sunday. The 115 has shared the privileges of the smell of the balsams after a rainfall, the sound of the fall leaves crunching underfoot, the sight of spring wildflowers, and the silence of a snowflake falling. The 115 has given me the privelege of learning to give back to the mountains through various trail work projects. It is such a good feeling to step back from having trimmed back a trail, cleaned a lean-to, built a bridge, opened up a new trail, placed stepping stones in a wet area, and most recently building a lean-to, truly a privelege.

The 115 has afforded me the privilege of meeting so many of you both through your written words as well sharing steps on the trails and to have made lasting friendships with so many of you. The 115 has given me the privilege of meeting Tom and walking these mountains in companionable silence with him, not needing to say a word for miles or to have the privilege of animated conversation and many laughs. The 115 gave me the awesome privilege of walking to the top of Whiteface to pledge my love to him for a lifetime.

A peculiar benefit, an advantage, a favor! Indeed!

 

[1HappyHiker]

We saw a Maine Lottery sign that had 2 numbers on it, '115' and '111'! It was shocking! We took it as a sign that we should either bet heavily or go forth and conquer!

. . . and go forth and conquer you did . . . and in grand style!!

What an accomplishment! Congratulations to the team: Tom, Laurie, John!