Howe (North) Peaks Trail Baxter - Reopening

[peakbagger]

While up on Hamlin last Saturday, I noticed a new sign pointing to the North Peaks Trail. What was interesting was that it gave distances to the Northwest Basin Trail, and Russell Pond and had no reference to its being closed at treeline. At Caribou Spring, there is a cut off that skips the Hamlin Summit and there is an older sign pointing the the North Peaks bypass with a caution that its closed at treeline.

A little later in the day, I asked the ranger about the trail, he was initially a bit hesitant, but then admitted that the trail below treeline had been cleared over the last three years. He said it was definitely usable but lacked some updated signage. As I noted in another thread, the entire trail is not shown on newer maps except for a dead end spur. The overall park index map on the website shows, it in its entirity but I couldnt find any of the detailed maps updated.

As the ranger noted, its a great traditional route to the summit and he was glad that it was being reopened.

 

[MadRiver]

I’ve wanted to visit Howe for some time and finally got an opportunity to do so when we were there for a week in August. Not knowing for sure which of the “knobs” was Howe, Pam and I hiked to the end of the ridge. There was a small sign on the second to last cairn that said the trail was closed below treeline. However, there were freshly painted blazes heading down the ridge to the left.

After doubling back and heading down Hamlin I stopped at the ranger station at Roaring Brook to ask about the ridge and to identify which peaks was in fact Howe. After he identified the second knob as being Howe I asked about the fresh blazing, and that is when he mentioned that the trail is now open to Russell Pond. I also mentioned the closed sign and he said that it should be removed, so I guess it is still there.

It might be a while before the maps are updated to reflect this new trail, though I am looking forward in doing the loop new year when we go to Baxter again.

 

[peakbagger]

Thanks for the confirmation. I just missed out on doing it before they closed it several years ago and have thought that a one day traverse from Russel Pond to Baxter Peak and then out via either Helon Taylor or the Hunt Trail woulkd rival a Presi traverse for views if not for effort. I guess its next years excuse to go to Baxter.

 

[vegematic]

This is great news. I hiked the NW Basin - North Peaks loop in the mid 90's and it was a wonderful, full day. Looks like I'll be doing it again.
-vegematic

 

[MadRiver]

Our plan for next year is up Helon Taylor, over the knife Edge, tag Baxter Peak, tag Hamlin, and then head over to Howe and out the new trail. This year we went up Hunt, tagged Baxter Peak, tagged Howe, and then headed down Hamlin. Long day but well worth it.

 

[Amicus]

Our plan for next year is up Helon Taylor, over the knife Edge, tag Baxter Peak, tag Hamlin, and then head over to Howe and out the new trail.

The North Peaks Trail will take you to Russell Pond. Would you be backpacking and spend a night there?

The whole North Peaks Trail appears on the map with, and is described in detail by, the AMC Maine Mountain Guide, 8th Ed. (1999), and I assume it also appears in earlier editions.

 

[MadRiver]

The North Peaks Trail will take you to Russell Pond. Would you be backpacking and spend a night there?

The whole North Peaks Trail appears on the map with, and is described in detail by, the AMC Maine Mountain Guide, 8th Ed. (1999), and I assume it also appears in earlier editions.

Not sure about the backpack, would have to check the total mileage of the loop. I think we did just over 18 with our out and back on Howe, so what is a few more miles.

 

[TDawg]

Assuming the trail still follows the same route, you can get a look at it on the interwebs via the older topos on Acme Mapper.

Sure makes a good loop outta Russell Pond to Hamlin Peak. Mileage using it and the NW Basin trail around 14, maybe?

 

[MadRiver]

Assuming the trail still follows the same route, you can get a look at it on the interwebs via the older topos on Acme Mapper.

Sure makes a good loop outta Russell Pond to Hamlin Peak. Mileage using it and the NW Basin trail around 14, maybe?

Thanks for the link. Doing just Hamlin and Howe would be a good loop, never mind doing the entire loop over the Knife Edge. Doing it as a backpack is definitely a possiblity.

 

[Amicus]

Tha AMC 8th says the North Peaks Trail is 6.9 miles long (Hamlin Peak to Russell Pond), with one significant stream crossing. From Russell Pond to Roaring Brook would be another 7 miles, with a bigger crossing. Add to that the rest of your route, and you have quite a formidable day-hike. If I were going to do it, I'd take two days.

 

[MichaelJ]

If I were going to do it, I'd take two days.

Ain't no way I'm doing the Knife Edge, or especially the Chimney, with a full overnight pack. Yikes! It would be fun to use it as a loop in most other ways, though. Kudos to the Baxter authorities for reopening this trail!

 

[Stan]

Hey, most of my maps show that trail ... oh! they're from the 90's. A 2003 map shows it as an unmaintained trail and a 2011 trail has it ending on what I presume to be Howe. Glad to know it is open and maintained again as redlining Baxter is incidental to our biennial excursion there.

 

[peakbagger]

I have backpacked over the Knifes Edge twice, then again despite my build, I tend to like scrambling on the knifes edge using the high route when I can (instead of the "chicken route that avoid the fun stuff". With an internal frame its no harder than doing it with a day pack. The only trick is to bring a length of rope for dropping the pack down the steep spot at the chinmey as it can get in the way. I found going down Dudley far more of a PITA with a backpack on as it caught on rocks when descending.

 

[MadRiver]

Having gone to the end of the ridge on Howe and also seeing it from the Hamlin ridge, I’ve always thought that it wouldn’t be a difficult bushwhack to do from Howe to either Hamlin trail, or Blueberry, or even Chimney pond. Once you start heading down the main part of the Howe ridge, you have dropped down in elevation to the point it wouldn’t be that difficult to take a bearing towards Depot pond/Basin Ponds.

Here is a photo from Hamlin Ridge looking at the end of Howe Ridge and Depot Pond/Basin Ponds.

http://jupiter.plymouth.edu/~rjkipphut/howe.jpg

 

[tomcat32]

It can be done in a day

It can be done in a day as a long loop. I have a trip report from July 20th trip (20 mile Katahdin Loop) I did Helon-Baxter-Northwest Basin tr.-Russel Pond- Roaring BR in a day. It was a beautiful day hike and if you are faster than book was not too bad on time. Howe Peaks Loop could be a day hike. Howe was on my Baxter list so I will try to do a day loop from Roaring Br with Howe Peaks this year. I have the book Katahdin by Stephen Clark which is a Baxter Park trail guide and I think its the 96 edition with description of this trail and map.