Katahdin area and kids

[ctsparrow]

Hi All, Finished schoolwork for now, so I actually have time for posting again. I am quasi planning a Baxter long weekend, end of August with my almost 12 year old son. He is small for his age, so only has the stride of 9 or 10 year old. He has been routinely climbing 4000's in NH with me, and I am taking him on a two day across the presi's to expose him to lots of rock early July. I am not so much looking for specific route planning at this time, but more general input on other peoples experiences with their kids in this age range on Kathadin, Hamlin, Brothers areas. i.e. Knife's Edge...as much as he would love this adventure, going down large rocks etc, really slows him down due to his height. Also any recommendations on local camp grounds, outside BAxter...too late for those slots...would be highly appreciated...thanks, ctsparrow

 

[poison ivy]

I can't answer your kid related questions... but there is a terrific campground right outside of Baxter State Park called Hidden Springs Campground. It's one of my favorites for car camping and is located about 10 to 15 minutes down the road from the southern entrance of Baxter State Park. You can look them up online at http://www.hiddenspring.com

Hope that helps,
- Ivy

 

[king tut]

I would think he would be fine. My parents took me across the knife edge when i was about 7 or 8 years old. Of course, it did the scare the ever living daylights out of me.

 

[roadtripper]

It's a 45 minute drive to the Baxter entrance gate, but I always stay at the Katahdin Shadows Campground in the tenting area in the back of the property. It's usually very quiet and you can ALWAYS find availability, including day-of on a holiday weekend.

If I were 12 years old and about to do Baxter Peak, I'd probably have the most fun doing this route: Chimney Pond Trail > Dudley Trail > Knife Edge > Saddle Trail > Chimney Pond Trail. (Don't miss climbing Pamolas Finger on the Dudley).

I've never done the Cathedral Trail though, but I hear it has some fun scrambling.

It's a bit off topic, but you could consider adding another day @ Gulf Hagas with all the swimming holes & waterfalls before or after your Katahdin adventure. You can make an 8.5-mile loop out of it if you've never done it.

- Greg

 

[SkierSteve]

One idea I would recommend would be the Pamola Caves. Great fun for kids. Take the Chimney Pond trail out of Roaring Brook, then start up the Dudley Trail. The path to the caves leaves to the left within 1/2 mile of the start. This will also give you a good read on how well your son is handling the rock hopping. Also, if you are around Roaring Brook at dusk don't miss Sandy Stream Pond. Just a short walk and the moose sightings are pretty automatic. Have a great time.

 

[SherpaKroto]

Don't assume that it is too late. If you are willing to take whatever is available, you most likely should luck out. Roaring Brook, Katahdin Stream, and Abol are good base camps on the south end, and South Branch is excellent on the norht end.

If at Roaring Brook: South Turner, and Chinmey Pond/Pamola Caves would be 2 good hikes. Up North, South Branch/BlackCat and Peak of the Ridges would be my recommendation. (I know that you didn't want specific hikes, but thought I'd mention them anyway)

Everyone wants to stay at Chimney Pond and hike Katahdin. That leaves the other 99.9% of the Park to the rest of us.

I took my son up Cathedral at 16 and my daughter up Saddle at 13. They both loved it. I would have taken them much earlier, but Ms Sherpa wasn't too keen on that. BSP is a special place, guaranteed to show much wildlife.

 

[Mad Townie]

Katahdin is not a problem for any reasonably responsible kid. Each of mine summited at the age of 7 without difficulty. When the younger one summited for the first time, he and I went to Hamlin rather than across the Knife Edge with his sister (9 by then--now 19) and friends. Hamlin Ridge was as precarious in spots as the Knife Edge, and he had no problem with it.

So I say go for it! Lifelong memories for all.

Edit: my daughter was small for her age, too, always the smallest in her class until late high school. So your son's height should not be a problem, as long as he gets a little help at the top of the Chimney, where there's a notch in the ridge with a bit of a downclimb if you're heading east.

 

[grog]

I agree with SK, South Branch campground is great. Center Ridge is a nice climb with excellent views and if you keep going Traveler loop is a challenging hike.
You can also canoe on the pond. Shin village has good showers and is about 45 mins. away.

A hike into Russell pond for one night would put you in moose heaven.

Katadyn Shadows has the best showers around and I usually wait till then to shower when I'm leaving the park.

There's a lot more to BSP than Baxter peak.

grog

 

[weatherman]

Ditto on the non-Baxter Peak routes, lots to enjoy. One question that I'd have about Katahdin is... how does he do with exposure? Like others have said, Knife Edge really does not have much requiring long legs except for the one tiny bit near Pamola... Dudley Trail is probably slightly more challenging in terms of leg length. Cathedral Trail does not require long legs either. BUT- both KE and Cathedral are very exposed and there are a couple of real no-fall areas. If you and your son are fine with that, heck, you can go anyplace in Baxter. On the other hand, if sheer drops give either or both of you problems then some of the less exposed ways up (Saddle) might be better for a first try. I think the Hunt Trail might actually present some of the bigger leg-length challenges, despite its being on the AT, because of the size of the rocks and the iron rungs in a few spots.

And I wish I had been 4 1/2 feet tall when I went to the Pamola Caves, it would have been far more fun. Definitely worth a couple hours from Chimney Pond.

Weatherman

 

[grog]

My hat blew in about 12 feet into one of those boulder/caves on lower Dudley trail. I had to crawl in to get it, so I said fergetboutit, no way, uh-huh. I don't do caves-the $25 hat wasn't worth the nightmares I would've gotten.

grog