Tim Seaver
Well-known member
A glorious day on Katahdin's Knife Edge.
Lower Knife Edge
Sunny and warm, with wispy clouds breaking over the ridge, and bright colors lighting up the valleys.
Basin Ponds from Knife Edge
Hamlin Peak and Northwest Basin from Basin Pond
Knife Edge from Pamola Peak
I was surprised that more people were not ascending the Knife Edge, but this seemed to be the case last time I was here, with most of
the people descending the KE after slogging up the Saddle Trail.
Hikers Descending From Upper KE
I spent a good 4 hours just hanging out on various "fins" of the KE, taking it all in - it was easily the most inviting day I had ever spent on this ridge, just perfect!
Knife Edge and Fall Colors
As I neared the section of the KE that widens as it approaches the South Peak, I finally got to see the source of the hooting and hollering that had been echoing across the basins - a naked 60-something year old man screaming at the top of his lungs, elated at his AT finish. He had thought he had the South Peak to himself (well, and his female companion), so he apologized and re-robed quickly. As I rounded the loop later in the afternoon, I could still hear him hooting from each of the points of the KE as he descended. (That little dot at the top of this next pic is him.) Awesome.
Upper Knife Edge
After conversing with some other somewhat stunned looking AT finishers, I wandered down the tableland to Hamlin. Not a soul in sight.
The Brickyard and Tablelands
Stones on the Tableland
Talus and KE
Descending Hamlin Ridge, I stepped upon a rather large and spherical rock, which instead of being civil and staying underfoot, had the audacity to roll unexpectedly from under my foot, slamming into my shin. This inspired a loud and stern lecture to all the local boulders that this kind of behavior is no way to treat a friendly hiker. Bad words were said in their direction, only to be greeted with a stony silence. Some interesting "marbles" then appeared under my skin where I presume there was formerly a vein carrying some kind of bodily fluid, but I guess somehow the traffic was rerouted as the swelling went down quite a bit by the time I got to the base of the ridge. I apologized to the stones, rocks, and boulders for my outburst, and
everyone had a group hug. Then I went home.
The End.
KE Late Afternoon
Lower Knife Edge
Sunny and warm, with wispy clouds breaking over the ridge, and bright colors lighting up the valleys.
Basin Ponds from Knife Edge
Hamlin Peak and Northwest Basin from Basin Pond
Knife Edge from Pamola Peak
I was surprised that more people were not ascending the Knife Edge, but this seemed to be the case last time I was here, with most of
the people descending the KE after slogging up the Saddle Trail.
Hikers Descending From Upper KE
I spent a good 4 hours just hanging out on various "fins" of the KE, taking it all in - it was easily the most inviting day I had ever spent on this ridge, just perfect!
Knife Edge and Fall Colors
As I neared the section of the KE that widens as it approaches the South Peak, I finally got to see the source of the hooting and hollering that had been echoing across the basins - a naked 60-something year old man screaming at the top of his lungs, elated at his AT finish. He had thought he had the South Peak to himself (well, and his female companion), so he apologized and re-robed quickly. As I rounded the loop later in the afternoon, I could still hear him hooting from each of the points of the KE as he descended. (That little dot at the top of this next pic is him.) Awesome.
Upper Knife Edge
After conversing with some other somewhat stunned looking AT finishers, I wandered down the tableland to Hamlin. Not a soul in sight.
The Brickyard and Tablelands
Stones on the Tableland
Talus and KE
Descending Hamlin Ridge, I stepped upon a rather large and spherical rock, which instead of being civil and staying underfoot, had the audacity to roll unexpectedly from under my foot, slamming into my shin. This inspired a loud and stern lecture to all the local boulders that this kind of behavior is no way to treat a friendly hiker. Bad words were said in their direction, only to be greeted with a stony silence. Some interesting "marbles" then appeared under my skin where I presume there was formerly a vein carrying some kind of bodily fluid, but I guess somehow the traffic was rerouted as the swelling went down quite a bit by the time I got to the base of the ridge. I apologized to the stones, rocks, and boulders for my outburst, and
everyone had a group hug. Then I went home.
The End.
KE Late Afternoon
