SteveHiker
New member
Due to poor foresight on my part (in other words not learning much about the park and rules until way too late), I ended up staying at the Katahdin Inn in Millinocket. Not quite what I expected, and I drove by it without even seeing it at first. Note to any future travelers, the Rite Aid parking lot doesn't connect. Very interesting setup with the pool in the lobby.
After hearing the horror stories about getting to the gate early, I got up Sunday about 3 and got to the gate a little before 4. I was third in line. I proceeded to Roaring Brook, and started up the Chimney Pond trail just before 6. As the sun came up it started getting warmer. I stopped at the first viewpoint and took in the view. You really feel small standing there looking up at all the mountain in front of you. I continued up the trail and caught up to 4 girl scout camp conselors right at the junction for the North Basin cut-off. They continued on Chimney Pond, while I took the cut-off. This trail is a little rougher than Chimney Pond but not too bad.
Soon I got to the Hamlin Ridge trail and things got a lot steeper. Before too long, I emerged from the scrub and began the long climb up the ridge. It's almost continuous boulder scrambling. There was a slight breeze, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the view was awesome. I got to the summit of Hamlin about 9:30 and had it all to myself. Eventually, I headed out for Baxter Peak about 10. Down in the saddle I finally came across two other hikers. They were headed up Hamlin and then up to Baxter later. I met them again in nearly the same spot later headed in the opposite directions.
The climb up the Saddle trail to the summit is much easier than Hamlin Ridge, but there are quite a few loose spots. Reaching the summit, I found at least 30 people already there. It was a little after 11. I hung out for about an hour, taking in the view, taking pictures and chatting with the other summit dwellers. Eventually, I decided against the Knife Edge, due to the unrelenting sunshine and my wanting to save a little energy for Monday. I headed back down to the Saddle and took the saddle slide down to Chimney Pond.
At Chimney Pond, I came across one of the girl scouts from before. She had gone back down the same way I did, while the other 3 went out the Knife Edge. She was concerned about the other 3 so I hung out for a few minutes and soon enough one of them came down the Dudley trail, while the other 2 had taken Helon Taylor. Thinking everything was ok, I headed out. I had stopped to read the signs at the ranger cabin. One of them mentioned a mother and calf moose that was becoming aggessive towards people. 10 minutes later I encountered the calf on the trail. I didn't see momma moose which had me a little nervous. after a couple minutes the moose took off and I quickly made my way further down the trail.
I got back to the car around 4:30 and headed back to Millinocket. I stopped for something to eat, and easily fell asleep around 6:30 that night.
After hearing the horror stories about getting to the gate early, I got up Sunday about 3 and got to the gate a little before 4. I was third in line. I proceeded to Roaring Brook, and started up the Chimney Pond trail just before 6. As the sun came up it started getting warmer. I stopped at the first viewpoint and took in the view. You really feel small standing there looking up at all the mountain in front of you. I continued up the trail and caught up to 4 girl scout camp conselors right at the junction for the North Basin cut-off. They continued on Chimney Pond, while I took the cut-off. This trail is a little rougher than Chimney Pond but not too bad.
Soon I got to the Hamlin Ridge trail and things got a lot steeper. Before too long, I emerged from the scrub and began the long climb up the ridge. It's almost continuous boulder scrambling. There was a slight breeze, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the view was awesome. I got to the summit of Hamlin about 9:30 and had it all to myself. Eventually, I headed out for Baxter Peak about 10. Down in the saddle I finally came across two other hikers. They were headed up Hamlin and then up to Baxter later. I met them again in nearly the same spot later headed in the opposite directions.
The climb up the Saddle trail to the summit is much easier than Hamlin Ridge, but there are quite a few loose spots. Reaching the summit, I found at least 30 people already there. It was a little after 11. I hung out for about an hour, taking in the view, taking pictures and chatting with the other summit dwellers. Eventually, I decided against the Knife Edge, due to the unrelenting sunshine and my wanting to save a little energy for Monday. I headed back down to the Saddle and took the saddle slide down to Chimney Pond.
At Chimney Pond, I came across one of the girl scouts from before. She had gone back down the same way I did, while the other 3 went out the Knife Edge. She was concerned about the other 3 so I hung out for a few minutes and soon enough one of them came down the Dudley trail, while the other 2 had taken Helon Taylor. Thinking everything was ok, I headed out. I had stopped to read the signs at the ranger cabin. One of them mentioned a mother and calf moose that was becoming aggessive towards people. 10 minutes later I encountered the calf on the trail. I didn't see momma moose which had me a little nervous. after a couple minutes the moose took off and I quickly made my way further down the trail.
I got back to the car around 4:30 and headed back to Millinocket. I stopped for something to eat, and easily fell asleep around 6:30 that night.
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