ferrisjrf
New member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2008
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Day 1: Saddleback, Saddleback Horn, Abraham
Day 2: Spaulding, Sugarloaf, South Crocker, Redington, Crocker
Day 3: The Bigelows - Avery Peak, West Peak, The Horns
Day 4: Katahdin - Baxter Peak, Hamlin Peak
Day 5: Coe, South Brother, North Brother, Fort
First off, big props to my parents, who (yet again) took time out of their schedules and drove hundreds of miles to act as a sort of informal support team; helping with a car spot, feeding me, and just generally putting up with my insanity.
Got up to Rangely at midnight on Friday, 8/29. Parents had a room at the Rangely Inn ready for me. Got to bed too late, and got on the trail too early. Backpacked over Saddleback and her Horn in the clouds, and spent the rest of the day continuing north on the AT going over various bumps and depressions (the geographic kind). It was finally clearing up just before I got to the top of Abraham at about 4:30 PM.
Slept at Spaulding Mtn. Campsite, and was back on the trail by 4:30 AM on Sunday. Spaulding in the dark, and Sugarloaf just after sunrise. Bitter cold wind at 6AM, considering the warmth that was to come later in the day. Continued north on the AT, hopping off occasionally for the various spur trails to the summits. Redington was a little trickier than the rest, but as long as “hunter orange” is visible to you, not a big problem.
Parents had a room waiting for me at the Spillover when I got out (after moving my car from Rangely, north for me). Again, got to bed too late, and hit the trail too early. The Bigelows at 8AM were sunny, clear and beautiful…but also cold and windy. Took the Fire Warden’s Trail up, and the Horns Pond Trail down. Back to Route 27 before noon, and after lunch, began the drive to Baxter.
Stayed at the place that Jay recommended (forget the name right now) in Millinocket Monday night. This night (after 1.5 bottles of wine and a hot tub stint), I actually got to bed relatively early. I was first in line (out of two) at the gate at 4:30 AM. Roaring Brook Trailhead, up Helon Taylor, over Pamola, across the Knife Edge to Baxter, then onto Hamlin, and down Hamlin Ridge Trail. Socked in and windy from near the top of Pamola over to Baxter. Started clearing up after that, and the clouds moving out made for some awesome views.
Went back to the gate, found an open tent site at Katahdin Stream, and made the drive down there. After getting camp set up, finishing the last of my wine and beer, and talking to the Ranger chick for about 30 minutes, I was starting to get pretty bored…and it was still a long time until dark. Just then, my parents show up (they asked where I was, at the front gate) with more wine. Beautiful! They hung out until shortly after dark, and then headed back to Millinocket. I went to bed.
On the Marston Trail at 5:40 AM; counter-clockwise around the loop. Clear morning with awesome views. The Coe slide was beautiful, as were all the summits. Reached Fort around 11:00 AM. Looked around for the plane wreck for a little while, but knowing that I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me, didn’t push far enough into the thicks to actually find it. Oh well; a reason to go back.
On the road by 2PM, headed to the Adirondacks. Arrived in Keene Valley at midnight last night. Finishing my vacation right; with a little bushwhacking and slide climbing (if the rain holds off)…and with friends! God it was getting lonely out there on the trails by myself!
Jason
Rangely Pics
Bigelows Pics
Katahdin Pics
Coe (and Brothers and Fort) Pics (camera broke early in the day)
Day 2: Spaulding, Sugarloaf, South Crocker, Redington, Crocker
Day 3: The Bigelows - Avery Peak, West Peak, The Horns
Day 4: Katahdin - Baxter Peak, Hamlin Peak
Day 5: Coe, South Brother, North Brother, Fort
First off, big props to my parents, who (yet again) took time out of their schedules and drove hundreds of miles to act as a sort of informal support team; helping with a car spot, feeding me, and just generally putting up with my insanity.
Got up to Rangely at midnight on Friday, 8/29. Parents had a room at the Rangely Inn ready for me. Got to bed too late, and got on the trail too early. Backpacked over Saddleback and her Horn in the clouds, and spent the rest of the day continuing north on the AT going over various bumps and depressions (the geographic kind). It was finally clearing up just before I got to the top of Abraham at about 4:30 PM.
Slept at Spaulding Mtn. Campsite, and was back on the trail by 4:30 AM on Sunday. Spaulding in the dark, and Sugarloaf just after sunrise. Bitter cold wind at 6AM, considering the warmth that was to come later in the day. Continued north on the AT, hopping off occasionally for the various spur trails to the summits. Redington was a little trickier than the rest, but as long as “hunter orange” is visible to you, not a big problem.
Parents had a room waiting for me at the Spillover when I got out (after moving my car from Rangely, north for me). Again, got to bed too late, and hit the trail too early. The Bigelows at 8AM were sunny, clear and beautiful…but also cold and windy. Took the Fire Warden’s Trail up, and the Horns Pond Trail down. Back to Route 27 before noon, and after lunch, began the drive to Baxter.
Stayed at the place that Jay recommended (forget the name right now) in Millinocket Monday night. This night (after 1.5 bottles of wine and a hot tub stint), I actually got to bed relatively early. I was first in line (out of two) at the gate at 4:30 AM. Roaring Brook Trailhead, up Helon Taylor, over Pamola, across the Knife Edge to Baxter, then onto Hamlin, and down Hamlin Ridge Trail. Socked in and windy from near the top of Pamola over to Baxter. Started clearing up after that, and the clouds moving out made for some awesome views.
Went back to the gate, found an open tent site at Katahdin Stream, and made the drive down there. After getting camp set up, finishing the last of my wine and beer, and talking to the Ranger chick for about 30 minutes, I was starting to get pretty bored…and it was still a long time until dark. Just then, my parents show up (they asked where I was, at the front gate) with more wine. Beautiful! They hung out until shortly after dark, and then headed back to Millinocket. I went to bed.
On the Marston Trail at 5:40 AM; counter-clockwise around the loop. Clear morning with awesome views. The Coe slide was beautiful, as were all the summits. Reached Fort around 11:00 AM. Looked around for the plane wreck for a little while, but knowing that I had a 10 hour drive ahead of me, didn’t push far enough into the thicks to actually find it. Oh well; a reason to go back.
On the road by 2PM, headed to the Adirondacks. Arrived in Keene Valley at midnight last night. Finishing my vacation right; with a little bushwhacking and slide climbing (if the rain holds off)…and with friends! God it was getting lonely out there on the trails by myself!
Jason
Rangely Pics
Bigelows Pics
Katahdin Pics
Coe (and Brothers and Fort) Pics (camera broke early in the day)
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