Ridgewalker
New member
As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” played a key step in joining some of my friends from Maine, through my research for my book, “An American Original,” in a very interesting adventure at Baxter State Park. The plan was to come up to BSP on Friday, hike to Baxter Peak on Saturday and go home the next day.
However, a ranger visited our tentsite at Roaring Brook to ask for help in a SAR in the park. To call Saturday’s weather rainy was an understatement! It was dour and the whole day from dawn to dusk was as though we were swimming in a bathtub full o’ water. The ranger informed our group that two ladies with the Penobscot Job Corp were to assault Katahdin from three ways. Two ladies were separated from the PJC due to fog. One, sustained a broken patella, the other went for help possibly and became missing. For those who have visited BSP before will agree that it is really a wooded play pen, because after 8 p.m. the rangers are like the nannies going to fetch the children lost in the pen. Consequently the rangers went out to find them. One of the ladies was described as 250 lbs. donning a tank top and shorts, nothing else. She spent the night under a bush. The other went out for help, as I recall, and was lost. Upon our commissioning as volunteers was to find them on Hamlin Ridge. We went out to find either of them.
The hike had its ups and downs, if you were prepared, it was not dreadful. However it was not one of my better days out. My raincoat was sopping wet as the hood was down, so I felt foolhardy to do such a thing. Furthermore in my perceived errs, I wished that I brought along a primaloft coat to beat the hailing ridge and the wind. But I did not want to sign my death warrant and turned back with two other members of the party to Chimney Pond. The other four in our group resolved to continue in their efforts.
At the pond the trio of us dried off. I knew that if I remained at the pond, that I would be in some peril due to socked in fog, rain, and low temperatures. But my definition of peril at that point was to place myself in jeopardy, and violate what I call ‘hiker law,’ in other words endanger others safety over my errata. Thus I returned to my camp and the other two with me remained at Chimney Pond. I wished that I was in a better position to remain and help, as a Scout is helpful.
So the other members of my party remained out in the sylvan play pen and helped in the litter carry. The process was quiet arduous over the rocks and weight of the victim caused slow goings. But both ladies miraculously were safe in spite of their folly. We can certainly debate on the repercussions of fines and fees, but what ought to be considered in the end is that the lesson learned that if you get hurt as they, it will be at the expense of others.
Despite not attaining the summit of Hamlin I learned of the isolation of BSP. I have heard of the unprepared entering its gates and climbing in lucky safety. As with anything in life and hiking such isolation can be a blessing and a curse. My first views of the park are that the area is step above the Whites in regards to its isolation from the comforts of the highways and the visitors on the trails. There is so much that I learned this past Saturday, I hope to be able to share in future conversations. I hope to go back soon.
However, a ranger visited our tentsite at Roaring Brook to ask for help in a SAR in the park. To call Saturday’s weather rainy was an understatement! It was dour and the whole day from dawn to dusk was as though we were swimming in a bathtub full o’ water. The ranger informed our group that two ladies with the Penobscot Job Corp were to assault Katahdin from three ways. Two ladies were separated from the PJC due to fog. One, sustained a broken patella, the other went for help possibly and became missing. For those who have visited BSP before will agree that it is really a wooded play pen, because after 8 p.m. the rangers are like the nannies going to fetch the children lost in the pen. Consequently the rangers went out to find them. One of the ladies was described as 250 lbs. donning a tank top and shorts, nothing else. She spent the night under a bush. The other went out for help, as I recall, and was lost. Upon our commissioning as volunteers was to find them on Hamlin Ridge. We went out to find either of them.
The hike had its ups and downs, if you were prepared, it was not dreadful. However it was not one of my better days out. My raincoat was sopping wet as the hood was down, so I felt foolhardy to do such a thing. Furthermore in my perceived errs, I wished that I brought along a primaloft coat to beat the hailing ridge and the wind. But I did not want to sign my death warrant and turned back with two other members of the party to Chimney Pond. The other four in our group resolved to continue in their efforts.
At the pond the trio of us dried off. I knew that if I remained at the pond, that I would be in some peril due to socked in fog, rain, and low temperatures. But my definition of peril at that point was to place myself in jeopardy, and violate what I call ‘hiker law,’ in other words endanger others safety over my errata. Thus I returned to my camp and the other two with me remained at Chimney Pond. I wished that I was in a better position to remain and help, as a Scout is helpful.
So the other members of my party remained out in the sylvan play pen and helped in the litter carry. The process was quiet arduous over the rocks and weight of the victim caused slow goings. But both ladies miraculously were safe in spite of their folly. We can certainly debate on the repercussions of fines and fees, but what ought to be considered in the end is that the lesson learned that if you get hurt as they, it will be at the expense of others.
Despite not attaining the summit of Hamlin I learned of the isolation of BSP. I have heard of the unprepared entering its gates and climbing in lucky safety. As with anything in life and hiking such isolation can be a blessing and a curse. My first views of the park are that the area is step above the Whites in regards to its isolation from the comforts of the highways and the visitors on the trails. There is so much that I learned this past Saturday, I hope to be able to share in future conversations. I hope to go back soon.
