TJ aka Teej
02-14-2006, 17:19
MEGA = Maine to Georgia (aka ME to GA) A sobo is a MEGA hiker!
BSP = Baxter State Park
KSC = Katahdin Stream Campground
BSP opens for overnight camping on May 15th. Snow and ice will probably keep the AT to Baxter Peak closed until Memorial Day weekend or later. In '05 the AT didn't open until the first week of June. The first Trails to open up on Katahdin will be the Abol Slide and the Hunt Trail.
The bus from Bangor gets into Medway at 7:40 PM. That's too late to get to the Gate at BSP before it closes. There are motels within walking distance of the store/bus stop. You can phone Minuteman Taxi to get a $12 ride into Millinocket. The Taxi might be able to drop you off outside BSP to stealth camp, and you can hitch into KSC the next morning. If your plan is to Taxi into the Park, make arrangements the night before.
I strongly suggest MEGAs try to stay two nights in a lean-to at KSC. I urge you to start your climb of Katahdin at first light.
MEGAs can't stay at the Birches LD Hiker's site. Southbound hikers need to make reservations if they wish to stay inside BSP. Reservations are taken via mail four months in advance. On Feb 14th they'll start to process reservations for June 14th. Here's a chart showing when you can mail for what: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/chart.htm Other options for reserving a spot at KSC (or Abol, the next closest campground) would be to telephone no earlier than ten days in advance to inquire about open sites. There are two campgrounds on the AT outside the Park at Abol Bridge, 19.2 miles from Baxter Peak. Don't bet your hike on 'winging it'!
Katahdin Stream Campground is the campground at the base of Katahdin the AT runs through. Its a 10.4 mile round trip to Baxter Peak from the trailhead at the northern end of the campground. The AT from KSC to the summit of Katahdin is called The Hunt Trail. Introduce yourself as an AT hiker to the Ranger at KSC, he will have information about Trail conditions and the hikers ahead of you. Map of KSC showing the Birches and the AT: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/katahdin_stream.html
Bring DEET and a head net. Sleep under bug netting in shelters, or in a tent or hammock.
PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT: BSP has no garbage cans, and no way for you to mail extra gear home. You need to plan accordingly!
Fade Blaze inside BSP: At Daicey Pond the old AT went up the campground road to your left. Follow the blue blazes less than 100 yards into the campground and check out the famous view of Katahdin across the pond from the rocking chairs on library porch or go for a swim off the dock. Return to the AT the same way, or follow the old AT into the woods across form the library and reconnect to the white blazed trail in a few minutes.
ABOL BRIDGE: Last stop before the Wilderness! Linda's Store will have some basic resupply, and subs and microwaveable 'food'. A pretty easy hitch back to Millinocket from here. Two campgrounds here, a State run simple campsite, and the large campground run by the Abol Bridge Store owner.
Photo of the bridge and store:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7240&catid=member&imageuser=314 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7240&catid=member&imageuser=314)
MAILDROPS: There are NO maildrops at BSP, at Abol Bridge, or at Whitehouse Landing in the 100 Mile Wilderness. In Milinocket, only the P.O. and the AT Lodge accept maildrops. Your next maildrop will be Monson. (Do not try to bounce a maildrop between Monson and Caratunk, you will hike to Caratunk before your box will gets there.)
100 Mile Wilderness: A short walk across the bride (photo op!) and up the wide gravel road from the store. The Trail dives into the woods on your left, with the famous warning sign a little ways in. Expect dark woods, open summits, wet trails, high fords, moose, bugs, songbirds and flowers - and enjoy it all!
Kennebec Ferry Hours: May 19th > July 14th, 9AM > 11AM. After July 14th, afternoon hours are added between 2 and 4. Steve the Ferryman's website: www.riversandtrails.com (http://www.riversandtrails.com) phone: 207-663-4441
MONSON: Lakeshore House and Shaw's will both be open under new managment in '06. Lakeshore House is considering opening a tenting area just outside town.
BEARS and MOOSE: You might see a bear, you will see moose. Keep your distance. "Bear-bag" when you camp - not to keep your food safe from bears, but to keep it away from the mice and squirrels!
Links you might find useful:
Baxter State Park: www.baxterstateparkauthority.com (http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com)
BSP's AT Thru-hiker info: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/hiking/thru-hiking.html
Katahdin Web Cam: http://www.katahdincam.com/ (You will see snow until June!)
Lakeshore House: http://www.lakeshore-house.com (http://www.lakeshore-house.com/)
ALDHA: For specifics about services see the on-line Companion www.aldha.com (http://www.aldha.com)
The ATC's official site: For buying Trail guides like the DataBook or the Thru-hikers' Companion, also there's a Companion update page: www.appalachiantrail.org (http://www.appalachiantrail.org)
WhiteBlaze, of course! www.Whiteblaze.net (http://www.Whiteblaze.net)
Wingfoot's website sells his AT guide: www.trailplace.com (http://www.trailplace.com)
Check out the MEGA Journal links!
BSP = Baxter State Park
KSC = Katahdin Stream Campground
BSP opens for overnight camping on May 15th. Snow and ice will probably keep the AT to Baxter Peak closed until Memorial Day weekend or later. In '05 the AT didn't open until the first week of June. The first Trails to open up on Katahdin will be the Abol Slide and the Hunt Trail.
The bus from Bangor gets into Medway at 7:40 PM. That's too late to get to the Gate at BSP before it closes. There are motels within walking distance of the store/bus stop. You can phone Minuteman Taxi to get a $12 ride into Millinocket. The Taxi might be able to drop you off outside BSP to stealth camp, and you can hitch into KSC the next morning. If your plan is to Taxi into the Park, make arrangements the night before.
I strongly suggest MEGAs try to stay two nights in a lean-to at KSC. I urge you to start your climb of Katahdin at first light.
MEGAs can't stay at the Birches LD Hiker's site. Southbound hikers need to make reservations if they wish to stay inside BSP. Reservations are taken via mail four months in advance. On Feb 14th they'll start to process reservations for June 14th. Here's a chart showing when you can mail for what: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/chart.htm Other options for reserving a spot at KSC (or Abol, the next closest campground) would be to telephone no earlier than ten days in advance to inquire about open sites. There are two campgrounds on the AT outside the Park at Abol Bridge, 19.2 miles from Baxter Peak. Don't bet your hike on 'winging it'!
Katahdin Stream Campground is the campground at the base of Katahdin the AT runs through. Its a 10.4 mile round trip to Baxter Peak from the trailhead at the northern end of the campground. The AT from KSC to the summit of Katahdin is called The Hunt Trail. Introduce yourself as an AT hiker to the Ranger at KSC, he will have information about Trail conditions and the hikers ahead of you. Map of KSC showing the Birches and the AT: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/camping/katahdin_stream.html
Bring DEET and a head net. Sleep under bug netting in shelters, or in a tent or hammock.
PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT: BSP has no garbage cans, and no way for you to mail extra gear home. You need to plan accordingly!
Fade Blaze inside BSP: At Daicey Pond the old AT went up the campground road to your left. Follow the blue blazes less than 100 yards into the campground and check out the famous view of Katahdin across the pond from the rocking chairs on library porch or go for a swim off the dock. Return to the AT the same way, or follow the old AT into the woods across form the library and reconnect to the white blazed trail in a few minutes.
ABOL BRIDGE: Last stop before the Wilderness! Linda's Store will have some basic resupply, and subs and microwaveable 'food'. A pretty easy hitch back to Millinocket from here. Two campgrounds here, a State run simple campsite, and the large campground run by the Abol Bridge Store owner.
Photo of the bridge and store:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7240&catid=member&imageuser=314 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=7240&catid=member&imageuser=314)
MAILDROPS: There are NO maildrops at BSP, at Abol Bridge, or at Whitehouse Landing in the 100 Mile Wilderness. In Milinocket, only the P.O. and the AT Lodge accept maildrops. Your next maildrop will be Monson. (Do not try to bounce a maildrop between Monson and Caratunk, you will hike to Caratunk before your box will gets there.)
100 Mile Wilderness: A short walk across the bride (photo op!) and up the wide gravel road from the store. The Trail dives into the woods on your left, with the famous warning sign a little ways in. Expect dark woods, open summits, wet trails, high fords, moose, bugs, songbirds and flowers - and enjoy it all!
Kennebec Ferry Hours: May 19th > July 14th, 9AM > 11AM. After July 14th, afternoon hours are added between 2 and 4. Steve the Ferryman's website: www.riversandtrails.com (http://www.riversandtrails.com) phone: 207-663-4441
MONSON: Lakeshore House and Shaw's will both be open under new managment in '06. Lakeshore House is considering opening a tenting area just outside town.
BEARS and MOOSE: You might see a bear, you will see moose. Keep your distance. "Bear-bag" when you camp - not to keep your food safe from bears, but to keep it away from the mice and squirrels!
Links you might find useful:
Baxter State Park: www.baxterstateparkauthority.com (http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com)
BSP's AT Thru-hiker info: http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/hiking/thru-hiking.html
Katahdin Web Cam: http://www.katahdincam.com/ (You will see snow until June!)
Lakeshore House: http://www.lakeshore-house.com (http://www.lakeshore-house.com/)
ALDHA: For specifics about services see the on-line Companion www.aldha.com (http://www.aldha.com)
The ATC's official site: For buying Trail guides like the DataBook or the Thru-hikers' Companion, also there's a Companion update page: www.appalachiantrail.org (http://www.appalachiantrail.org)
WhiteBlaze, of course! www.Whiteblaze.net (http://www.Whiteblaze.net)
Wingfoot's website sells his AT guide: www.trailplace.com (http://www.trailplace.com)
Check out the MEGA Journal links!