Mt Katahdin "porn" (photos)

[peakbagger]

Bangor Daily News has a batch of Mt Katahdin Photos in anticipation of summer https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/05/05/outdoors/jaw-dropping-katahdin-views-joam40zk0w/

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/05/05/outdoors/jaw-dropping-katahdin-views-joam40zk0w/

They skipped the view from the Howes Peaks looking South south West towards Hamline and the summit and did not so justice to the NW basis trail which has its own shallow saddle and tableland. I think one from South Turner would be nice addition of the East side of the Mountain.

 

[skiguy]

What a difference a month or two makes.

 

[DayTrip]

They skipped the view from the Howes Peaks looking South south West towards Hamline and the summit and did not so justice to the NW basis trail which has its own shallow saddle and tableland. I think one from South Turner would be nice addition of the East side of the Mountain.

Katahdin is such an awesome peak! South Turner is another awesome peak in my opinion that I never really hear anyone talk about. Tremendous views on that summit and not a lot of people the times I have done it.

Question(s):

1) You frequently mention that Northwest Basin Trail so I assume it is pretty awesome. I love Hamlin Peak and that general area and have had that trail on my "list" for awhile now. I assume the common approach is to stay at Russell Pond and then Davis Pond campsite or some combination? Is their high demand for those spots like the car camping sites or is it more readily available without planning months in advance?

2) Gaia (and it's USFS layer as well) shows a trail called the "North Peaks Trail" which splits off the NWBT and goes up the opposite ridge to the East of NWBT and over the Howe Peaks. Looks like it would be a spectacular route but I don't see it on the official maps. All I see is a little spur leaving Howe Peak and going a short distance before ending. Is that an old trail? New trail? Unauthorized bushwhack? Curious if you've heard of it/know anything about it.

 

[peakbagger]

NW Basin Trail. I have done the NW basin trail a few times, its starts out in the woods along a stream but the views open up. Its very remote, you will see very few if any people. I have done it two ways. I hiked it with a group of scouts from a stay at Russel Pond and ended up at Chimney Pond and did not overnight at Davis Pond. I have also hiked in from a lean to on Wassataquoik Lake, then stayed at Davis and then up and over to Chimney Pond. I had enough time to get down to Roaring Brook in the afternoon.

I have also done it from Russel Pond with short day to Davis Pond then out to Chimney via the Summit and the Knife edge (with backpacks on) then down Dudley.

Folks have also hiked to the summit from Russell Pond via NW basin and back via North Peaks (long day)

North Peaks trail
As I recommend to new folks, use google site search rather than the Search function on the website. site:VFTT.org North Peaks yields
https://www.vftt.org/threads/north-peaks-trail-baxter-state-park-9-7-15.56819/

Both trails have major exposure for a couple of miles, incredible on a nice day, dangerous in foul weather. It took me a couple of tries to do North Peaks trail due to dangerous weather. When I finally pulled it off it was quite spectacular. There is a potential bushwhack to open high point looking down into NW basin that looks like its worth the trip.

Davis Pond is usually booked but there is a requirement that someone needs to stay at Russel Pond of Chimney Pond the night before or after complicates it. Do note there are several outlying sites around Russell Pond that count,.

 

[DayTrip]

NW Basin Trail. I have done the NW basin trail a few times, its starts out in the woods along a stream but the views open up. Its very remote, you will see very few if any people. I have done it two ways. I hiked it with a group of scouts from a stay at Russel Pond and ended up at Chimney Pond and did not overnight at Davis Pond. I have also hiked in from a lean to on Wassataquoik Lake, then stayed at Davis and then up and over to Chimney Pond. I had enough time to get down to Roaring Brook in the afternoon.

I have also done it from Russel Pond with short day to Davis Pond then out to Chimney via the Summit and the Knife edge (with backpacks on) then down Dudley.

Folks have also hiked to the summit from Russell Pond via NW basin and back via North Peaks (long day)

North Peaks trail
As I recommend to new folks, use google site search rather than the Search function on the website. site:VFTT.org North Peaks yields
https://www.vftt.org/threads/north-peaks-trail-baxter-state-park-9-7-15.56819/

Both trails have major exposure for a couple of miles, incredible on a nice day, dangerous in foul weather. It took me a couple of tries to do North Peaks trail due to dangerous weather. When I finally pulled it off it was quite spectacular. There is a potential bushwhack to open high point looking down into NW basin that looks like its worth the trip.

Davis Pond is usually booked but there is a requirement that someone needs to stay at Russel Pond of Chimney Pond the night before or after complicates it. Do note there are several outlying sites around Russell Pond that count,.

I forgot my official Maine AMC Guide and maps was older than I thought and does not reflect the changes of the 2010's to 2020's. I think I had a similar map "issue" last year when I asked about OJI. I went to the Baxter site and see the trail on their map. As all the cobwebs starting falling away I also remembered I had bought the NatGeo map for Baxter and North Peaks Trail is on their too. Thanks for the link to the trip report. It was very useful.

My initial plan was to hike in from Nesowadnehunk Field to Wassataquoik Lake and then take one or both of these trails to Hamlin Peak. That looks like an interesting route with lots of water bodies and steep ravines. Big miles in that direction though so I need to decide how I want to break it up/how many days I need to invest in it. I did a stretch of Russell Pond Trail from Roaring Brook years ago car camping with the wife and do not remember liking it. Remember it being fairly boring and featureless, although it does appear to be the shortest option to get in there.

 

[peakbagger]

Most of the valley trails in Baxter are just the path of least resistance between two points. Russell Pond from Roaring brook is an old horse trail with not much of interest, Taking the Wassataquoik Stream trail adds a bit of interest on hot day due to the stream ford and swimming opportunities, its also goes through "New City" area with some logging camp/operation remains. It also gains and looses a bit less elevation. The stream ford can be difficult to impossible in high water. The alternative Russel Pond trail has bit more elevation and it can be drier. There is still a need to cross the Wassataquoik but its less intense. The relocated Wassataquoik Lake trail from Nesowadnehunk Field is pretty boring until it hits Little Wassataquoik. Do note it runs through a very wet area with lots of puncheons and bridges and will be very buggy, head nets and DEET will be used.

As for NW Basin Trail Versus North Peaks from Russell Pond area, its a toss up, each has their charms. Northern Peaks gets out of the drainages faster but there is one significant crossing of Wassataquoik Stream after it splits off from NW Basin trail, its potentially a go/nogo point and is not a rock hop. Plan on wading through the water if its safe. NW Basin Trail crosses the Wassataquoik much higher up the valley over a broad wet area. Your feet will get wet but water level is far less of an issue. There is also a section where the trail is the stream bed climbing the headwall to the Davis Pond Shelf. Its a steep climb out of Davis Pond. NW Basin does hike through an area of increasing cliffs on either side that is not normal terrain in Northern New England.

 

[peakbagger]

BTW, the North Peaks trail has great views east into the East Branch of Penobscot Drainage and KWW plus gives a rarely seen view north to the Travelers from the south while the NW basin trail is up close and personal to the Klondike including the east wall that consists of the Brothers, Fort and Coe.

On a good day you cant go wrong with either, on a bad day they are both dangerous.