View Full Version : Maine
I got about one week or around 125 miles. Where do I go? :-?
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 16:50
I got about one week or around 125 miles. Where do I go? :-?
when ya going?
ah, right. 2nd week of July...sorry
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 16:53
alot of maine is rugged, from the maine/N.H. stateline to stratton,ME. is especially hard. and most hikers don't throw 100 mile weeks in from the get go.
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 16:56
my last thruhiked i finished last day of july not to busy yet but the thruhkers are starting(sobo) and the nobos ain't too far from maine, some of them anyway.(what type of shelter do you use?). you could hike katahdin and the hundred mile wilderness. the first part of the wilderness southbound is pretty flat til whitecap mtn. can't go wrong with a hike in maine or new hampshire beautiful
I've been hiking since Harpers and I am near the Whites so I am seasoned, but I have only a few weeks left so I plan on hitching up there once out of the Whites. If the first part of Maine is tough and not as beutiful as somewhere else, I will go around.
But where? :-?
I got a new MSR zoid last week on warrenty to answer your question, 40 degree bag, base layer and down vest getting mailed to me before the big stuff in whites.
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 17:03
I've been hiking since Harpers and I am near the Whites so I am seasoned, but I have only a few weeks left so I plan on hitching up there once out of the Whites. If the first part of Maine is tough and not as beutiful as somewhere else, I will go around.
But where? :-?i said the first part is tough i didn't say it wasn't beautiful. is seeing katahdin important to you.
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 17:08
**********************************all of maine is great hiking!
i said the first part is tough i didn't say it wasn't beautiful. is seeing katahdin important to you.
You know? It would be nice to end it at katahdin. I guess there you have it. So maybe find a good place a week south of Kat and end my trip.
Maybe start my final days in Caratunk or Monson?
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 17:17
You know? It would be nice to end it at katahdin. I guess there you have it. So maybe find a good place a week south of Kat and end my trip.
Maybe start my final days in Caratunk or Monson?
have you hiked everything south of harpers yet? you might of answered your own question? monson for sure if you want big k this trip!
peakbagger
06-30-2009, 17:22
To each their own on beauty. The western Maine section from RT 26 to the RT 17 near Rangeley is a long series of ups and down. Some nice open ridge walking but you pay for it with the frequent climbs down and up the mountains. RT 17 to RT 4 has a couple of nice ponds and woods walks. RT 17 to Rt 27 has some serious elevation and some great hiking, lots of 4000 footers. RT 27 to the RT 201 has the bigelows, Arnold Ponds and Pleasant Pond plus the Kennebec crossing. Hitching is going to be tough but RT201 or RT27 or RT 4 are all somewhat major roads with summer tourist destinations. I would avoid the Long Falls Dam road past Bigelow as its a complicated hitch and a lesser used road.
Considering the recent real wet weather, staying up high is probably a priority, so how about RT 4 to RT 27 with the Bigelows thrown in (take the fire wardens trail back down to RT 27. If you want more then add the stretch from RT 17 to RT4. THe stretch from Long Fall dam road to the Kennebec can be real wet anytime of year but right now its probably underwater.
SouthMark
06-30-2009, 20:56
Just finished hiking from Stratton to Andover. Took me 9 days (one zero) but of course I am twice your age and it rained and rained and rained. It was beautiful though.
CrumbSnatcher
06-30-2009, 21:08
Just finished hiking from Stratton to Andover. Took me 9 days (one zero) but of course I am twice your age and it rained and rained and rained. It was beautiful though.
tough enough section without all the rain. did you hike straight thru or get out for supplies? tenting? would love to see your itinerary. glad you had a good time
Blissful
06-30-2009, 23:53
100 mile wilderness is great. Take time to enjoy the ponds.
modiyooch
07-01-2009, 00:12
I've been hiking since Harpers and I am near the Whites so I am seasoned, but I have only a few weeks left so I plan on hitching up there once out of the Whites. If the first part of Maine is tough and not as beutiful as somewhere else, I will go around.
But where? :-? I wouldn't skip. The next area outside of Gorham is beautiful.
CrumbSnatcher
07-01-2009, 00:18
I wouldn't skip. The next area outside of Gorham is beautiful.
thats what i was trying to say/recommend ,unless seeing katahdin this trip was important to him?
modiyooch
07-01-2009, 00:43
thats what i was trying to say/recommend ,unless seeing katahdin this trip was important to him? I know. I picked up on it, but I don't think that he did.
I am section hiking and I've stepped foot on the AT in every state. I honestly am having a tough time deciding whether I really want to fonish the AT southbound or just repeat Maine. The Mahoosucs are as wild and unique as any twenty mile stretch of the AT. Many consider the Mahoosuc Notch the toughest mile on the AT and that is right after you cross into Maine. I think Baldpate is one of the most unsung beautiful outcrop of rock summits on the entire trail. Dunn falls just to the north is awesome. Then some pleasant hiking along the Bemis Ridge and then into the real mountains - Saddleback, take the spur to Abraham, what a great ridge walk, then over to Sugarloaf and then after 27 - Bigelow which I think is the prettiest summit in Maine with the expansive Flagstaff Lake below. Horns Pond is a great campsite rivaling Speck Pond for high lake honors. Then on to some beautiful lake country. easier walking and the famous Kennebec ferry crossing. River fords and lakes are the highlights for the next 100 miles with some pleasnat summits mixed in for variety. Then out into the blue and climax on Katahdin. What makes Maine so spectacular is its remoteness. You don't find the hordes of hikers like in Shenandoah or the Whites. No huts to attract the novice backpacker, unless you count Whitehouse Landing. Much further to travel and access. I really would not skip any of Maine, so go as far as you can and then go back sometime and finsih up where you left off.
SouthMark
07-01-2009, 10:33
tough enough section without all the rain. did you hike straight thru or get out for supplies? tenting? would love to see your itinerary. glad you had a good time
From Stratton to Rangely. Stayed at Gull Pond Lodge (great place and Bob is super). Spent two nights in shelters and rest in tents. Then from Rangely to Andover. Stayed at Pine Ellis hostel. Slack packed from South Arm Road to East Bee Hill Road. Was lucky rain stopped and sun came out just as we summited Saddleback Jr. and stayed clear for Horn and Saddleback. GREAT VIEWS.
Which did you prefer, Saddleback or The Horn?