Exposure on Mt K, 100 Mile Wilderness?

[fredmugs]

When I went up Katahdin the guy I was hiking with had the same kind of problems. He backed out of some climbs in Colorado on a previous hike. Once we got to the point where you go above the tree line and you have to pull yourslef up the spikes he freaked out and went back down. Since I didn't understand what he was going through I didn't question it or try to talk him out of it.

[10-K]

The weather can make a big difference. If you can be selective about the climb date try and get a clear and calm day (as much as possible)

The day I went up it was clear but the wind was blowing very hard and sometimes I could actually feel the lift on my body.

[rickb]

We had to stop on the hunt trail above the boulders with the " big staples" for holds. My wife found the exposure too much. It comes and goes with her. She never fails to remind me that she is a hiker not a climber.

For those who have yet to experience this section you might want to keep in mind that it is really very short.

While that may not be apparent when you are there because of the limited sight lines, one can get through it fairly quickly. Once you do, you will find the top of Katahdin to be a flat wide plain all the way to the famous sign. On the top you are not walking anywhere need the edge at all.

As one who doesn't like heights (some of the trail at Acadia National Park and many out West make my knees rubbery) I find this section is not nearly as bad, and most importantly it passes very quickly. If, after pushing through it one decides they don't want to repeat the feeling on the way down, you can return via the Abol Side Trail which is largely a big tallus field without the bouldering section Bob refers to.

[Pedaling Fool]

They're only planning on the 100 Mile Wilderness plus Katahdin.

I like to go above and beyond the call of duty

[peakbagger]

I took a friend with similiar height issues up Mt Katahdin this year. She has climbed all the 4000 footers in the whites previously and only had issues in a couple of places. We took the Hunt trail (AT) on nice sunny day with no wind. The section from treeline to the tablelands which is less than a mile took 2.5 hours in both directions. She had a real tough time on it both ways even though the top of the ridge isnt that narrow. I expect the big issue was that in her periphial vision, the sides of the mountain drop away very steeply so that you cant see the slopes. She also isnt a fan of boulder scrambles so the combination of the heights and the bouldering made for a slow hike. While we were on the tablelands and at the summit, she had a great time.

The Saddle trail up from Chimney Pond has very little smiliar exposure. It climbs out of a valley with slopes to either side. There are steep spots but nothing real difficult. Once you break out on the tablelands, the trail is quite wide and set back from the edge by quite a bit. The trade off is that you would need to drive around the mountain at the end of your hike as the Saddle climbs from the East side of the Mountain rather than from the west where the AT is. Its still a great hike as it goes up though the Chinmey Pond basin.

[Cookerhiker]

I like to go above and beyond the call of duty

That's very admirable in proper context. But you'd make a lousy witness in a court proceeding where the rule is "Don't volunteer information"

[Cookerhiker]

For those who have yet to experience this section you might want to keep in mind that it is really very short.

While that may not be apparent when you are there because of the limited sight lines, one can get through it fairly quickly. Once you do, you will find the top of Katahdin to be a flat wide plain all the way to the famous sign. On the top you are not walking anywhere need the edge at all.

As one who doesn't like heights (some of the trail at Acadia National Park and many out West make my knees rubbery) I find this section is not nearly as bad, and most importantly it passes very quickly. If, after pushing through it one decides they don't want to repeat the feeling on the way down, you can return via the Abol Side Trail which is largely a big tallus field without the bouldering section Bob refers to.

Yes it is short but as Peakbagger's experience shows, it doesn't necessarily "pass very quickly."

I took a friend with similiar height issues up Mt Katahdin this year. She has climbed all the 4000 footers in the whites previously and only had issues in a couple of places. We took the Hunt trail (AT) on nice sunny day with no wind. The section from treeline to the tablelands which is less than a mile took 2.5 hours in both directions. She had a real tough time on it both ways even though the top of the ridge isnt that narrow. I expect the big issue was that in her periphial vision, the sides of the mountain drop away very steeply so that you cant see the slopes. She also isnt a fan of boulder scrambles so the combination of the heights and the bouldering made for a slow hike. While we were on the tablelands and at the summit, she had a great time.

The Saddle trail up from Chimney Pond has very little smiliar exposure. It climbs out of a valley with slopes to either side. There are steep spots but nothing real difficult. Once you break out on the tablelands, the trail is quite wide and set back from the edge by quite a bit. The trade off is that you would need to drive around the mountain at the end of your hike as the Saddle climbs from the East side of the Mountain rather than from the west where the AT is. Its still a great hike as it goes up though the Chinmey Pond basin.

[TJ aka Teej]

On the top you are not walking anywhere need the edge at all.
...you can return via the Abol Side Trail which is largely a big tallus field without the bouldering section Bob refers to.

Looking down from Baxter Peak to Chimney Pond, and peaking over the edge looking down the Abol Slide Trail freaked my teen son out. Only trouble he's ever had climbing. You never know, y'know?
My advice is go up the Hunt Trail as far as you can, you'll enjoy it if you know the plan is to turn around. The 100 Mile is more endurance than risk, as others have mentioned.

[markc7]

From what everyone here has said and from looking at some pictures in the gallery, the knife's edge looks like it would be a bad idea.

But that's past the actual peak, right? If we did Hunt Trail up and maybe Abol trail back down, would that minimize the exposure? I also like the idea of trying but being willing to back out if need be.

Thanks everyone.

[Sierra Echo]

From what everyone here has said and from looking at some pictures in the gallery, the knife's edge looks like it would be a bad idea.

But that's past the actual peak, right? If we did Hunt Trail up and maybe Abol trail back down, would that minimize the exposure? I also like the idea of trying but being willing to back out if need be.

Thanks everyone.

The knifes edge is so windy that people actually blow off the trail. And its a thousand ft drop off on either side!

[Pedaling Fool]

From what everyone here has said and from looking at some pictures in the gallery, the knife's edge looks like it would be a bad idea.

But that's past the actual peak, right? If we did Hunt Trail up and maybe Abol trail back down, would that minimize the exposure? I also like the idea of trying but being willing to back out if need be.

Thanks everyone.

Yes, it's past the peak if you come up the Hunt trail; it's part of the trail if you come up other trails, I can't remember which ones, despite using one years ago, but I'm sure someone will let us know.

Let's assume you come up the Hunt trail to the peak. You'll see knife's edge and won't even need to come too close to it. But this is the problem: getting up to the peak via hunt trail is one thing, but going down it is another issue. There are spots where you'll have to get on your butt and inch down over boulders.

I don't know how serious the issue your friend has, but it's entirely possible that you could get him up there, but then you gotta worry about getting him down, completely different problem.


I've never taken the other trail, but someone else can answer.

[Cookerhiker]

.....My advice is go up the Hunt Trail as far as you can, you'll enjoy it if you know the plan is to turn around. The 100 Mile is more endurance than risk, as others have mentioned.

..... I also like the idea of trying but being willing to back out if need be.

Thanks everyone.

I think that's your best plan; as long as you and your partner agree beforehand that he/she may turnaround if the going becomes too uncomfortable for him/her.

[hikerboy57]

#1 rule of climbing- getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.Hike until you hit the limit of your comfort zone,and if you have to back off, the mountain will be there tomorrow. if you push a little through that comfort zone, the next time will be that much easier.never be embarrassed by your fear- it helps keep you alive. A little exposure at a time will help manage the fear

[Pedaling Fool]

#1 rule of climbing- getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory.

That was kind of my point with going up via hunt trail. It kind of reminds me of when I was a kid climbing a tree. I got up no problem, but then realized going down was, One: a must; Two: it required a completely different skill set, which was a little intimidating. And I have no real issues with heights. Now add that fact to someone that does have an issue with ledges and pressure of knowing they MUST go down. It can be problematic.

I remember looking over some of them boulders and you gotta really look over it to see where you will place your foot.

[hikerboy57]

I climbed Katahdin about 15 years ago through fog and clouds, and all though I'm an experienced rock climber, the exposure was somewhat unnerving with limited visibility. I think I would have actually preferred a clear day, coming down was pretty hairy.

[10-K]

I guess we all have our thing...

As a (very) poor swimmer I worried about fords. If I knew I had a ford coming up I'd start worrying about it the day before I got to - really anxiety producing.

Turns out it was nothing to worry about - the way most irrational fears do once I get through them. Now I no longer dread fords....

[Shera]

Hiked the entire AT, including Katahdin. I have some moderate-severe heights issues. I definitely felt some moderate vertigo coming down KT (usually my issues occur going up). KT is not nearly as bad as some places in the Whites but climbing mountains is not for everyone, even sporty outdoors types. I think your friend should be able to hang but take it slow and let her lead.

[envirodiver]

I have developed a fear of heights also. Not sure when it came about but it did. A group of us hiked the 100 mi. wilderness a few years ago and acessed K from the knife edge. I was very uncertain about doing that portion of the hike but decided that I would. When we reached the beginning of the knife edge the weather went from nice and sunny, to sleet, very strong gusting wind and the clouds settled in (this was early August). Great I thought. Upside of the clouds rolling in was that I couldn't see very far down.

Made my way through it slow and steady, choked down the fear and kept moving. Crab walked where I needed to and slid on my butt where I needed to. The pleasant surprise was that the rock was gritty and had a good texture to keep from slipping (unlike the wet limestone rock in the south).

About halfway across we met a young couple and the man was in complete meltdown, which included sitting on the trail with his arms wrapped around a rock sobbing uncontrollably, begging for a helicopter. That is not the mental place to be up there. The danger goes up exponentially when someone is that scared.

The sense of accomplishment upon reaching the summit was overwhelming.

The hike down the Hunt trail was a bit scary at times but not compared to what I had already done.

I guess my point is that if your friend really doesn't want to be exposed to those types of heights, then keep them away from knife edge. The Hunt Trail may be OK for them, but if they are so afraid that they may freeze up, then keep them away from that trail also.

I ended up not doing the entire 100 mi. wilderness, but the part that I did had nothing on it (except a few swollen stream crossings) that was scary.

Have fun

[weary]

The knifes edge is so windy that people actually blow off the trail. And its a thousand ft drop off on either side!

There's no record of anyone ever falling down those thousand feet. The reason is simple.

Except for a short distance -- maybe 10 feet -- there is no sheer drops. One would have to deliberately somersault off the Knife Edge to be hurt -- and even then it would be difficult. Even the 10 feet is not really dangerous. There's a rock face on one side that provides numerous hand holds.

People get hurt on the Knife Edge, not from falling off the trail, but from falling on to the trail. The reason is simple. The trail is steep. And many don't turn around and face the steep trail, thus not being able to use the numerous hand and footholds. They walk the Knife Edge as if they were going down a ladder front first, unable to use the rungs for hand holds.

A woman did die on the Knife Edge once, a half century or so ago. She encountered an unusual early season snow and deliberately walked off the edge of the trail to escape the wind and snow. She slipped and fell on a ledge, where she died along with the ranger that tried to rescue her.

But thousands of hikers have done the Knife Edge without mishap, before and since. All it takes is some rudimentary hiking skills, and the ability to not panic from an overactive imagination.

[envirodiver]

There's no record of anyone ever falling down those thousand feet. The reason is simple.

Except for a short distance -- maybe 10 feet -- there is no sheer drops. One would have to deliberately somersault off the Knife Edge to be hurt -- and even then it would be difficult. Even the 10 feet is not really dangerous. There's a rock face on one side that provides numerous hand holds.

People get hurt on the Knife Edge, not from falling off the trail, but from falling on to the trail. The reason is simple. The trail is steep. And many don't turn around and face the steep trail, thus not being able to use the numerous hand and footholds. They walk the Knife Edge as if they were going down a ladder front first, unable to use the rungs for hand holds.

A woman did die on the Knife Edge once, a half century or so ago. She encountered an unusual early season snow and deliberately walked off the edge of the trail to escape the wind and snow. She slipped and fell on a ledge, where she died along with the ranger that tried to rescue her.

But thousands of hikers have done the Knife Edge without mishap, before and since. All it takes is some rudimentary hiking skills, and the ability to not panic from an overactive imagination.

From Baxter State Park listing of fatalities. It stops in 1998. Nothing after

Aug. 10, 1986 Derek Quiet, age 16 - Fell off Knife Edge on Mt. Katahdin.